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6 Super Speaking Tips to Banish Boredom

September 1st, 2011

Whether you are speaking to five people in a department meeting or 300 at a tradeshow, the cliche holds true: You have one chance to make a good first impression. Logistically, CRE can help you with gorgeous plasma rentals for your PowerPoint presentation, plus everything you need to fill the room with sights and sounds from our comprehensive selection of audio visual rentals. But it’s not about the room or the equipment – it’s about keeping the audience’s attention. Here are half a dozen great ways to do that.

6 Super Speaking Tips
1. Be bold. Bold statements get attention, making listeners focus on what comes next. So when you make a bold claim – “This industry will die by 2015″ or “Your grandchildren will live to 100″ – have your follow-up ready.

2. Ask a question. You can start with a question and use your presentation to answer it. Another approach is to use multiple questions throughout your presentation. By using CRE’s Audience Response System rentals you can capture valuable feedback.

3. Encourage new thinking. Asking people to use their imagination – “Imagine how to reward innovators” – puts them in the middle of the experience. As an “open, non-restrictive demand,” it allows their creativity free reign.

4. Challenge old thinking. People fall into patterns of thinking as well as behavior. “Old” thinking led many technology analysts to forecast failure for Apple’s iPad. CRE’s experience with iPad rentals, like Apple’s with the device’s phenomenal worldwide sales, clearly spells success, and also shows that innovation can be confusing and counterintuitive.

5. Tell a (true) story. People are most convincing when speaking from the heart. Your audience will sense your sincerity when you share a personal anecdote, unless you try to act sincere or lay it on too thick. You want to connect, not perform.

6. Be yourself. If you don’t tell jokes well, then don’t tell any. Make sure your presentation sounds like you, not your firm’s marketing copy writer or product manager. Digital recorder rentals can help you practice and perfect your delivery for a smooth performance.

Of course, you may run into snags. Stuff happens! Since authenticity is an important element of all these tips – and the subject of fascinating new research – be real. If you flub a line or lose your place, excuse yourself and move on. In fact, it is at these embarrassing times that seasoned speakers make use of Tips #5 and 6. Be honest, be yourself, but never forget Show Biz Rule#1: The show must go on!

If you are “putting on a show” we have a full range of convention rentals and the expert Account Executives to put it together for you. If your work involves putting on someone else’s show, we’ve got the render farm rentals and other post-production gear you need for that, too. One call or e-mail is all it takes, or a few clicks with the Quick Rental Quote form. We’re ready to help, right now, the right way!

7 Simple Steps for Greener Meetings

August 9th, 2011

The “green” movement promotes the wise use of existing energy and the development of new, renewable resources. It’s a long-term goal, certainly, and one that CRE supports, but in the meantime you can still bring green thinking to your company’s meetings, conferences and other events. Stay on the road to sustainability with 7 simple steps for greener meetings.

1. Save trees. Materials can be distributed via Web sites, e-mail or peer-to-peer communication using iPad rentals, WiFi-enabled laptops and smart phones. For everything from pre-event PR to post-event customer follow-up, cross-platform file formats like PDF and HTML make it easy to reach wired and wireless devices of every kind.

2. Make a personal pitch. Whether in a PC video chat, over the phone, in a YouTube clip or, better yet, in person, you need to open your mouth and promote that meeting, seminar or trade show presence. Put promotional materials on the tablet PC rentals that you provide your conference team.

3. Cultivate “enviro-allies”. Share your company’s green statement, or a new one created for your planned event, with vendors, attendees, exhibitors and speakers. Get everyone on the same page and working together toward a mutual goal.

recycling bins

4. The three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Your efforts to use the three Rs should be visible and accessible. As you reduce the use of paper, also reuse glassware instead of buying disposable cups and recycle as much metal, glass and plastic trash as you can.

5. Energy saving plans. Whether you’re running the show or using CRE’s event production services, you will need to ensure, among other things, that lights and air conditioning are turned off in empty rooms. You can tailor other energy-efficient strategies depending on the event type and building.

6. Eat green. Make local, seasonal produce part of the fare if you are also playing caterer. Fresh, healthy foods are never out of style, and eating wisely is an important part of a positive lifestyle.

7. Save gas and time. For off-site events, keep traveling distances short. The host city should be close to as many attendees as possible, and within that city pick one of the hotel conference centers near the airport.

Meeting planning and convention rentals are just two areas of CRE Rentals’ broad expertise, which ranges from all kinds of computer rentals to serious post-production gear. A simple call or e-mail gets an experienced Account Executive on the job, focused on the solution to your unique challenges. (Know what you need? Use our handy Quick Rental Quote form to start “greening” your next event.)

E3 Expo 2011: Trade Show News

May 12th, 2011

E3 Expo As far as high-tech conferences go, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is known for putting on one of the best – E3 Expo 2011, a premiere trade show for computer and video games and related products. The trade show is set for June 7-9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and not only will it be illuminating, it will be lots of fun, too!

Mobile gaming explodes

As the premier international trade show for gaming on all platforms, E3 Expo 2011 gathers in one place all the various artists, engineers, creators, distributors and publishers in all “segments” – from games on smart phones and tablets like CRE’s iPad rentals to the Internet, handheld devices, home computers and dedicated consoles like Xbox and Wii. Mobile gaming is the fastest-growing segment of all and promises to be the hot topic this year.

Over its three days, E3 Expo 2011 will draw tens of thousands of high-tech pros who are working in myriad ways to bring the world a new generation of interactive entertainment. Influential people of all disciplines and from all corporate departments – design, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, etc. – will join representatives of the most innovative companies in the business to discuss new trends and products. If you exhibit at E3 Expo, using one or more of CRE’s touchscreen LCD monitor rentals is an effective way of engaging passers-by and empowering them to learn about your product or service.

Trade Show Booth at E3 Expo

Get your message to the right people

Besides your exhibit booth, a few strategically placed interactive kiosk rentals will go a long way toward getting your message into the right heads – from software developers, distributors, buyers and retailers to venture capitalists, manufacturers, industry analysts and global media pros (print, Web, broadcast). And no matter how “green” you want to go at the convention – read about green conference centers and green practices – we can help.

The ESA also offers member services that include global anti-piracy programs, government and industry relations, business research, 1st Amendment advocacy and protection of intellectual property. Meanwhile, CRE offers you E3 rentals and the know-how to make a good impression. Call or e-mail an Account Executive (or use the Quick Rental Quote form) to get just what you need – before, during and after the show!

CONEXPO-CON/AGG Trade Show: Building the Future

February 8th, 2011

The construction industry is one of America’s true engines of growth and productivity, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 (Construction Expo/Concrete And Aggregates)– in Las Vegas from March 22-26 – is its premier gathering place. CONEXPO, held every three years, brings the latest in services, technologies and equipment. Are you exhibiting? Lets us help you strategize the perfect convention rentals to make your best impression.

Rent plasmas & touchscreens to stand out

With 2,000 exhibitors expected, and an ocean of attendees, you need to stand out. Nothing works quite so well as great video or animated presentations on large-screen plasma rentals. Getting people to stop is one thing – now you want to engage them. Touchscreen LCD monitor rentals, as well as the Sony VAIO L touchscreen computer rentals, offer a simple way to interact with attendees. Consider making the presentations available on your Web site, too, and hand flyers or cards with the URLs to people who walk past your booth.

The CONEXPO focuses quite a bit on education, with 120+ sessions on everything from new industry trends to marketing. The exhibit area will be divided into “product concentration” areas, which will help route interested parties your way – but not everyone will stop at your booth. Counter that by carrying your presentations on iPad rentals, so you can take your multimedia message around with you. You now have multiple ways of communicating your own excitement to attendees.

Get interactive at Green Roads Summit

CONEXPO is holding a Green Roads Summit to cover such crucial topics as sustainability, transportation, climate and competitiveness. Multiply the effectiveness of your conference presence by adding interactive kiosk rentals. These units can be programmed to offer your product presentations on a touchscreen interface, while also collecting contact information on attendees you never see. If you have arranged to lead a breakout session during the summit, combine both information and audience feedback with Audience Response System rentals.

CRE has you covered for any type of trade show rental equipment you need for CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Do you know what you need? Use the handy Quick Rental Quote form, and get just the right gear when and where you need it.

Trade Shows in Feb. 2011: Security and Sedans

January 20th, 2011

The National Automobile Dealers Association will hold its 2011 NADA Convention & Expo at Moscone Center in San Francisco from February 5-7. Thousands of new vehicle dealers – plus retailers, automakers and industry leaders – will be there at the most important event in the automotive industry. Exhibitors need to stand out or be lost in the crowd, so audiovisual rentals and other attention-grabbers should be part of your plan.

Do you have a product or service that targets this industry? Your customers are going to be there as well as your competitors and potential partners. So, it is vital to put on your best show with an interactive presentation displayed on a touchscreen LCD monitor rentals.

Since exhibiting at NADA brings you into personal contact with more auto dealerships than any other venue, you want to make a memorable impression. Letting people “touch their way” through presentations on Sony VAIO L all-in-one computer rental will engage them at your booth, while interactive kiosk rentals placed elsewhere will present your message while capturing information from potential partners and customers. With CRE, you have ‘em covered, coming and going!

RSA Conference USA 2011, coming to San Francisco’s Moscone Center from February 14-18, is the most comprehensive gathering of information security professionals. Attendees will learn about the newest security technologies, get updated on new best practices and gain insight into the security challenges facing businesses today. If you market a product or service to this industry, you can make a big impact with CRE convention rentals tailored to your needs.

The RSA Conference USA 2011 is the ultimate way to connect with security pros from around the globe. They will come from everywhere looking for solutions to the latest security risks, and if you have one of CRE’s plasma rentals you can really wow them. With simple computer programs you can control a multi-monitor setup (even a “wall”), so a few plasma screens or a mix of them and some LCD monitor rentals can make your exhibit the most eye-catching of all.

Consider holding a breakout session with one of CRE’s Audience Response System rentals. You can get immediate input as well as valuable feedback for later use. With CRE’s array of convention rentals you can achieve whatever effect you want.

At CRE Rentals, we are constantly thinking of how we can best serve your needs. We are always ready to equip you to blast through any production bottleneck or put your best foot forward at a convention. Call or e-mail an experienced Account Executive, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, and we’ll set you up with the right equipment, at the right place, at the right time and the right price – right away!

Latest, Greatest, Fastest: What Do You Really Need?

January 11th, 2011

Our technological tools are getting faster and better all the time, but you’ll spend a fortune trying to stay on the leading edge. This is why renting from CRE is such a powerful budgeting strategy. With Mac Pro rentals and high-end storage solutions, CRE provides the power you need for animation, post-production and other creative tasks, and you will know ahead of time what your costs will be. This is important for every company.

You may be better off thinking of computer technology the same way you think about renting equipment for conventions. How so? Unless your company is a Fortune 500 company, you’ll probably rent what you need for that upcoming trade show. Why pay for equipment that won’t be used most of the time? This is analogous to the tech question you need to ponder, “Why pay for computer power that won’t be used most of the time?” Why, indeed?

Overselling as an art form

PC and peripherals manufacturers suggest that you need the latest, greatest, most powerful hardware (and software) at every employee’s desk. Not so. Basic, entry-level computers can handle all the normal “office productivity” tasks you need done – word processing, spreadsheets and charts, even presentations – so you do not need leading-edge tech for the bulk of your employees’ work. You really need to match the equipment to the job at hand, ensuring that each employee has enough power for their work. Having too much power means you are spending too much money.

Once you look at what you really need to run your business, you may find that you can save a good deal of money on hardware. Crunch the numbers and you may discover that half a dozen iMac rentals makes more sense than continuing to buy them on a regular basis. Likewise, if you have production bottlenecks a few times each year (pilot season, FY end, etc.), your bottom line may respond better to some short-term render farm rentals than to purchase orders for the same equipment.

Customize technology…consider rentals

Any plan to save money on technology implementation requires a good deal of study. Customer service reps typically don’t need $6,000 gaming PCs, just as iPad rentals are most cost-effective for your field personnel than rubberized laptops. Many employees will do just fine with entry-level devices. You may even find that certain models in CRE’s wide range of computer rentals are more cost-effective (and more powerful) than the plain vanilla solutions that you will have to replace down the line. Still, your situation is unique – so YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).

Our expert Account Executives can help you figure it all out if you give them a call or send an e-mail. Know what you need? Then fill out the Quick Rental Quote form and we’ll take care of everything. We are always ready to help. It’s what we do!

Event Planners Using “Speed Dating” Techniques

August 10th, 2010

Participants continue to report that some of the most animated discussions and valuable education at conferences take place during meals, breaks, receptions and other unstructured time. Taking a tip from the growing popularity of speed dating, some conference organizers are getting good results from integrating these accelerated “structured networking times” into the event schedule.

In his book Participatory Workshops, Robert Chambers presents the notion of “the buzz,” where participants are invited by speakers and session leaders to “take five” and chat with their neighbors about whatever has just been presented. This simple “learning by talking” approach is based on observed human behavior – like watching conference participants stuck in long, boring speeches champing at the bit to get out to the hallway and talk! (You should consider one of CRE’s digital recorder rentals to capture all the brilliant repartee you’ll find there.)

Speed mentoring

Speed Networking at Events Some early adopters have been using these new conference models already. One association replaced its old-style “panel of experts and keynote address” format a few years back with what it called a “speed mentoring” model. The first move was to divide the attendees into two groups, the more and less experienced managers. Worksheets were developed by having the less experienced managers list the problems or issues they were facing, while the more experienced describe three major lessons they’d learned about managing their markets.

Then, the groups stood at different sides of the room, and the inexperienced managers chose veteran partners for a discussion. After 10 minutes, right on signal, the groups would rotate into new combinations of discussion partners, with five of these rotations producing an hour of what most participants described as incredibly useful interaction with excellent results. If you equip your conference team with tablet PC rentals, they could document every mentoring session easily. Or consider polling the audience with an audience response rental to find out what they would like to discuss.

Breaks and breakouts?

The great thing about this kind of conference model is that it is quite flexible. One possible version of it could reverse the usual keynote/breakout formula where long speeches are followed by quick breakout sessions. In this model, the speechifying would be kept shorter and punchier, and the breakouts may be a bit longer but well paced to keep up the interest and the momentum. With audio visual rentals and plasma rentals and everything else you need for a great breakout session, CRE could help you organize a very successful speed learning conference. You could also introduce elements of the speed methods into your breakout session even if you are at a “conventional convention.” There are lots of ways to leverage these new approaches to learning.

CRE has experience in strategizing and equipping companies to host conferences of all sizes, or outfitting you for exhibiting or leading breakout sessions. With everything from self-service interactive kiosk rentals to all varieties of computer rentals, CRE’s got you covered, A to Z. Call or send an e-mail to an experienced Account Executive, of fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, and we’ll help your event be a success.

It’s San Diego in August for Three Conferences

July 20th, 2010

SPIE Optics + Photonics

The SPIE Optics+Photonics conference is set for August 1-5 (Exhibition is August 3-5) at the San Diego Convention Center. Attendees will get the latest news and research on the solar, nano, optical and photonics technologies that promise improvements to our communities and our planet. Along with access to almost 2,800 papers in the various aforementioned fields, and 22 plenary talks by experts, conference goers will enjoy unparalleled opportunities for networking and bridge-building.

Interactive poster sessions, as well as group discussions focused on specific technical topics, enable you to join your peers and colleagues in delving deep into important subjects, and are open to all paid attendees. Wi-FI laptops or tablet PC rentals may be just the ticket for your conference team, whatever your goal at the conference. There will also be general admission and invitation-only admission to various social, networking, professional development, student and SPIE membership events, where digital recorder rentals might come in very handy.

If your goal is to spread the word on your own product or service, presentation aids like plasma rentals are easily arranged. If you want to capture contact information and develop prospects, you might avail yourself of CRE’s interactive kiosks, now with 17-inch touchscreen interfaces. Whether bringing a message, gathering information or both, CRE can equip you to succeed.

ASR Access

From August 13-15 at the San Diego Convention Center, ASR Access will be where over 400 surf and skate lifestyle brands preview their 2010/2011 collections to international buyers. With over 18,000 people from over 60 countries, 7,000+ buyers/distributors of lifestyle products and some 450 exhibiting manufacturers representing over 700 brands, ASR Access is a product-focused event with plenty of variety.

ASR Access features range from a fashion show and centralized lounges to business seminars and places where you can meet, network, make buying decisions and gain valuable insights. Whether you need a full-size exhibit space with plasma rentals, or some audio visual rentals to lead a breakout session, CRE is prepared right now to prepare you right.

CLASS@ASR runs concurrently with ASR at the Convention Center with over 100 designers that cross over from surf/skate lifestyle lines into the prestigious fashion market. Also staging across from ASR in the Petco Park parking lot is Crossroads, committed to the independent nature of skateboarding culture and a uniquely relaxed format. It’s almost like three conferences in one, but if you get the right convention rentals from CRE Rentals it can be one big success.

NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference

The NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference, also at the San Diego Convention Center from August 27-31, is where leading retailers meet with suppliers of healthcare products, pharmacy technology, software and a wide range of other innovative goods and services. With strategic reports, educational sessions and insider insight into pharmacy operations, clinical issues, marketing and distribution, this is one conference that delivers unique, usable information.

To reach the decision-makers of over 130 retail companies – chain drug stores, supermarkets and other mass merchandisers with some 80,000 retail outlets and $200+ billion in annual sales of prescription medicines, OTC preparations and home healthcare goods – the dramatic, colorful plasma rentals still cannot be beat. If you will be having key meetings with others in the exhibit area or the “Meet the Rx Market” sessions, consider outfitting your team with laptop rentals.

No matter what you need to accomplish at one of August’s San Diego conferences, CRE is here to help. Whether you’re attending, exhibiting or both, we have the hardware, software and know-how to make your presence a success. Call, send an e-mail or fill out our Quick Rental Quote form and let our experienced Account Executives help prepare you for a successful conference (or two, or three).

July Trade Shows: Comic Books, Chips, Graphics

June 29th, 2010

SEMICON West 2010, from July 13-15 at San Francisco’s Moscone Convention Center, is the leading annual event in North America for the global semiconductor and microelectronics industries, with technical meetings, business programs and networking events. Exhibitors on hand will be featuring new cables, communications and computer hardware, data communications products, electrical components and other technologies. CRE has the entire range of convention rentals to make your SEMICON appearance a success.

From a massive inventory of audio/visual equipment rentals CRE can assemble just the right package for your booth and/or breakout room. CRE has it all, from simple mixers to complete sound reinforcement packages, to reach people’s ears, and the full range of plasma rentals, up to 61” in size (diagonal measure), to capture their eyes. If you need an entire breakout room package, CRE has years of experience at SEMICON events and will deliver, set up and pick up your rentals in strict accordance with conference guidelines. Our veteran delivery staff, plus 24/7 tech support, make CRE the number one choice for all your SEMICON needs.

Comic-Con 2010 is the 41st edition of the world’s premier comic book and popular art convention, being held July 22-25 at the San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con is a unique mix of both low and high tech approaches to the comic book art form, where pen and ink artists mingle easily with computer-based illustrators. Exhibitors and attendees alike come from all points on the artistic and business spectrum – from writers, designers and illustrators to publishers, broadcasters, filmmakers and all the technical personnel working in those fields.

CRE’s Comic-Con rentals run the gamut from exhibit booth necessities to breakout room requirements. CRE has a long history of supporting exhibitors, small and large, with everything from Comic-Con plasma rentals for exhibit booth displays to large-room solutions for breakout sessions, as well. A session package may include wireless mics, powered speakers and/or other audiovisual rental technology that CRE can provide.

SIGGRAPH 2010 takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 25-29, once again creating the best place in the world to behold the state of the art in computer graphics and interactive technologies. As an attendee, exhibitor or both, you can meet and brainstorm with worldwide leaders in research, software, animation, visualization, art, hardware, special effects, games and education. From speaker panels to breakout sessions, the SIGGRAPH conference is five days of top-notch, interdisciplinary education with a commercial exhibition on the last three days, an unfailingly exciting show that attracts hundreds of diverse exhibitors from dozens of countries.

CRE’s SIGGRAPH plasma rentals provide an effective means of grabbing attention for your booth, while interactive kiosk rentals act like extra team members, since they can be set up in high-traffic areas to present product demos and collect contact information from interested parties. In addition to the technical programs, SIGGRAPH has numerous display areas (“installations”) that provide close-ups of the latest digital art, offer hands-on opportunities for creative collaboration and focus on new, emerging technologies.

Whether you’re exhibiting or attending (or both); a small firm needing a few MacBook Pro rentals or a media company contemplating a video wall; a graphic arts studio or inventors of a new, improved drawing tablet for computer-based art – whatever you want to promote, discover or share at one of July’s hot-as-summer trade shows, CRE is the conference expert you need on your side. A call, an e-mail or our Quick Rental Quote form is all it takes to get us working on your booth or breakout session plan.

Interactive and Collaborative Tech Tools

June 10th, 2010

In every phase of your business now – from marketing and prospecting to R&D, from attending trade shows to exhibiting and making presentations at them, as well – you can avail yourself of today’s potent interactive and collaborative technologies. With wireless mobility and real-time connectivity come faster product development and better feedback from clients and prospects, which is good no matter what industry you’re in. CRE can help you leverage this technology to great benefit, no matter where you are or what you are doing.

Apple’s iPad has been getting a ridiculous amount of press, but precious little has been said about serious, productive uses (even in our own first look). Its size, about midway between a smart phone and a netbook, means it has enough screen real estate to do real browsing, writing (with a nice on-screen keyboard or a Bluetooth wireless one), reading and document handling (PDFs, photos, video, etc.). With WiFi-only and WiFi-plus-3G connectivity, you can stay in touch with one, two or 200 colleagues, customers, clients and/or coworkers, wherever you are, to accomplish pretty much whatever you need to do. When the “excitement of the new” wears off, the iPad should be standing tall, regardless, as it really can be a great tool for you, as Adobe proved this week with its release of iPad-specific publishing tools.

Tablet PCs running Windows have been around forever, it seems, and have been refined over the years. It can be argued that the humble tablet PC was a precursor to the iPad, as it combined Wi-Fi, handwriting recognition, a good bit of audio-video capability and ease of use in a mobile (if not pocket-sized) form factor.With CRE’s tablet PC rentals, conference teams or salespeople can run PowerPoint presentations, maintain contact with headquarters, stay abreast of breaking news or take handwritten notes. On site or on the go, a tablet or pad can be a true collaborative tool. Although Windows tablet PC’s typically run a special version of Microsoft Windows XP, CRE can configure your tablet PC with the ever-popular Microsoft Office, or even the Ubuntu version of Linux. CRE features award-winning tablets from Motion Computing, which can also run Windows 7 if you’re a Top Geek, like the fellow in this YouTube video.

A recent CRE blog discussed some of the new technologies finding their way into Audience Response Systems. In addition to tighter integration with MS Office applications, particularly PowerPoint, the leading ARS makers are making much more capable keypads and are allowing input from more and more wireless devices all the time, from smart phones to (yes) the iPad. There are few better methods for getting real-time input from your audience than one of CRE’s Audience Response System rentals.

Despite CRE carrying a number of interactive, collaborative devices, our interactive kiosks are the only products in the CRE lineup that feature “interactive” in the name. Standalone kiosks let you multiply your presence at trade shows, conferences or your own annual shareholder meetings. They can be set up remotely, as well, to run product demonstrations, capture contact information from interested parties, feature surveys, connect job seekers to your firm’s online employment application and 1001 other things.

When it comes to helping you meet the challenges of today’s marketplace, whether it’s with a number of iMac rentals for post-production or some audio-visual rentals for that conference or presentation, CRE Rentals is ready to help. Send an e-mail or make a call to our experienced Account Executives, or fill out our Quick Rental Quote form, and we will get you “interactivated” and “collaborational” in no time.

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