Finding Unusual Solutions
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to a show thinking I was going to just look at the product I was already aware of, and then came away with a whole new plan.
Trade shows are the best place to see a cornucopia of gear all in one place.
More than once I’ve been on my way to see one product and a similar product in another booth caught my eye.
Upon some investigation, this other product turns out to be a much better fit than the original. Sometimes this causes a complete change in the plan.
For example, last year I went to InfoComm to meet with DiGiCo and Aviom to talk about how we could make a system work. At the DiGiCo booth, I noticed a prototype of the S-MADI Bridge from Roland.
I started talking with the Roland guys and found out that I could use that to connect the M-48s to the SD8. As I was literally a week away from ordering my system, this altered the landscape significantly.
We ended up buying the Roland system along with the SD8 and it’s been a huge improvement to our sound system. That’s an understatement actually; the system we ended up with is orders of magnitude better than it would have been had I not gone to InfoComm.
Meeting Other Techs
This is perhaps the least appreciated aspect of going to a show. But, now that organizations like CTDRT are putting together dinners and breakfasts, there are more opportunities than ever to get to know other tech guys.
Also, by following people on Twitter and Facebook, we can easily arrange ad hoc meet ups and get to know the people behind the tweets. We talk about this all the time, but we can’t emphasize enough how important this is.
I think some pastors are threatened by their tech guys getting to know other tech guys, but I have to tell you, nothing will burn your TD out faster than keeping him isolated.
The simple fact is that very few people truly understand tech guys, and we have to have someone else to talk to. We need support and the best way to do that is to reach out to others who do what we do.
Moreover, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve learned of a new solution to a problem I’ve been having simply talking to some other TDs over dinner at a show. A few months ago, I found out I can save almost $2,000 by changing the way I re-lamp one of my projectors. I learned that by talking to anther TD.
So the bottom line is this: Yes, sending your TD to a show might cost you $1000-1500 by the time you fly him in, put him up in a hotel and give him a meal allowance.
But you will get that back and more. Your TD will come back energized, more excited about his work and full of ideas for solving problems. And you will likely save many times as much as you spend based on actually getting the right solutions.
Find some money, and get your TD out to a trade show. You won’t be sorry.
Have you had a great experience at a trade show? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!
Mike Sessler is the Technical Director at Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo, CA. He has been involved in live production for over 20 years and is the author of the blog, Church Tech Arts . He also hosts a weekly podcast called Church Tech Weekly on the TechArtsNetwork.