Crafting the Message

by Joanne Schofield

I'm always told how fun my job is, how good it must be to plan parties, order food and make things looks pretty and whilst all these things are great there's a little more to it than that, as most of you probably know. 

For me, a good event always starts with crafting the message. I always want the aesthetics to be perfect and to get the 'wow's, but if the event doesn't match what the business is trying to say and also share their message for the next day, month even year it will never be delivered to their target audience, so what's the point? 

Looking at the brand is critical. Who are you representing? What is the company ethos? What do they stand for and more importantly how can these essential points filter into a successful event? Initial research on the brand is so important, getting to know your client and building that relationship is something that is at the core of our events. 

We start building our clients event by understanding their brief and how they want their business messages to come alive through the work we do. Client briefs are integral, giving us an insight into what they think their event can become, however they can be difficult to match as well as trying to make it work with the dreaded budget...I'm constantly hearing 'Anything is possible...with enough money' but how do you make it work when their isn't enough money? 

Working closely with the client and understanding what they want their content and goals to be and making it work within their brief and budget are fundamental...but it's never that easy. Sometimes we have to compromise and search to find those solutions, when you're into your fifteenth quote at 9 o clock in the evening it feels endless, but we do this because we want to find the best answer to the brief to reach the clients goal. 

Having understood the brand, brief and content, overcome a few hurdles, the message finally becomes clear, it's then just a case of which of the many tools we have in our toolbox to use to make it work.

Every aspect of the event can support the delivery of the message - from the dressing, how the food is presented, the accommodation, how they travel, the style of the venue, how the food is served - even down to the type of tassels you choose for a set and when you've been through 15 pantone colours you know it's serious! 

The message should underpin everything we do. 

Essential Advice for Budding Event Professionals

Some obvious and quite simple things below, even things you probably don't think about, but definitely helpful during the busiest of events. We dare you to find one you don't agree with!

Go to the toilet whenever you can (You don't know when you will get the chance again).

Eat and drink when you can (You don't know when you will get the chance again).

Wear different shoes every day (particularly on hard floors, it reduces foot fatigue).

Write stuff down. If you remember something you need to do or someone asks you to do something - write it down, otherwise it will be forgotten the next time someone asks you something.

Always carry an alarm clock, a spare phone charger and painkillers.

Be prepared for the worst (it will happen if you don't).

Want to learn, this will only make you better and set you apart from the rest. 

Take responsibility - no matter how small your peers will appreciate it. 

Crew Love...

A good event begins with the right crew and as we all know most events are a 12 hour day or longer, so looking after the people who make it happen is fundamental. 

Having seen numerous events take place, it seems like some people forget the basics. This may seem pretty obvious but offering a cup of tea to people who haven't had a break because of schedules changing, onsite challenges or just due to the manic day, goes a long way. 

The crew work throughout the day to make the event perfect and sometimes throughout the night and one of the most important things to keep people going is food. Often seeing the delegates food leave the kitchen is quite literally mouth watering and whilst the crew don't often get the equivalent it's important they are given something substantial. 

It's a known fact that food is linked to concentration levels and ensuring a steady intake of food across your day helps keep you alert and motivated! Staying alert and on your toes during an event, can be the difference between cuing the lights or working in a blackout, so keeping sugar levels high is a necessity! 

Allowing time for the crew to take a break, providing snacks, sweets and fruit during the day makes a huge difference and remember working on an empty stomach is never productive...I should know! 

Don't forget, at the end of a long session, the crew need to take a breath - don't immediately jump on them to start to change or rehearse the next session!

As Virgina Woolf would say, 'One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.'

Venue Recce Essentials

There are so many recce essentials, it's easy to forget what you should be looking for. Often on the recce you have a million and one things running through your head, the client has questions, the venue have questions and everything is directed at you. With a full head it's often a good idea to have a check list, it is for me anyway, so here are some of the essentials. 

Venue Location

Where is the venue located and how accessible is it for the attendees? Where is the nearest motorway or major road? How close is the nearest train station, airport, bus stop or even helipad?

Venue Facilities

Car Parking - Can a coach load of people fit into the car park? 
Direction Signage - is it easy to find or will it need supplementary signage
Entrance - does the meeting space have a dedicated entrance or shared?
Signage and Branding - are you allowed to add signage in the public spaces for direction and branding?
Decor - does the look and feel of the whole venue fit with the message / brief and does it feel 'fresh' or 'tired'?
Staff - are the staff welcoming and friendly and well presented? Do they have good knowledge of events and their venue?
How Busy - how busy is it in the public spaces and are other events on at the same time as yours (including venue organised events like fitness classes, Murder Mystery evenings etc.)
Temperature - is there air conditioning and where are the controls, can you open the windows, what heating is there (does it ever fail)?
Equipment - do they have existing AV equipment? When was it last checked (look at the PAT testing labels on the plugs)? Can we trust it?

Access

Times - when is the space available for us to set up (often different for meeting rooms and refreshment space), the day before, evening before, overnight, early morning? Who has tenancy before and what are they doing that might affect the space when we arrive and how quickly we can start? Could their event overrun?

Curfew - are there any limitations on the times when it is possible to access or unload vehicles? Some venues have legally imposed curfews that prohibit overnight unloading, or before a set hour in the morning. Others have times when no equipment is allowed through the lobby of a hotel.

Lift Size / Stairwell Size - if the event space is not on the ground floor, then what is the access like and are there any size limitations, particularly in lifts.

Stairs and Steps - are there any on the access route (extra people may be needed to help lift heavy equipment).

Door widths / Height - if there are large set elements or equipment, it is useful to know whether there are any doors, throughout the access route, which will limit what can be brought.

The Space

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Size - what are the dimensions of the smallest space - taking into account recesses, alcoves, protrusions, wall lights, wall mounted screens, radiators, kitchen access and fire exits which must remain clear. We always take our own measurements using a laser measure.

Capacity - what is the seating style for the event? Dinner, cabaret, theatre, boardroom, reception or something different. How much equipment or dressing will be needed that will take up space - will there be rear-projection AV?

As a quick guide, in theatre style seating an average conference chair size works out at 20 people per 10 metres (without aisles). In dinner or cabaret seating - one 6 foot (72cm) round table seats 10-12 for dinner and 7-8 for cabaret - with chairs it takes up a 10 x 10 foot space (3.5 x 3.5m). At a reception, each person takes up 1 metre square. 

Ceiling Height - The minimum height taking into account alcoves, chandeliers, lights, permanent fixings (like mirror balls or projectors) - the minimum base of a projection screen has to be 1.4m from the floor which means you need at least 3 metres total height. The lower the ceiling, the more oppressive the room, particularly in long meetings.

Floorplans - Does the venue have them and more importantly are they accurate? More than once we have received inaccurate floor plans, leading to a lot of tight spaces on the day. That's why we measure! Ideally the venue will have CAD plans that we can work with.

Noise - does the room have moveable dividing walls? What is happening on the other side of them (no temporary wall is ever sound proof. Where are the kitchens, will the noise carry? Is there a lot of echo in the room - when you clap your hands do you hear one or more claps? Are there soft furnishings and carpet to absorb sound? Is there any construction work outside or nearby railway lines, or an active airport next door or a scheduled firework display (we have been affected by all these things).

Light - is there natural daylight? Are there curtains or blinds if darkness is needed? What type of lighting is there and how is it controlled?

Catering Space - is there a dedicated catering space separate from the meeting rooms? Will the catering space share space with displays or registration? Will catering be in the meeting room itself? Where are the kitchens and will kitchen noise before or after the food affect the meeting. What is the access like for catering staff - this can affect what you do and could slow down service.

Catering

This is one for a separate post! At the recce, we are interested in where the catering will be provided, Depending on the event, we are interested in: Breakfast (few hotels can cater for all of their bedrooms in one sitting but with a fixed start time, you may put more demand than they can cope with).
Breaks. Where? What (coffee, tea, juice, water, biscuits, pastries, fruit)? How frequently.
Lunch. Where? In a shared restaurant? Buffet (how many stations, how will they be laid out?), seated?
Dinner. How many wait staff, do they have dedicated drinks staff, how will the bar operate (where is it) - there are lots of questions for dinners.

Menus. What are the standard menus like, how imaginative and how prepared are the kitchen to accommodation something different?

Dietary. Plan for them! Lifestyle (vegetarian, vegan), Religious (Kosher, Halal), Medical (nut, dairy, shellfish, wheat, gluten etc.). 

Visit flickr.com

Bedrooms

Another subject in itself. How many rooms, what type of bed(s), when were the beds last replaced, are they en-suite bathrooms, do they have irons, safes, coffee making, mini-bar (can we deny access), air-conditioning, open-able windows, non-smoking (international). Are all the rooms to the same standard, are some in an annex? Can we provide a group check-in desk separately?

Internet

Increasingly essential for the running of an event. Does the venue have WiFi and is this free of charge. What is the bandwidth? How good is the WiFi coverage?  Depending on the event and use of technology you may have to add a dedicated line and even suggest having a dedicated technician.

Power & Rigging

This also needs a blog all of it's own but for the recce; What power is available, is it 3-phase, single phase or just sockets on the wall? Where is it located? Find the maintenance people to find out what else is running on the same power ring - you don't want everything to go dark when the oven gets switched on for lunch (it happens!).

Does the ceiling have rigging points where equipment can be suspended? How many points? What is the loading if you need extra power 16 amp plus, don't forget this or much like one of our last blogs you could be facing a pitch black event. 

Amongst the above I always find it useful to send a venue inquiry form out to each venue and at least this way you'll always have a record of what they can and can't do. 

What's included in the price? 

Always check this, never presume. I've learnt the hard way. 

Which microphone should you use?

There are few different types of microphone available for conference use - this is when we use them and why...

1. Tie Clip

Intended to clip onto a tie or lapel. It's a small microphone which has a wire to a transmitter pack, which can be clipped to a belt or placed in a pocket - as long as the transmitter aerial is outside. We usually hide the wire inside clothes. For ladies in dresses, the pack can be taped to the base of the back, clipped to the bra strap or worn on a temporary strap. Sometimes we will use two clip mics, one on each side if the presenter will face both ways during the presentation i.e. on a panel.

Top tips - avoid polyester ties / jackets because they cause an uncomfortable scratching noise. Should be clipped on the side the presenter is likely to face most - usually the direction of the screen.

When to use - this is our microphone of choice - it provides a good compromise between sensitivity, quality and freedom for the presenter.

2. Head Set

Increasingly seen as an alternative to the tie clip mic, the headset mic provides a small stalk with mic head close to the mouth, attached to a small wire frame which sits across the ears and around the back of the head. Not very comfortable to wear and not a great look (unless you are a pop star). Sound engineers favour them because they provide very good sound levels (because the mic itself is much closer to the mouth).

Top tips - men should shave first to avoid the brushing sound of stubble against the mic. Avoid banging the mic with your hand when touching your face.

When to use - we only use them when we need to separate the presenter from the environment or the audience noise e.g. during award presentations or comedians.

3. Hand Held

The singers microphone. Much better sound quality from a much larger microphone pick up, which makes it ideal for singing and speeches, particularly where the environment is very noisy (i.e. at a dinner or stadium event).

Top tips - to get the benefit of the sensitivity, keep the top of the mic close to the mouth (10cm / 4 inches) but not touching. Always have one available for unscheduled announcements.

When to use - as a mic for audience questions or for a host at dinner.

4. CatchBox / Soft Microphones

There are a few different manufacturers of throwable mics, where the mic is embedded in a sponge case and can be thrown around the audience. The most sophisticated will switch off the mic automatically when in the air.

Top tips - they still need to be held up to the mouth (within 15cm / 6 inches). Invite people to pass them on to each other.

When to use - a brilliant Q&A solution

www.getcatchbox.com

5. Device Microphone - IML Connector

It is possible to put a microphone into the hands of every attendee using the IML Connector and some iPad / iPhone / Android apps. The IML Connector is primarily an audience voting / response / text device but has a lapel mic quality microphone which can be enabled by the operator or selected by the participant when invited.

Top tips - do a demonstration to clearly show how and when to activate the mic.

When to use - ideal for in depth feedback from workgroups and breakout sessions.

6. Gooseneck Microphone

A high quality microphone either attached to a lectern or on a floor stand - sometimes seen at award ceremonies (where celebrities lean in to speak to it like a hand held mic). Intended to be spoken or sung to at a range of 30cm / 12 inches or more. 

Top Tips - stay back and speak to the 5th row of the audience (project your voice) for best results.

When to use - useful for presentations, like awards, with too many speakers for every one to have a dedicated microphone.

7. Push Button Microphone

There are different styles, some looking like conference speaker phones and others like the gooseneck - always with a button to make the mic live. Common on panels, in tribunals and with audience debates.

Top Tips - Make the rules clear for when people can press their button to avoid frustration.

When to use - we try to avoid these, there are better solutions available!

8. Radio or wired options

The tie clip, hand held, gooseneck and push button are all available as wired mics - which means they are connected directly to the sound desk via a cable. This removes risk of wireless failure, but severely limits mobility. We prefer fixed mics (gooseneck) to be wired. 

Radio mics use dedicated radio frequencies to transmit the data from the mic pack to a receiver, usually in the same room. There are a variety of frequencies used but sound engineers take great care to ensure that their own mics all have their own frequency and that the venue or other events nearby are not using the same frequencies. Some cheaper radio mics (often imported) can operate in the wrong frequency range, adding the risk of being received by a nearby taxi company.

Top Tips - we always change the batteries in the pack before every session.

When NOT to use - If you are presenting very confidential information in a closed session, beware of the security risk of radio mics - other people can tune into and record the same frequencies. If in doubt, use a wired mic.

9. Finally, that horrible screeching sound!

When you hear that horrible high pitched screech that tells you something is wrong - or like a whale in pain - that is the sound you get when a microphone is picking up the sound of itself through the speakers, creating a loop. It mostly happens when the presenter takes the mic in front of the speakers or directly in front of the speakers. It is worse with tie clip mics because the sensitivity is turned up higher.

So that's a brief summary of the different types of conference mics available and when we recommend using them - obviously we also use professional sound technicians and engineers to get the best sound possible.

Fame! We made Belgian TV!

Well nearly! At last week's Fresh conference, there was a very newsworthy virtual robotic attendee. The conference was held in Copenhagen and Evelyn was at home in Belgium but attended by way of a cyborg - a combination of iPad and Segway-inspired robot stand. From her computer Evelyn was able to manoeuvre her cyborg self around the conference centre and talk to other attendees and listen to presentations.

The story was picked up by the Belgian media - this photo shows Alan, Bev and conference organiser Maarten Vanneste with a newspaper story from a Belgian national. The same day, Cascade provided video footage to Belgian TV station VTM - the story aired as their 'dead donkey' that night!

10 Quick lessons from Fresh 14 for everyone

Fresh 14 was very fresh and stimulating so before the routine of hard work takes over again, it feels like a great time to reflect on some immediate lessons from the experience  for meetings and events in general...

1. It's great to see theories in practice

There were a number of old and new techniques used at Fresh14 in a real and live environment - including Pecha Kutcha, Appreciative Enquiry, Point & Counterpoint, WeConference and Lego SeriousPlay. Some worked, some didn't work so well - but seeing them in action, being a part of them and listening to the views of the participants was invaluable and so much can be learned from observing and experiencing.

2. Technology for the future of meetings (or not)

There was a great deal of technology in use and on show at Fresh, some of it very conceptual - like the newsworthy robot virtual attendee, Meetingsphere, many different apps and Google Glass. There was a lot of discussion about the future and what may become the norm - two themes seemed clear, technology will become increasingly normal, like the availability of the internet is normal to us now; and human interaction will increasingly be seen as the real reason for meeting up.

3. Being out of our comfort zone is good

There were some interesting things going on at Fresh, some of them felt very uncomfortable - pushing the person next to you, sitting on a giant ball, throwing a microphone, building lego, sitting in a Talkaoke circle or around the camp fire - the natural reaction is to resist and to question, but in many cases the experience was enlightening and good for the majority.

4. Amazing International Learning

The breadth of experience and cultural differences at Fresh was eye opening; with attendees from Australia, the US, Iceland, Turkey, Slovakia, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, UK and throughout Europe with many places more online; everyone together and discussing very similar realities and challenges from different cultural perspectives.

5. Facilitated Learning

What we saw and experienced were some extremely different facilitation styles and techniques, we heard research about panel discussions, witnessed the frenetic Talkaoke ' fishbowl', the laid-back Campfire, the comedic Professor, the charismatic production manager - all providing the human dimension - and what we learned was that what matters was GOOD PEOPLE who are GOOD at what they do. The best facilitators got more out of their sessions.

6. 20 minutes of Crowdsourced Brilliance

Steve Bather hosted a session with Maarten Vanneste to scope out the content for Fresh15 conference using Meetingsphere, an online facilitation tool - brainstorming, gathering ideas, sorting them, prioritising them and creating a solid base to work from in just 20 minutes - impressive.

7. Hybrid - mixing the live and online 

The Hybrid team with Gerrit, their dedicated host; mixed live conference content with their own presentations and interviews, involvement in discussions, a virtual goody bag and dedicated cameras set a high standard for integrating the online audience with the live event while at the same time, the comms team updated Twitter, the website, YouTube, Flickr etc with photos videos and text commentary from the event whilst interacting with the online participants.

8. Diversity at any cost?

The question was asked during one panel discussion why 6 white men were on stage discussing the future - where was the diversity?  The make up of the panel should reflect the make up of the audience - but sexual, religious or racial equality should not force the panel to change alone - the panel should represent the best expertise available for the discussion.

9. And some Quick Wins!

- Catchbox was great - a soft throwable microphone is always effective for audience participation but the Catchbox was particularly good because it turns its own mic off when in the air.

- The visualisers, poem and video - creative capturing of the event in different ways was a great way to remind attendees about the great sessions and content.

- Pecha Kutcha - fantastic fast session with lots of presenters with visionary ideas - exciting to watch

Finally...

There was a lot of content and a lot of learning from Fresh14 - it was a fantastic learning environment where ideas could be tested and the range of people involved in meetings could be better understood.

10. The number one take away from FRESH 14...
Storytelling works.
We all remember great stories.

(That's why Storytelling is at the heart of our new Cascade ContentBox)

Getting Fresh in Copenhagen!

Next week over 150 meeting professionals, designers and partners will come together from all over the World for the FRESH conference in Copenhagen - dedicated to improving content development at meetings and conferences. The theme of this year's FRESH conference is the Human Dimension.

The Cascade team will be there taking a leading role helping to present and develop the content, and at the same time the Cascade video team will be capturing the whole event in a Fresh way for use at the event and for education afterwards.

If you can't attend the conference in person, you can join in the Hybrid conference for free during sessions on Monday and Tuesday.   http://www.thefreshconference.com/registration/

You can view the complete Fresh programme here http://www.thefreshconference.com/fresh14-content/programme/

The conference provides some great new techniques and learning. Here are 20 discoveries you can make at #FRESH14

C. CONCEPTUAL

1.     The Appreciative Inquiry by Kaj Voetmann, looking at the past and the  future & Theory U by Jennifer Lem

2.     The Hybrid segment is a well-prepared show that goes out live twice a day. It is free to attend and shares a part of the FRESH program with participants all over the world

3.     Co-Creation, there are several methods and levels of co-creation - discover and experience at least four at FRESH and see the results of our co-creation at FRESH13

4.     Research on panel discussion formats, based on a survey of 500 industry thought-leaders, will be presented

5.     Meta-praxis roadmap, a simple, objective-based way to find the right facilitator for your meeting.

A.    ART

6.     Professor Phillips will reveal the value that entertainment really adds to conferences and events

7.     Photography, this art form does so much more than report back from a conference

H. HUMAN

8.     Participants will turn their chairs away from the screen toward the technicians to take a look at why we have so many crew at FRESH14 and to learn about what they do

9.     A comedian, a visual facilitator, three wall reporters, seven different facilitators and many more to see in action

T. TECHNICAL

10.  The soft microphone participants throw between themselves during Q&A - and we have four of them!

11.  A dozen of ways to capture conference content, FRESH will be the most captured conference ever: see and experience all methods.

12.  Lego as a tool central to a facilitation method: Lego serious play

TY. TECHNOLOGY

13.  A virtual meeting room with 28 video participants on-line

14.  Hybrid Angel, an on-site participant in the on-line meeting room shows the on-liners around  via an iPad

15.  Cyborg participant, a robot allows a remote/on-line participants to be a bit more present; ‘walking around’ becomes an option

16.  WeConference by SpotMe is launched and used at FRESH

17.  Brain Scanner, one participant will permanently wear a brain scanner to capture how he feels in a session

18.  Start-ups, new technology companies from as far as India join FRESH to launch their services and products

19.  All the innovations presented at the EIBTM innovation zone plus about a dozen mobile apps to compare

20.  Spotme, MeetingSphere and Sendsteps will be some of the co-creation technology you can experience.

Look out for updates from the team once we return.

Plan for the Worst!

twitter.com/davekarger

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/golden-globes-2014-red-carpet-3016392#.Utv16BDFKM8

No one wants to walk down the red carpet in wellies, but that was nearly the case as the 'red sea' traveled to Hollywood for the Golden Globes. Gallons of water were accidentally sprayed over the pristine carpet, but how can you avoid that happening at your event?

Luckily this all happened before the attendees arrived but shouldn't that be the time your carpets are covered from any inadvertent weather? Remember that heavy duty plastic to keep it clean, don't forget to secure, remove at the last minute and maybe don't set a light too close to a sprinkler head! 

Lighting can often catch people out and the UK Masters Snooker Tournament was no different this week, when hundreds of snooker fans were left in the dark on 14th January. One hour and fifteen minutes later the power returned. Without power the event doesn't happen, fortunately for BBC2 they had an episode of Flog It! waiting in the wings and for the live audience a cameraman got out his guitar for some live music. The next day the organisers brought in a back up generator - too late?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/snooker-fans-left-dark-literally-ally-pally-black-171051989.html

We always plan for the worst because sometimes in live events, things go wrong. In the case of lighting, sound, power, safety, heating or any technical equipment we always have a backup power supply, extra cabling and an electrician available 24/7. We apply a 'Plan-B' to any event we run and learn from our mistakes to avoid black out's and soggy carpets! 

Did you know that in 2013 Cascade...

Brought Wembley to life with XBOX on the stadium screens

Brought a garden party to life with the Red Devil parachute team

Prepared a luxury desert dinner in Dubai and a VIP trip to New York

Appeared on BBC2

Arranged factory tours

Developed themes and content for conferences, meetings and roadshows in hotels, convention centres, marquees, theatres, factories, cinemas, bowling alley and stadia.

Arranged parties in marquees, dressed a home interior, gentleman's club, summer garden, an english pub and Christmas in New York

Created a Victorian theatre, an Ibiza nightclub, 4 decades of Playstation and an outdoor Convestival (conference festival)

Worked with chefs to create memorable meals with the finest details

Filmed in factories, on the farm, in a butcher and helicopter air-to-air.

Supported charities through runs, editing, equipment and financially.

Lectured to students at University and presented internationally about presentation techniques.

Won awards for engagement and events and had recognition for one of the best young people in the industry.

Worked with a cathedral organ, zombies, Roman soldiers, trick footballers, flying carpet, Faraday cage, dancers, sand artist, three tenors, butter sculpture, fireworks, ice rink, jazz pianist, cartoonists, streamed live, wiki-workshopped, insta-video group feedback, created an instant choir and challenged with snakes, rats and cockroaches.

Welcomed three new members onto the team (and a baby)

2013 was a busy and varied year.

#in

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone of our friends, clients, suppliers and people who we have come into contact with this year. It's been a busy and very diverse one. You can see a random collection of images in this gallery:

The Cascade Team at play! Dave, Josephine, Hollie, Jennifer, Nicola, Mike, Sarah, Osman, Alex, Adam, Rebecca, Megan, Jo, Alan, Amy and Bev

Because Christmas is a time of giving, for the last two events of the year last weekend, the team took collection boxes to raise money on behalf of the local 'When you Wish Upon a Star' charity which grants wishes to sick and terminally ill children. Cascade supported the charity via the Real Radio appeal which raised £68,398 in the day.

When You Wish Upon a Star

Family stories from the charities trip to Lapland.

This year once again to support the Lapland trip, Adam, Matt and Beverley all travel to Lapland on their own time using Cascade cameras, Mike Wood and Michael Brown edit in their own time using the Cascade edit suites.

Clickshare for Collaboration

Clickshare, from Barco, is a tool for quickly getting the display of a computer onto a projection screen. It works by connecting a Clickshare wireless hub to the projector and plugging a special USB click button into each laptop or computer to be shared. When a user clicks their button, their computer display is replicated live on screen. It is possible for up to 4 users to share the projection screen at once (split screen) or by simply holding your click button for longer a user can completely take over the screen.

As well as the USB click buttons, there are apps for iPhone, iPad and Android to share device screens too. The system can work with up to 64 devices at one time. This makes it ideal for presenting feedback from breakout groups or workshops to a main group.

For computers there is no software to install, users literally plug the USB dongle and they are ready to go.

Through the Presenters' Eyes

What's it really like? Standing on a stage, with a lectern, projection screen behind, a preview monitor on the floor showing your slides, another showing live tweeted questions from the audience and a third with a timer (which turns red when you overrun). You have a live audience and a live stream web audience which probably includes the team back in the office. It's scary.

You hear your introduction, step onto the stage (happy not to have tripped on the way) and arrive behind the lectern. You've rehearsed your opening words over and over so that you start to speak without having to think. At this point your mind is a blur and you blindly perform the rehearsed actions, click to next slide, step away from the lectern, say the words, say the words, keep talking.

Then something strange happens. You settle into the speaking. You have reviewed and reviewed your slides and what you plan to say (but not written what you want to say onto the slides), so the presentation flows and you start to feel almost like it's an out of body experience. You mentally start to critique your own delivery, you start to see individuals in the audience and observe their facial expressions (was that a yawn?), you are conscience of your own mannerisms and the way you are standing. The mental capacity you have is astonishing. You are able to read the questions arriving live via twitter and contemplate the answer, have awareness of the camera, catch a nod of approval from a fellow presenter, see your next slide preview and consider your link and when to change slide, glance at the timer and compute what the time means for you. Still you are talking. You are even adjusting what you say based on the visual feedback from the audience and the tweets.

Alan Wight on the Fresh stage in Barcelona

The Fresh conference set was projection mapped to enable content to spread beyond the screen

Then you notice that your mouth is dry. There is a video clip to play in a minute, there is a bottle of water on the lectern and you can have a sip then, that's all it takes.

Before you know it, 20 minutes have passed, no one has walked out, you have completed your presentation successfully..

Despite feeling very nervous, you feel confident because you are supported by professionals. The technicians have helped to make sure that your presenting is working, you have a backup in case there is a problem, they have fitting your microphone and made sure you are comfortable, the production team reassure you and give you confident direction - being surrounded by professionals with professional equipment is like presenting surrounded by a comfort blanket.

Cascade MD, Alan Wight, presented in the Fresh education sessions at the EIBTM expo in Barcelona alongside CEOs from companies in the US, Denmark and Belgium. The technical crew were from Abbit Meeting Support in Belgium supported by local sound and lighting crew from Spain.

Recruiting: Producer / Event Manager

Event Manager

Good salary with benefits, depending on experience

This is a rare opportunity to join a production company renowned for creating memorable events for some of the UK's most recognisable brands. Conferences, events, parties, exhibitions, from the smallest private event to large international conferences with thousands of attendees.

We are looking for an experienced Producer or Event Manager, with significant agency & venue sector experience to work within our production team, reporting directly to our Managing Director. 

The role covers all aspects of events including
- Supplier rate & services negotiations
- Client relationship management
- Creative theme / teambuild / content / pitch ideas
- Budget management
- Scheduling and time management
- On site event management
- Maintaining an in-depth knowledge of the events market

You will have a proven track record of event management with a thorough understanding of the industry, you'll be a strong negotiator, with meticulous attention to detail and will need to be prepared to work hard both on your own and with others in the team in a fast paced environment. You will have strong Microsoft office skills, including an excellent understanding of Excel and have an aptitude to software systems. 

This is a full time position.

Join an established company with integrity, determined to create effective meetings & events.

In the first instance please contact us via our contact form telling us why you would be right for the job. 

A hilarious new reality show reveals what goes on behind closed doors at supermarket chain Iceland... *

An independent TV company working for BBC2 have been following Iceland Foods for the last 12 months starting at last years Dublin managers conference, which features in the first episode tonight. 

A number of Cascade events feature in the 3 part series, including the annual incentive announcement, also in tonight's episode - along with some of the Cascade video team at work inside Iceland.

BBC2: Iceland Foods: Life in the Freezer Cabinet

*this is the Daily Mail headline
Daily Mail article 

Episode 1
Monday 21st October 2013
21:00

Award Winning Conferences

Cascade Productions have won a national award for the 2012 Iceland Managers' Conference in Dublin. This is the second time the conference has been recognised having been awarded Most Innovative Engagement at the Sunday Times Best Companies awards. 

Jennifer, Alex, Jo and Hollie collecting the award at the London ceremony from host Giles Brandreth

The C&IT award ceremony was held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden.

Cascade: Awards Finalists

We are delighted to report that we are finalists in 3 national awards. The last Iceland conference in Dublin has been shortlisted for two Conference & Incentive Travel Awards and is also a finalist in the Event Awards for the Best International Conference. The ceremonies take place in September and October.

Delegate feedback makes it all worthwhile

We recently had the please of organising a high end incentive trip for a small group to New York. The itinerary was designed and delivered by Jennifer and Jo.

“I was one of the lucky managers who won the incentive to New York that your company organised. As you can imagine, my livelyhood is working with customers, surpassing their expectations and over delivering on service that they recieve, that said you entrusted the NY project with both Jo Schofield and Jennifer Houlihan, and i would like to say a few words about them both.

Well a few words isnt what it needs, it could be summed up simply as fantastic.

Both ladies were both professional and also had the ability to make us feel special and also at ease with surroundings...

I honestly think that both ladies made the trip, yes the prize was great, the surroundings were luxurious and we were treated like movie stars, but both Jennifer and Jo really added that extra mile to our experience.

I thought you should know, as you probably do already, that you have a couple of real life stars working for you in Cascade”

— Mick, a happy delegate

A busy year so far

We've been quiet on the blog as we focus on being busy. These are some of the varied things we have been up to (beyond the usual conferences and meetings)... 

Jen & Alex Run Away

After a limited amount of last minute training, Jennifer and Alex are about to embark on their first serious run in the Manchester £10k this weekend. They are raising money for Cancer Research UK.

Please show them your support with a little sponsorship on JustGiving

We wish them the best of luck!