by Bill Wells

Wireless microphones are a staple of live event production. Once freed of a mike cord, presenters are no longer confined to a lectern and can use the entire stage with confidence. Questions from the floor can be fielded swiftly with the use of roaming microphones in the audience. This freedom of mobility helps to produce events that look and sound more professional. Because wireless microphone technology is such a standard part of modern event production, expectations are high that this equipment will perform flawlessly. However, many factors contribute to making this possible.

Wireless microphones must operate free of interference.
Audio is transmitted through FCC-regulated radio frequencies. It’s the job of your event’s audio team to find clear and stable channels for each wireless microphone to be used – the more microphones, the more available frequencies needed. Every venue is different, and in more locales, competition for usable frequencies can be challenging. Working in a large convention center may increase the competition because of other productions using wireless microphones elsewhere in the same facility.

Understand the changes in regulations.
Soon, there will be even fewer wireless microphone channels available because the FCC recently sold off a large portion of the frequency range for use by other services such as cell phone networks. This will make it illegal to use wireless microphones designed operate within the 700 MHz band, starting in June 2010. While we at Mills James are prepared for this change, it will make competition for useable frequencies even greater. (View the PDF at the bottom of this post for additional information about the upcoming FCC regulation changes.)

Analyze your wireless environment.
Interference from other devices can cause wireless microphones to drop out, make ugly static sounds, or even transmit someone else's microphone. Mills James takes detailed precautions to prevent interruptions or interference to our wireless microphone systems. We use professional computer frequency analysis and calibration software to find free and clear channels. On show sites, we run extensive diagnostic frequency scans before anyone takes the stage. We use distribution systems to boost the power of our antennas so the microphone signals can cover any size event space. We ensure that no presenter is wearing a cell phone or other portable electronic device that could cause havoc with wireless systems.

Having a good backup plan is crucial.
Interference from other devices can cause wireless microphones to drop out, make ugly static sounds, or even transmit someone else's microphone. Mills James takes detailed precautions to prevent interruptions or interference to our wireless microphone systems. We use professional computer frequency analysis and calibration software to find free and clear channels. On show sites, we run extensive diagnostic frequency scans before anyone takes the stage. We use distribution systems to boost the power of our antennas so the microphone signals can cover any size event space. We ensure that no presenter is wearing a cell phone or other portable electronic device that could cause havoc with wireless systems.

Wireless microphones add freedom and flexibility for meetings and live events of all kinds. Before your next gathering, make sure your production team is prepared to manage all the issues to assure high-quality audio in an increasingly wireless world.

by John Aldrich

Cease-Fire from PowerPointless Presentations
For presenters who rely on PowerPoint to provide visual support for their speeches, it’s no small irony that text builds are called 'bullet points.' Armed with PowerPoint design templates, an efficient presenter can quickly load and fire off enough rounds of deadly text bullets to send stunned audience victims scurrying for cover. 'Death by PowerPoint' is a ruthlessly cruel way to go. When you think about it, bad PowerPoint has murdered presentations the way bad karaoke has killed live music performance in bars.

Is PowerPoint evil?
In 2003, Yale University's Edward Tufte wrote his now-famous essay for Wired magazine, "PowerPoint is Evil" [September, 2003.] As Professor Tufte wrote, "Power corrupts. PowerPoint corrupts absolutely. The standard PowerPoint presentation elevates format over content, betraying an attitude of commercialism that turns everything into a sales pitch. Audiences consequently endure a relentless sequentiality, one damn slide after another." Unfortunately, little has changed in the years since the article was written, except that Microsoft has added even more ways to fling, flip and spin bullet points at the audience.

Here at Mills James, we have a surprising fondness for PowerPoint -- but not for the reasons you'd think. Fundamentally, we believe 'PowerPoint doesn’t bore people – people bore people.'

PowerPoint DOES have its advantages, though. As a tool to easily sequence and present content, PowerPoint is unexcelled as a slide manager. And it's everywhere. In classrooms, fourth-graders are using it for show and tell. It's as common as a can opener.

But as a design and visualization tool, PowerPoint IS evil. Just because you can spew moving text on the wall in a dozen fonts doesn't mean you're communicating with your crowd. A hail of flying bullet points can't replace a riveting message and a compelling delivery style.

PowerPoint redeemed
But an interesting thing happens when you match a talented presentation designer with a folio of speech content and a current version of PowerPoint -- eye-appealing visuals unite with relevant audio and video content as a powerfully effective communication resource. Then when it's under the control of a speaker with a polished stage presence, the result is a presentation that actually engages audiences and tells important stories in compelling ways. People pay attention. Learn. Understand. And act.

The value formula
Some of our corporate executive clients have perfected their recipes for building effective PowerPoint presentations on a budget. At Mills James, we start with an appealing PowerPoint skin -- not a stock-issue PowerPoint template, but a custom look we've developed just for their brand or especially for their meeting/event. Then they populate that template with their own presentation content, using their administrative support people to load images and build first-draft text and chart sequences. Once the raw presentations are done, they email or FTP the PowerPoint files back to Mills James where our presentation designers finesse the presentations with improved graphics and imagery, consistent formatting, graceful transitions and optimized audio, video and animations. This formula provides the best value -- presenters handle the DIY stuff so the pros only need to focus on the technology and the touch-ups. FTP the PowerPoint files back to Mills James where our presentation designers finesse the presentations with improved graphics and imagery, consistent formatting, graceful transitions and optimized audio, video and animations. This formula provides the best value -- presenters handle the DIY stuff so the pros only need to focus on the technology and the touch-ups.

We believe in PowerPoint -- but only when it's used as support for the presentation, rather than as the presentation itself. In the end, the presentation isn't done just because the PowerPoint file is complete. Good presenters rehearse. Great ones shoot video of their rehearsals to see themselves objectively, the way their audience will. They use their emotions and converse with the audience rather than 'perform.' They tell stories; talk with their hands; fully use the entire presentation space and don't rely on the screen alone to do ALL their heavy lifting.

Great PowerPoint presentations serve both the speaker AND their audience. For the presenter, they're easy and natural to use -- rather than as prompters or crutches for the ill-prepared. For audience members, the best presentations are created with respect for their backgrounds and frames of reference. Bullets? They're fine for deer season, not so much for presentations.

by Arthur James

According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. But if you’re a marketer, this may also be the Year of the Web Video. Online video for marketing and communications is poised for a huge year in 2010. The reasons are clear: Greater availability of broadband connections coupled with the rise of video hosting and sharing sites, such as YouTube, has made online video accessible to the masses. And freed of the bandwidth bottleneck, online video is engaging people in ways that static text and images can’t.

While “search engine optimization” has been all the buzz in the last year, marketing professionals now need to consider how to best distribute and promote their video content, ranging from viral product promotions to streaming customer support and training videos. Here’s why.

Video out-ranks other content in Google searches
A study conducted by Forrester Research in 2009 confirmed that video content tends to out-rank text content in Google searches – by about 50 times as much. Forrester compared the likelihood of a video result appearing on the homepage with that of a standard HTML textual page result, and found that indexed videos have roughly 50 times greater chance of ranking on the first page. For marketers who obsess over the nuances of search engine optimization techniques, just adding video to their mix of Web content can add more search placement horsepower than many other methods combined.

Quality over quantity
As the Web continues its relentless evolution, there has been a change in both the quantity and quality of Web videos. Many of the social media sites like YouTube began as platforms for online users to upload their own quirky homemade videos. But according to a Businessweek Technology report [Web Video: Move Over, Amateurs], jerky Web videos of skateboarding dogs are becoming less alluring to online viewers – who increasingly prefer material with higher production values, including news clips and movie trailers. With the increasing number of TV episodes now online and the advent of premium TV content sites like Hulu, the demand for higher production values is rapidly increasing.

Online video goes mainstream
Online video is on a roll, confirmed in a recent study by comScore revealing that in October 2009, more than 170 million viewers in the U.S. watched an average of 167 videos each, while YouTube reached 1 billion video views per day – or 41 million views per hour – in the same month. Over 57% of U.S. Internet users say they have watched or downloaded online videos, according to a July 2009 study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. This milestone means online video has finally passed the tipping point – when video has progressed from a bulky file that clogs up your browser to a smoothly delivered, mainstream form of content delivery on the Internet.

Your own personal FCC license
When it comes to online video, it’s a totally deregulated marketplace. Having a domain name is like having your own personal FCC broadcast license. You can produce and deliver any type of multimedia content to broadcast video about your company or organization, your products and services, “how to” videos, customer testimonials, demonstrations, or any videos to support your brand experience. There’s no limit to the variety or amount of material you can make available, and it’s “on” 24/7.

Web video: Yearning to be free
Best of all: online free, or nearly so – once you’ve got your video content produced, organized, and compressed into Web-friendly digital file formats. Producing promotional Web videos doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. With a little planning, you can repurpose your existing video content – from TV spots and company overview videos to point-of-purchase and customer training pieces. Edited and optimized for the Web, online videos can become a priceless marketing tool for your business or organization.

Traditional television and video has historically had a high distribution cost – for TV time or producing and mailing DVDs. But unlike traditional TV commercials, promotional Web videos can be broadcast directly to your target audience for free through hosting on your own site; pushed through email, Facebook and Twitter; and uploaded through video sharing sites such as YouTube, Metacafe, Google Video, and iFilm – or how-to video sites such as Tubetorial.com and ThatsHow.com.

Video will be everywhere
Fortunately, as prices drop and quality improves, the difference between a TV set and a computer monitor is becoming less and less distinct. In today's WiFi landscape, with hotspots everywhere in restaurants and public spaces, they're all just displays. And with low-priced netbook computers and video-enabled smartphones the new norm at most cellular stores, more of us will be watching Web-based video on the fly, wherever we are.

Online video is a powerful tool in today’s marketing arsenal. And as we roll into a new decade, now is the time to make sure your company has a clear online video strategy in place that works alongside your Web, social media, advertising, PR, and other marketing strategies.

For more information on preparing and optimizing video content for the Web, call Mills James at 614.777.9933 or visit us online at www.millsjames.com.

by Bruce Reid

Virtual meetings have been steadily picking up steam in the wake of the economic downturn, partly due to what many people call the “AIG effect.” The financial corporation’s misappropriated funds left the population wondering why anyone would spend millions of dollars flying executives around in private jets for meetings in far-off, luxurious destinations while the majority of businesses struggle to survive. But as any logical economist would aptly point out, even grim and dire situations turn out opportunity. Enter virtual meetings.

When you aren’t AIG and don’t have millions in your business travel budget, there are a number of solutions available that allow associates from various locations to connect in a virtual forum and interact in real-time. Focus Research breaks down The Top 12 Web Conferencing Vendors and also provides a Web Conferencing Buyer’s Guide* to assist you in making your selection.

Nothing can beat a face-to-face, but meeting planners know that this is not always an option. Next time consider a virtual meeting.

*free registration required to view

by Mike Yearling

Whether we’re producing videos, events or interactive media at Mills James, our mission is always the same: to meet communication objectives in inspiring ways, on time and on budget.

Great creative and outstanding talent are critical, but behind every success there’s usually something deeper at play too: the production process itself. Show me a project that aligns the warring siblings of quality, cost and speed, and I’ll bet there’s a production process behind it loaded with wisdom.

Through the years, we’ve come to define “wisdom” as our ability to avoid the following Seven Deadly Sins of Producing:

1. Not asking the right questions up front. I’m always struck by how many downstream production issues can be avoided by just asking the right questions before the spending begins. We have our own checklists based on previous experiences.

2. Not squashing creative ambiguities early on. In discussing creative, words are never enough. Use images. Or review past projects as frames of reference.

3. Basing your budget or timeline on a Utopian dream. If you know executives will make a lot of changes, plan for it. Nice surprise, if it doesn’t happen!

4. Not getting work in front of key decision makers early. Better to avoid a complete project reversal days before the project is due.

5. Spending 80% of your budget on the first cut. Rather than build the whole house at once, show rooms along the way.

6. Not seeing the forest while gazing at the trees. Approach your communication initiatives as a comprehensive annual program, not a bunch of separate projects.

7. Not learning from your mistakes. Before rushing off to the next project, take a moment to reflect frankly on this one first. Your next project will love you for it.

by Bruce Reid, VP, Event Technologies

Mills James provides staging support, audio and lighting solutions, and video projection and display systems for hundreds of live events each year. Below are some thought starters and production suggestions from our “A/V geeks” to help plan your next event.

Sound Advice
The number one A/V need for any successful meeting is quality sound.

If your attendees can’t hear, nothing else matters. The type of audio system you’ll require depends on audience size and event venue. Powered speakers, a small mixer and a few microphones will easily accommodate groups smaller than 150 people. Crowds of 150 or more people, larger spaces, and more complicated audio set-ups may require multiple speaker clusters, sound equalization and delay systems, and a digital audio console to provide high-quality audio in your meeting environment, suppress echoes and improve sound intelligibility.

If you plan on using more than four microphones – especially wireless microphones – or require multiple inputs (DVD or CD players, for example), we strongly encourage budgeting for an on site audio engineer. The audio engineer can make adjustments for different speakers’ voices, avoid and control feedback and volume problems.

Lighten the Mood
Lighting equipment can add punch to staging design and doesn’t have to be expensive.

Basic, ground-supported accent lighting can add color and ambience without breaking the bank. A few theatrical-style lights on floor-mounted stands and a simple dimming system are often ample for podium presentations. For larger venues, or events with extensive presentation requirements, Mills James’ lighting directors can recommend, design, install and operate more complex, truss-mounted lighting systems and LED Color Blocks that can accommodate color and scene changes, intelligent moving lights and lighting.

Having an ample lighting power supply is paramount. Depending on your event venue, additional generators may be necessary. Always check with your venue regarding power availability and charges.

Projecting the Right Image
Once your sound and lighting needs are covered, consider your data projection and video display needs.

For simple PowerPoint® presentations, a laptop computer, digital video projector, and basic screen may be all you need. Mixing video and computer images requires adding video scalers, switchers and scan converters. Consider budgeting for image magnification (“I-Mag”), which uses video cameras to “magnify” presenters on larger screens, for large audiences. These systems can accommodate multiple cameras, video playback and recording, and provide sophisticated projection on multiple screens.

Our technical directors and projection engineers can advise you on determining projection and display options, and assist you with integrating video playback and computer-based presentation tools.

For more insight into the production process, call me, Bruce Reid, at 614.777.9933 or email me at breid@mjp.com. For more information on Mills James services, visit our Web site at www.millsjames.com.

by Scott Lanum, VP, Teleproduction Services

The Vyvx Fiber Optic Network
When delivering a video or television project absolutely, positively overnight is NOT fast enough, our clients can count on Mills James to get it anywhere in the world at the speed of light.

Mills James is one of only two Ohio facilities affiliated with Vyvx – a subsidiary of Level 3 Communications and one of the largest communications companies in the world.

The Vyvx fiber optic network gives Mills James direct connectivity to more than 50 television markets and 40-plus production companies in the United States, as well as global access via satellite. This service enables us to transmit your materials to advertising, news, sports and entertainment centers virtually anywhere in the world.

Multi-Camera Broadcast Studios
Major TV networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, CNBC, MSNBC and ESPN use us to interview guests on breaking news topics.

Celebrities such as Matchbox Twenty and actress/singer Hilary Duff have conducted video press tours from our studios, reaching TV stations across the nation with personalized, live interviews in just a few hours.

Media personalities such as ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, CNN’s Glenn Beck, and John Kasich, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren of FOX News have hosted live national broadcasts from our studios. And political candidates can respond to state and national issues with speed and efficiency.

Media Press Tours, Breaking News, Training and More
If you need to deliver high quality, real-time media and press tours, crisis communications, breaking news stories, a corporate training event, advertising and public relations materials, or remote conferencing, then Mills James’ Vyvx solution is your best choice in Central Ohio – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

by Cameron James, CEO, Mills James

A successful event results from a clear vision, careful planning, accurate budgeting and the perfect blend of creative strategy and technical execution. Ensure success by considering the following when planning your next event:

Know Your Message
Understanding the purpose of the meeting and clearly defining your objectives is critical to the event’s effectiveness.

-What do you want your meeting to achieve? Is it to motivate, establish awareness, raise funds, gain market share, educate on a specific initiative, recognize performance?
-Keep it simple and always clearly communicate what you expect of attendees. Too much content can distract from your meeting’s objective.

Know Your Audience
Audience demographics will help define how your event is structured and presented.

-Researching your audience and understanding their demographics will help when formulating your message.
-Do a needs assessment or survey among a sampling of attendees. You can also involve them in your content development to ensure you're on point.

Know Your Budget
Budget parameters will determine what is feasible for event production and staging.

-Start with a solid budget that accounts for all event deliverables – with a contingency plan for unforeseen expenses.
-To minimize surprises, account for potential venue and house fees, as well as applicable taxes.

Ultimately, It’s About The Experience
People are motivated by an event that appeals to them personally – which is why the experience means everything. Enlist event production professionals with experience to help ensure a flawless presentation.

-Create an event that includes a "wow" moment. Move your audience to action by creating an inspirational, informative and memorable event.
-Event production professionals should include as many back-up systems as possible to ensure a flawless presentation. A successful event producer should be prepared for the unexpected, and be able to handle any situation – planned or unplanned!