June 30th, 2009
No matter what kind of event you’re planning, odds are you could make the event even more impactful by incorporating audio visual support.
From company meetings to family gatherings, audio visuals make it easier for people to participate, to retain what they see and hear, and to help the meeting facilitator achieve their objectives.
But audio visuals are notorious for detracting from any kind of gathering when used improperly. Here are some tips to ensure smooth sailing with audiovisuals at your next event.
- What’s the point? Ask yourself why you want to use an audio visual for a particular purpose. Once you understand the reason for using it, the method and timing will become very clear.
- Consider the best possible type of A/V for your objective
 (and remember, you may need more than one). Handouts and flyers are best for situations where your audience would want to take notes or take information away with them, while projector rentals or LCD monitors work best for information delivery that needs visual/graphic representation.
- Make sure your audio visuals actually support your objective. If you’re adding signs to provide direction and ensure that nobody gets lost, make sure your signs can actually be seen and be helpful.
- Timing is everything. Only put up/take down your A/V support precisely when it’s needed. While directional signs may need to stay put throughout your event, handouts shouldn’t be distributed until immediately before they are needed, and a slide or PowerPoint presentation should be visible only when it’s being explained — otherwise, your audience may have a hard time following the presenter when the subject is changed but the visual is not.
- Set up early and test thoroughly before show time. When using a projector rental or any other kind of audio visual technology, you’ll want to ensure that you know how to properly operate the remote control and how to start and stop the presentation. You’ll also want to ensure that the size, lighting, focus and distance are all properly set.
It’s easy to use these tips to create success audio visual support. And when you’re ready to order that projector rental, be sure to visit us online at Projector123.com.
June 25th, 2009
Let’s face it — bridal showers can either be fun and enjoyable or boring and dull.
 If you’ve got a close friend who’s getting married and you’ve taken on the task of planning her bridal shower, here is an easy instructional guide to get you started on those first hard-to-tackle steps.
Focus on the bride. Too many bridal showers fail because the planner is coming from the perspective of what SHE likes, instead of thinking of the bride herself. Business and leadership expert Stephen Covey says “Begin with the end in mind” but this can definitely apply to party planning too! Put yourself in the bride’s shoes for just a moment and imagine being totally happy at the END of the shower. What was it about the shower that made it so successful?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Depending on the size of the wedding, a bridal shower can be a huge undertaking, so don’t be afraid to ask another friend of the bride (or another bridesmaid or family member) for help. A few caveats: make sure it’s someone who knows the bride well AND whom you can work with (for example, the bride’s domineering aunt may not be the best choice), and talk up-front about how you envision sharing the expense, to ensure there aren’t any unpleasant surprises down the road.
Set a budget — and stick to it. Do your research and don’t go overboard. Choose 1 or 2 special areas to splurge on (flowers, favors, food, location, decoration, invitations, etc.), and keep the rest simple. Remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a wonderful event for the bride and her friends & family.
Decide whether or not to make it a surprise. Remember: what would SHE like best? If it’s not going to be a surprise, be sure and choose a date that works well for the bride.
Choose a date and select a venue. These may go hand-in-hand, depending on the popularity of the venue you choose or the host’s availability if you have an in-home shower.
Once you’ve made it through these steps, the event will really start to come together. And if you’re planning to showcase the bride in a photo or video montage (highly recommended!) then remember to reserve your bridal shower projector rental from Projector123.com.
June 23rd, 2009
There’s still time to grab a projector rental before your Independence Day celebration gets underway. Here are our top 3 ways you can use this fun and affordable tool to light up your July 4th weekend:
- Artificial Fireworks
Families with small children often have to miss out on the big local fireworks display because (depending on where you are in the U.S.), summer sundown occurs right around–or sometime after–the kids’ bedtime. This year, avoid the parking hassles and cranky kids by creating your own fireworks show right at home. If local fire safety restrictions prevent you from lighting up your neighborhood, create an artificial fireworks show with a fireworks DVD, a blank wall (or a hanging white sheet) and a projector rental from Projector123.com. This way, everyone stays comfy and safe, and the fun lasts as long as you like.
- Family Movie Fest
Enjoy new releases and your favorite classics in vivid color and larger-than-life display with a weekend projector rental. Double the popcorn batch and invite your neighbors over for an outdoor Film Fest in your own backyard and you’ll be amazed at what you saved on a trip to the theater. The projector can be used inside or out, so you can mix it up all weekend to keep things fresh and fun.
- Video Game Tournament
All you need is a blank wall (or a white sheet) and a rented projector and you can turn virtually any video game system into a full-blown gaming competition. Whether your family prefers to rock out to Guitar Hero or get physically interactive with the Wii, a projector rental kicks up the gaming experience to a whole new level. This is family entertainment that will keeps the kids rocking all weekend long.
What’s your innovative idea for family fun with a projector rental? Email us your favorites, or post a comment here.
June 22nd, 2009
Summer time in America is generally the busiest bridal season of the year. If you’re a bride-to-be who is planning the wedding of her dreams, you’re no doubt looking for those extra-special touches that will make your wedding really shine.
Think you’re not “techy” enough for a photo or video montage? Think again.
 Putting together your own photo or video montage is easier than you think. In fact, you may find that the toughest part involves choosing which photos to include, and which to leave out. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time for this task — although it’s not especially time-intensive, it can take awhile to gather childhood pix from parents and grandparents, and to collect yearbooks and snapshots from family and friends.
The next step involves choosing the perfect music for your slideshow, you can visit the iTunes store or Amazon.com to purchase copies of the songs. While sites like Limewire and Pandora may be fine for listening to music, you’ll want to ensure you have the highest quality sound for your slide show, so it makes sense to purchase a licensed copy if you don’t already own it on CD or MP3.
Computer applications are readily available to help you put together your montage, including iMovie (for the Mac) or PC software like Slide Show Maker, PowerPoint and Photo Story Platinum.
But don’t feel like you’ve got to take on this task all by yourself! Odds are, someone in your wedding party has the technical knowhow (and the enthusiasm) for spearheading this project. You’ve got plenty to take care of, so why not rely on your friends and family for support? Ask around and find out who loves technical projects in the family and then ask that person to collaborate with you and your groom on the photo montage. You’ll save yourself time and stress and the other person will surely be excited to give their time and talents to help make your day the best it can possibly be.
 Another alternative is to use a service like One True Media, who can create your custom slide show for you.
Whatever option you choose, be sure to count on Projector123.com to deliver the professional-quality projector rental for your special day. Our experienced staff can assist you in choosing the right projector, selecting a screen or alternative viewing wall, and creating a smooth and gorgeous photo or video montage.
June 19th, 2009
As the temperature rises, families begin to look for fun and interesting ways to spend the long summer weekends. With kids out of school, parents are scrambling to find fun, affordable and entertaining ways to pass the time and what better way to beat the heat than with a Family Movie Night?
But forget about the way YOU remember family movie nights, crowded around a small TV watching whatever “family movie” happened to be running on cable.
It’s time to up the ante with a world-class family movie night — on a budget nearly anyone can afford.
Backyard Movie Night
As more and more families are exploring “staycations” as an alternative to costly vacations, backyard movie nights are becoming increasingly popular.  All it takes is a great batch of movies (choose from classics or favorites that you own, or plan ahead a bit and grab an inexpensive rental from Netflix or your local Redbox) and a projector rental from Projector123.com
Afraid you can’t afford a projector rental for the weekend? Then this might surprise you:
In 2008, the average cost of a movie ticket was around $7. For a family of 4, that equates to $28 in admission cost only.
Add a large popcorn, 4 sodas and candy, and that brings the total closer to $50 or more.
(Leaving the kids at home wouldn’t help much, as babysitting can cost upwards of $12 per hour, plus food)
Would it surprise you to know that you could rent a projector from Projector123.com for the whole weekend starting at just $99?
Invite over some friends and neighbors, and you’ve got yourself quite a gathering.
This summer, why not start a new tradition? Get together with a group of your friends — say 4 or 6 families, and each family can take turns renting the projector. You could even choose themes for each gathering — favorite animated films, action movies, classics, chick flicks, you name it.
Go ahead, go crazy. Here at Projector123.com, we’re ready for you.
June 16th, 2009
Summer is the time for parties, and the most frequent reasons for celebrating in June include our Dads and our Grads.
For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow…
 Mark your calendar, because Father’s Day falls on June 21st this year, the perfect time for an outdoor bbq in honor of dad. This year, why not extend the fun well into the evening with movies on the big screen? No, not at a crowded movie theater, but right at home with a projector rental from Projector123.com.
You can rent a screen, or keep things simple by using an indoor or outdoor blank wall as your backdrop for Dad’s big night at the movies. Smooth light-colored walls tend to work best, or you can always hang a white sheet to be used as your screen.
Whether you choose the newest releases from Blockbuster or Netflix, or Dad’s favorite “guy” movies, he’s sure to love your high-tech touch. Best of all, weekend projector rentals are as low as $99, making your dad’s day fun and affordable.
Congratulations to the Graduate!
We’re all proud of our graduates — they’ve worked hard and earned their stripes. Which makes this the perfect time to celebrate their accomplishments with a party — inside or out.
A projector rental is a fun and interactive way to showcase the grad’s personality and share memorable moments with friends and family. Later in the party, you can use your projector rental to show your grad’s favorite movies in vivid detail, dazzling color and larger than life display.
Visit Projector123.com to find out just how easy it is to jazz up your upcoming summer celebrations, including Father’s Day, graduation parties and more!
June 15th, 2009
First, ask yourself this:
- Have you ever wanted to elevate a party or event from “fun” to “spectacular” ?
- Have you ever wondered how to survive the summer when all the kids are home from school and bored to pieces?
- Have you ever been charged with planning a major event like a shower, wedding or milestone party and wanted advice on how to make it shine?
- Have you ever wished you could get some help choosing the perfect theme for your event?
- Have you ever dreamed of planning the kinds of parties and events that people talk about for years to come?
Here at Projector123.com, we’re committed to empowering moms, social butterflies and all you “organizers” (and you know who you are) in raising the bar when it comes to event planning. 
You don’t have to be Martha Stewart (or even a professional event planner) to coordinate the event of the year with our simple tips, tricks, tools and techniques. We’re not just the country’s premier company for projector rentals — we’re also committed to being a valuable resource for you — the people who are exploring new realms of creativity, planning memorable celebrations, and making “life” happen! If you DO need a rental projector for your upcoming event, we can provide you with nationwide delivery/shipping, prepaid return shipping, easy set-up instructions, last-minute accommodations, technical support and more for high-lumen professional quality projectors. Getting your projector rental is as easy as 1-2-3 at ProjectorRentals.com
We love hearing from you! Please post your comments and tell us what kind of information would be really useful to you. What would you like to see here on The Projector Rentals blog?
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