Ask an Event Expert: How Do I Choose the Right Display Solutions for My Event? 

When event planners begin mapping out the necessary elements to make their events great, it’s no surprise that they want what’s going to impress their participants. We live in a highly visual world, where so much of how we understand and process information is through what we see. Displays are the first stop, so a lot of the questions we receive are often related to, “What kind of screen is going to make my event participants go, ‘WOW!’” The strategic use of displays at an event can change the participants’ perception of the event, and as a result, their overall engagement with the experience.

Display solutions provide visual communication at any event. Video monitors, projectors, LED displays and digital signage are our four main categories that relay branding and theme, messaging, event information and education — basically, anything you’d see on a screen or projected onto a screen or wall. These products are the building blocks of every modern event.

Display solutions influence how participants feel and how they retain information. The main display is typically the first thing people notice when they walk into a room. It’s what people use to judge the quality of an event whether they’re aware of it or not. Since the display is often the biggest piece of the puzzle, when the quality is there, participants see the organization has invested in their experience. They believe that thought and care have been put into creating a positive experience for them.

One of the things I love about Encore is that we’re always researching and developing new ways to improve experiences for our customers. The expertise we have is a direct result of innovating and collaborating: We’ve found out what works and what doesn’t. Every year, we produce hundreds of thousands of events at venues all over the world, so we’ve considered every choice, every detail, every opportunity to reach event participants in new and exciting ways. So, when we think about how displays can be used to create impact at events, we rely on the creativity of our awesome team members around the globe to ideate, experiment, test and report back on what’s happening and what’s most effective. We’re grateful to have a deep well of personal insider knowledge that our customers can utilize every time we produce their events.

Our depth of expertise really works to the advantage of the customer in so many ways. For example, let’s say a planner comes in and automatically wants to use an LED wall for their general session because it’s bold, bright and the impact on the participants is huge. Or, someone wants to build a gorgeous custom screen with wood framing, and then once they try to stand it up and install it, they can’t because it hits one of the chandeliers or there’s a functional barrier that wasn’t outlined on the CAD. When we’re a part of the planning process, mishaps like these can be avoided because we’re collaborating with you to find the right display solutions for the event spaces and type, and we can share the specific solutions that work best in certain configurations.

You can’t always know what the next big thing will be, and no one has a crystal ball, but we’re always looking at the latest technology, what planners’ needs are and how technology can be most effectively utilized to impress and affect their event participants. We’re only interested in offering solutions that give planners we work with an edge.

Like I’ve said previously, event planners want something that will impress. But beyond that, not every display solution is right for every space. Part of the value we offer our planner partners is empowering them with the knowledge that what we recommend will get the job done — and done well. We want them to have access to all the solutions that are available to them, provide examples of how they look and function in different spaces, and understand what fits best into your budget. The more informed people are about what they need, the better decisions they can make to achieve the experience they desire.

The Encore Display Solutions Lookbook is designed to provide planners with education and inspiration that helps visualize solutions. This comprehensive digital tool serves as a starting point for people who are not audiovisual technology experts and gives a digestive overview of the toolbox, so to speak. I view the Display Solutions Lookbook as something that says, “Here are different ways you can do the thing you want to do.” It’s not necessarily a menu to pick solutions from, but rather a route to determine to the most correct display for your event in collaboration with an Encore partner.

Often, people go with what they know. Planners tell us they frequently repeat what they did for the previous event and just roll with it. The real question is, is repeating last year’s solution serving you or your audience? What if there’s a better, more innovative solution within your budget? That’s what we’re here for: to introduce fresh ideas that spur innovation.

Whether your event is far off in the future or just around the corner, the Display Solutions Lookbook can equip you for a constructive conversation with us. Take a look, make a note of what intrigues you, and we’ll be ready to have that conversation. That’s the thing about working with Encore — we’re going to help you find the right solution for your event and budget, and we want you to know why it will work. With the right combination of display solutions, participants become a part of the story.