Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 36

* * * SMART TECH
My Event Tech Checklist
It might not be what you think
BY BRANDT KRUEGER
N
ot going to lie, I might have a problem: I
own a lot of tools. A lot of tools. I'm telling
myself it's because when I retire, I want
to do more woodworking, but really it's because I
enjoy the simple pleasure of having the right tool
when I need it. And so, I have two rules: I don't
buy a tool unless I have a project that requires it
and I always buy the right tool for the project.
When I have the right tool for the job, I find that
the project goes smoother, takes less time and
comes out better than if I'd grabbed a tool that
" kinda works for that. " Sure, you can use a regular
claw hammer to tap in floorboards, but a dead
blow hammer is less likely to mar the surface.
You can use a circular saw to cut an 8' sheet of
plywood down, but a table saw makes it a snap.
So, when it comes to event technology, I try
to apply the same rules. Don't get it unless you
need it, and when you need it, make sure it's the
right technology for the job. As a result, when I get
asked for my " technology checklist " for events, it
might look a little different than you expect.
Does it serve the goals and
objectives of the event?
There's a reason that in my classes I don't
even get to the technology until about 1/3 of
the way into the course. We spend the first
portion reinforcing good meeting and event
design strategies and talking about how important
it is to know your stakeholders and to truly
understand what the goals and objectives are
for everyone involved: attendees, internal executives,
sponsors and exhibitors. If you don't
know why you're producing your event, and
what each of your stakeholders is getting out of
it, how can you possibly know whether or not
technology is going to improve the experience?
Shiny and new is irrelevant. It has to serve
the purpose of the event, and sometimes the
best technology to do that might be older, more
reliable technology. Very few events are actually
served well by new technology just for the
sake of it being cutting-edge. Sure, there are a
few, but not many. For everything else, almost
every decision being made when it comes to
AV and event technology can stem from this
very first item on the checklist.
Does the technology benefit
your stakeholders?
Adding " engagement technology " doesn't magically
create engagement if your attendees don't
actually want to engage, so it's incredibly
important to know who is benefiting from any
technology you add to your event. To be clear,
that doesn't always have to be your attendees.
It could be other stakeholders such as an internal
sales team, exhibitors, sponsors or even
(*gasp*) the planning team itself.
Knowing exactly who will benefit from the
technology, and how, can go a long way toward
convincing internal stakeholders to approve
increased costs. It might even help you cover
the cost without dipping into your own budget!
If a particular product or service will dramatically
improve the attendee experience, it might
justify an increase in ticket prices, or if the tech
will make it easier for internal sales teams to
isolate hot leads, you might be able to get them
(or marketing) to kick in some of their budget
to cover the cost. The same goes with
exhibitors and sponsors. Being able to show
them exactly how their experience will be
improved can often justify increased booth
prices, or you can offer the technology as an
add-on or special benefit for " Super DoubleDiamond,
Uber-Platinum " level sponsors.

Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue

October Cover
Table of Contents 1
Table of Contents 2
Online Exclusives
Bright Perspective
Founder/CEO's Letter
Dash of Smart
Dash of Smart
Essential List
Smart Buzz
Smart Recap
New & Renovated
Essential F&B
Smart Moves
Smart Chat
Meetings MBA
Work Smart
Healthy World
Smart Tech
Smart Style
Feature: Airline Outrage
Feature: Incentive Hyperdrive
Feature: Oh the Destinations You Will Go
Destination: Tennessee
Destination: New England
Destination: California's Central Coast
Site Inspection: Louisville, Kentucky
Site Inspection: Birmingham, Alabama
Site Inspection: Reno, Nevada
Smart Space
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - October Cover
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Cover2
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 1
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 2
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 3
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Table of Contents 1
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 5
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Table of Contents 2
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 7
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Online Exclusives
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 9
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Founder/CEO's Letter
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 11
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Dash of Smart
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 13
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Dash of Smart
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 15
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Essential List
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 17
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Buzz
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 19
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Recap
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 21
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - New & Renovated
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 23
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Essential F&B
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 25
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Moves
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 27
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Chat
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 29
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Meetings MBA
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 31
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Work Smart
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 33
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Healthy World
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 35
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Tech
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 37
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Style
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 39
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Feature: Airline Outrage
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 41
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 42
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 43
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Feature: Incentive Hyperdrive
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 45
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 46
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 47
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 48
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 49
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Feature: Oh the Destinations You Will Go
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 51
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 52
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 53
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 54
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 55
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 56
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 57
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Destination: Tennessee
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 59
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 60
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 61
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 62
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Destination: New England
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 64
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 65
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 66
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 67
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Destination: California's Central Coast
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 69
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 70
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 71
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Site Inspection: Louisville, Kentucky
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Site Inspection: Birmingham, Alabama
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Site Inspection: Reno, Nevada
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Space
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