The Skill Set

Happy New Year, readers! Last month’s column left our hero (yours truly, since I’m writing this) promising to explore the skill set required for the successful rental and staging technician. It’s quite a list, starting with a firm understanding of how things work in the physical world, and this month moving on to include interpersonal […]

The Skill Set

2014: Will We Get Any Smarter?

Well, another year draws to a close in the rental and staging industry. As I sit here, filling out a box of Christmas cards with comical pictures of Santa holding a MacBook Pro, I am reflecting on what has happened in our industry this year. It has been an interesting year, both in the audiovisual […]

2014: Will We Get Any Smarter?

On Your Marx

Over the last two issues, we’ve talked about the emerging generation of executive clients, and how the attitudes and expectations of that generation will change the way they make business decisions, and thus (if we are smart) the way we do business. Among these changes, broadly, are the tendency to distribute information more widely and […]

On Your Marx

2 B or not 2 B (What Makes the Next Gen Client Different)

Last month, we talked about the idea that the next generation of client will have changing standards in quality, production values and even the very nature of work and communication. I proposed that these changes would create fundamental differences in the way they made purchase decisions, especially those involving the public communications aspect of what […]

2 B or not 2 B (What Makes the Next Gen Client Different)

The Moving Target

I have always had two ways of defining a professional. The first, and the one I use most often, is that a professional is someone who gets paid for their work. Admittedly, sometimes, in the audiovisual industry, this is a difficult thing to achieve. The second way I have had of defining a professional is […]

The Moving Target

The Art of the Killer Demo

In last month’s Crew Call, I cataloged (from first-hand experience) the many things that we do to shoot ourselves in the foot when we demonstrate technology. Bill Sharer and I have also spent the last two weeks on our podcast, THE WEEK, discussing first what we do wrong and second, how to do it right. […]

The Art of the Killer Demo

The Jawbone of an Ass

Picture this: You’re shopping for a new car. You have a vacation road trip coming up, and you really want new wheels. Your friends have recommended that you look at a couple of cars, at a couple of different dealerships, at a couple of different manufacturers. You approach a salesman at one of the dealerships, […]

The Jawbone of an Ass

Is Bigger Really Better?

Well, InfoComm is over. And I say that with somewhat of a sigh of relief. I spent a lot of the show seated at the podcasting table in the middle of the cacophony that was the rAVe booth, behind a group of overly energetic young people doing some kind of a line dance reminiscent to […]

Is Bigger Really Better?

THE WEEK – Episode 37: Special Edition – Joel and Gary open Day 2 Live From InfoComm 2013

Joel Rollins of rAVe RADIO sits down with Gary Kayye to talk about InfoComm 2013 Day 2. Gary and Joel discuss must-see products they saw from yesterday. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 37: Special Edition – Joel and Gary open Day 2 Live From InfoComm 2013

THE WEEK – Episode 36: Joel Rollins Interviews Peter Brady at Infocomm Day 1

Live from the InfoComm 2013 show floor, rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins talks to Peter Brady of Peter Brady & Associates Manufacturer’s Representatives during day one about his first impressions of the show. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 36: Joel Rollins Interviews Peter Brady at Infocomm Day 1

THE WEEK – Episode 35: Joel Rollins Talks With Gary Kayye About InfoComm 2013 Day 1 Impressions

In today’s THE WEEK, Joel Rollins sits down with rAVe Founder Gary Kayye to talk about InfoComm 2013 and each share their thoughts on the future of the AV industry. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 35: Joel Rollins Talks With Gary Kayye About InfoComm 2013 Day 1 Impressions

THE WEEK – Episode 34: Women In AV Founder Jennifer Willard Talks with rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins About InfoComm13 and WAVE

In today’s THE WEEK, rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins talks to Women In AV founder Jennifer Willard about their first impressions of InfoComm 2013, and the Women In AV luncheon. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 34: Women In AV Founder Jennifer Willard Talks with rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins About InfoComm13 and WAVE

REALLY Gutsy Move by Barco at InfoComm 2013

OK, this is what I call product confidence. Barco has set up a number of free meeting rooms with large displays, and no way to connect to them except the provided ClickShare systems. I tried it (full disclosure: I DO know ClickShare already), but was also around when new users tried it. And it worked, […]

REALLY Gutsy Move by Barco at InfoComm 2013

InfoComm 2013: The Early Verdict from Joel

Great show so far — the crowd on the floor seemed a little light at first, but after many years of staging shows here, I can tell you that that is often illusionary, because the convention center is spread out so far. This place is one enormous barn – I remember the first time I […]

InfoComm 2013: The Early Verdict from Joel

InfoComm Spotlight: PLANAR’s Steve Seminario Talks with rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins About Where Planar Is and Where It’s Going

In today’s InfoComm Spotlight Podcast Series, rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins sits down and talks to PLANAR’s Senior Director, Global Product Marketing, Steve Seminario. Planar’s latest includes an 84″ 4K display and its Mosaic series of variable-sized flat-panel displays. The Mosaic Series is billed as a set of architectural video displays that are available in sizes […]

InfoComm Spotlight: PLANAR’s Steve Seminario Talks with rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins About Where Planar Is and Where It’s Going

THE WEEK – Episode 30: InfoComm Spotlight – PLANAR’s Steve Seminario Talks with rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins About Where They Are and Where They’re Going

In today’s THE WEEK, rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins talks to PLANAR’s Senior Director of Global Product Marketing Steve Seminario about the future of Planar and what the company is going to have at InfoComm. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 30: InfoComm Spotlight – PLANAR’s Steve Seminario Talks with rAVe RADIO’s Joel Rollins About Where They Are and Where They’re Going

THE WEEK – Episode 29: Upcoming for InfoComm

This week, following the news Joel speaks with Matt Ivey of Atomos about the new products they’ll be bringing to the show. With this episode, The Week begins a series of interviews with manufacturers and participants about the upcoming Infocomm Exhibition. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play in new […]

THE WEEK – Episode 29: Upcoming for InfoComm

THE WEEK – Episode 28: rAVe Radio welcomes Hypersign as sponsor

After the news, Joel talks with Neil Willis, CEO of Hypersign and a new rAVe Radio sponsor, about Hypersign and the current state of the digital signage market. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 28: rAVe Radio welcomes Hypersign as sponsor

THE WEEK – Episode 27: Another Big Week in AV News

Last week, we skipped the AV news to address industry safety issues with Scott Tiner, so this week we catch up on some important (and controversial) issues in industry news… Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 27: Another Big Week in AV News

Be Careful Out There

This week, I had a talk with Scott Tiner  on THE WEEK on rAVe Radio. This interview followed Scott’s column in rAVe ED [Education] about safety and the tragedy in Alabama. We talked about safety in our industry, which, judging from the news, is declining. Since then, I have done a lot of thinking about […]

Be Careful Out There

THE WEEK – Episode 26: Staying Safe in AV

In a special edition of THE WEEK, Joel talks with Scott Tiner, rAVe columnist and assistant director of user services at Bates College in Maine, about safety in the audiovisual industry. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 26: Staying Safe in AV

THE WEEK – Episode 25: The Same – Yet Different

After the AV news, Joel talks with Chris Gillespie, longtime friend, colleague and trainer, about training stagers vs. installers – the needs of each, and how the skill sets and attitudes are different… Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 25: The Same – Yet Different

THE WEEK – Episode 24: Interview with Chuck Wilson, Executive Director, NSCA

After the news, Joel speaks with Chuck Wilson, Executive Director of the NSCA, about his new book. Links: UnderTheSocialInfluence.com nscafoundation.org Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 24: Interview with Chuck Wilson, Executive Director, NSCA

Rants and rAVes – Episode 91: Nothing Goes Away on the Internet

That’s the subject of Joel Rollins’ latest blog at rAVePubs.com, however I tell you even a deeper secret about the Internet’s future. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS, iTunes or the Stitcher mobile App Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

Rants and rAVes – Episode 91: Nothing Goes Away on the Internet

THE WEEK – Episode 23: In the news…

This week, we catch up on industry news. There are a lot of events going on, and The Week updates our listeners on what they are. Following the news, Joel talks with… Joel, about the latest event in Dallas, Infocomm Live. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play […]

THE WEEK – Episode 23: In the news…

The More Things Change

Well, as some of you know from the blog, I am just back from the annual InfoComm Live event in Dallas. While my blog entry was written immediately following the event, largely while on a very frightening airplane ride through winter storm Saturn, I have now had more time to reflect on this year’s event, […]

The More Things Change

THE WEEK – Episode 22: Gary and Joel Wrap Up DSE 2013

This week, we catch up on industry news. There are a lot of events going on, and The Week updates our listeners on what they are. Following the news, Joel talks with… Joel, about the latest event in Dallas, InfoComm Live. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play in […]

THE WEEK – Episode 22: Gary and Joel Wrap Up DSE 2013

THE WEEK – Episode 21: Everybody Sells

This week, we talk with Bill Sharer, noted industry consultant, about building a company culture where everybody is involved in marketing and the company image. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 21: Everybody Sells

THE WEEK – Episode 20: Tradeshows – The Human Factor

This week, Joel winds up a two-part series on maximizing your returns on tradeshows. Last week, we spoke with Dean Hills about tradeshow technology. This week, we follow that up with a frank talk with Gary Kayye about tradeshow messaging, and preparing for the show. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   […]

THE WEEK – Episode 20: Tradeshows – The Human Factor

Ancient AV Aliens

By Joel Rollins I’m back from ISE in Amsterdam, and after a blizzard upon my return, I am finally having time to reflect on the experience at ISE. Because, you see, I made an amazing discovery at the show: I Am Not Alone. Let me explain by beginning with a confession. I have a vice, […]

Ancient AV Aliens

THE WEEK – Episode 19: Tradeshows – The Expense and the Technology

After the ISE experience, Joel looks at the expense, and the marketing technology, oftradeshows. Joel’s guest is Dean Hills, President and Founder of PRMConnect, who are harnessing the power of the cloud to make tradeshows pay. Show link: www.prmconnect.com Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 19: Tradeshows – The Expense and the Technology

THE WEEK – Episode 18: ISE Wrap-Up with Gary and Joel

Joel interviews Gary Kayye for the definitive ISE 2013 show wrap-up on day 3 of ISE in Amsterdam. Having trouble listening to the podcast on this page? You can subscribe using RSS or iTunes.   Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

THE WEEK – Episode 18: ISE Wrap-Up with Gary and Joel