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How Green are Convention Centers?

June 28th, 2011

Green conventions are much more numerous than they were when we first blogged about them (read our post on Best Practices Checklist) from 2009. More importantly, they are no longer an “alternative” style, but a primary one. Since CRE is the go-to firm for conferences, with expertise in everything from convention rentals and presentations to tech support and logistics, we’re well qualified to point the way to “greener pastures.”

How Green are Convention Centers

Shades of green

Rather than tactics or activities, which we’ve blogged about elsewhere, this is about how to spot a good convention facility to achieve your “green” goal. You cannot assume anything about a hotel or convention center simply because it calls itself “green.” There are no legal standards in effect for using the term.

It’s your responsibility to figure out how to (excuse the pun) greenlight the candidates for your firm’s convention site. Consider this a “profiling” task and look for the following “character traits”:

• Accessibility (real and virtual) – The site, if not itself a hotel complex, should be within walking distance of hotels, eateries and public transportation. You also need access to both your data and your colleagues, so site-wide Wi-Fi is key to keeping your team’s iPad rentals, tablets and other devices connected to the Web – and each other.

• Saving water – The “deep green” convention sites have the latest in forced-air hand driers, low-flow toilets and other water-saving devices in restrooms.

• Serving water – Less waste is generated if the convention center provides glassware and large pitchers of water, rather than costly individual water bottles.

• The paper chase – Convention centers should help attendees reduce the use of paper, starting with Wi-Fi for programs and registration. Laptops, iPad 2, tablet PC rentals – CRE has the right wireless rental solutions for all your different needs.

• Setup and teardown efficiency – Green facilities will have a strategy for reducing utility costs (lights, a/c, heat) during setup and teardown in the exhibit area. CRE Rentals’ setup personnel will handle everything including schooling you in the most efficient use of the latest LCD touchscreen monitor rentals.

• Site-wide efficiency – The convention center should also reduce energy usage by cutting off lights in unused rooms, at all hours.

• Commitment – The convention center should have a comprehensive recycling program already in place and a policy similar to CRE’s own “Green Statement.”

CRE can help you “go green” at a convention or “stay green” right in your office – with everything from energy-saving office equipment rentals to high-end, high horsepower post-production gear that reduces project time to save you money. Ready for lean and green? Call or send an e-mail to an expert Account Executive now. As always, if you know what you need, head for the Quick Rental Quote form and we’ll be right on it!

Five Steps to Better Presentations

June 16th, 2011

PowerPoint Presentation CRE helps you make the most of your presentations with fabulous plasma rentals and everything else you need to look good. Of course, your presentation is only part visual – a PowerPoint “deck,” an Apple Keynote document, a slide show – and the other part is verbal. So, what’s the best way to cook up a persuasive presentation with these ingredients?

Listen to the audience

As with other challenges, it may be easier to tell you what not to do. Professional speaker and presentation guru David Paradi surveyed audiences about presentations. Following each negative comment is the percentage of agreement:

• Speaker reads slide copy (69.2%)
• Text unreadably small (48.2%)
• Sentences rather than bullet points (48%)
• Colors unreadable (33%)
• “Busy” graphics, special effects (27.9%)

It’s impossible to list all the good ideas and tell you what you should do, but there are some agreed-upon basics for creating effective presentations. Start here and stay teachable as you look around for more help.

Five steps to a better presentation

1. Successful slides are supportive, giving your message impact and making it memorable. A slide must clarify, reinforce, make an emotional appeal, take the audience to a different “mental location” and/or portray complex concepts simply. Using graphics sparingly maintains their power. Using too many dilutes it.

2. Establish a powerful presence by making your slides readable from the back row. Keep copy simple and follow the “Rule of 66” – six lines of text per screen with six words maximum per line (minimum 24-pt type). Viewing screens with white backgrounds, whether you use monitors or CRE projector rentals, can be like “like staring into headlights” for audiences. Use light text on dark backgrounds.

3. Make your point with “bullets” using the absolute minimum verbiage. Full sentences, if you must use them, should be memorable, brief (15-20 words) and clearly superior to shorter alternatives. Audiences typically remember things with impact, like quotes.

4. Simpler is better for graphs that grab and charts that clarify. Do your fancy effects add to audience understanding? If not, they likely cloud meaning while cluttering the screen. Making clear points is hard enough without annoying people.

5. Show a “map” so your audiences know where you’re headed. You can divide your presentation into sections, using different background colors or icons to show progress and position. Explain the agenda in your opening and never leave your audience guessing.

Don’t dilute your message

Remember, visuals must add power and/or clarity to your presentation or you shouldn’t use them. Used wrongly, they will dilute your message and can even alienate your audience. You should consider one of CRE’s audience response system rentals so you can get real-time feedback on your presentations, in-house and at conferences, for ongoing improvement.

From PCs, displays and office equipment to specialized gear like render farm rentals, CRE is your one-stop solution. Call or e-mail an experienced Account Executive, or tell us what you need with the Quick Rental Quote form. We’re ready with your solutions right now!

Training: Invest in Your Employees

June 9th, 2011

CRE has a wide range of clients taking advantage of its computer rentals, post-production technology and trade show expertise. Because of what economists call the “economy of scale”, some of the most cost-effective rental strategies besides conventions involve employee training. Because you reap immediate and long-term benefits from well-trained employees, paying for training can truly be considered investing in your employees and your firm. Let’s take a look at how CRE Rentals can help you.

Training adds value

Training your Employees There are many kinds of training that can empower your employees – one-on-one, small and large groups using CRE’s iMac rentals, offline, online or some combination – and the challenge is finding one that works the best for the majority of the people you are training. Worker productivity increases 88% with assisted training versus 24% for employee self-training, according to a recent report from the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD). Work with your employees to find out how they learn the best.

“Mentoring” was also found very effective in that report, especially as the term is no longer narrowly defined as a one-on-one relationship with private study. Although that’s the way most people think of it, mentoring is now understood as an ongoing process wherein more experienced employees or managers help the less experienced. It can be done individually or in groups – the important thing is learning!

A culture of learning

After investing time and money creating FCP experts to work with AJA Io HD rentals on vital projects, you need to keep them. Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and other firms that have invested heavily in mentoring and training have discovered that effective programs nurture leaders, reduce learning costs and help retain valuable employees. If you want to customize your own training, companies like MediaPro offer programs, procedures and tools to do so. But there’s free help, too.

SCORE (Service Corps Of Retired Executives) has 13,000+ mentors in over 500 fields, making it the premier source of free business advice for small businesses. You can connect with them any which way – in person, by e-mail or on the phone. For a group, you can even set up video conference calls on large-screen plasma rentals (one for a small group, or several for a large group). SCORE’s Web site is full of resources, old-time smarts and new ideas. Did we mention it’s all free?

CRE’s expert Account Executives always have new ideas for you, too, whether you need potent Mac Pro rentals or the comprehensive attention of our event production specialists. Whatever your project, simply call or e-mail for assistance, or help yourself with the Quick Rental Quote form if you know what you need. Our job is to help you get your jobs done, whatever it takes.

Sanity Saving Basics for PC and Mac Computers

April 28th, 2011

Even if your work computer is maintained and repaired by the IT department, and your spouse takes care of the ones at home, you really should know the basics of troubleshooting. Since about 90% of issues are caused by about half a dozen things (on PCs and Macintoshes both), any time you put into learning basic troubleshooting is a good investment. Troubleshooting Tips for PC and Mac Computers We’ll take a look at a few of the most common issues.

The PC side

On PCs, that “90% of all computer problems” phrase means that your computer likely suffers from one or more of the following conditions: a fragmented hard drive; Windows registry errors and improper settings; too many programs loading at startup; and adware, spyware, malware and viruses. Bad RAM, dying hard drives, faulty motherboards and other serious problems cause the 10% of cases that require expert repairs.

CRE computer rentals, of course, arrive in perfect working order, but there’s no magic involved, just the generally accepted PC regimen: Use a decent defragmenter (the one that comes with Windows is notoriously bad); use a registry cleaner; get your startup routine in order; and use a well-rated tool for removing adware, spyware, malware and viruses. If you don’t have time to study all the alternatives, a recent PCmag.com article discusses the best maintenance and tune-up tools.

On the Mac

One recurring problem with Mac OS X is programs crashing (freezing). It can happen even with well-maintained iMac rentals, but the solution is easy – press Command-Option-Escape or choose Force Quit from the Apple menu, and select the unresponsive program from the resulting list. Forcing a crashed program to quit will rarely affect other programs or the OS itself, and the application should run fine when restarted. If your Mac is beginning to slow down and feel sluggish, on the other hand, it could be many things – but remember, the chances are nine out of 10 that the problem is among the basic ones we’re discussing here.

At least 20% of your hard drive should be free space (with Windows, too). Check yours by highlighting the drive icon in the Finder and pressing Command-I (Get Info). If there’s not enough free space, throw out garbage, offload files and/or buy a bigger hard drive (internal or external). You also may need to repair permissions, which you do with the Disk Utility program. This application will also “verify” your drives and “repair” a number of common problems with files and volume structures. The same problems that can crash an iMac can bring down the mighty Mac Pro rentals, too – but never fear, Disk Utility comes on every Mac.

Bottom line reminders

If you learn the basic steps in this article, and read the other instructional blogs that we publish regularly, soon enough you will only have to worry about the 10% of computer problems that require expert intervention. Speaking of experts, our Account Executives are ready to reply right now to your call or e-mail. Of course, you can use the Quick Rental Quote form if you know what you need.

Doing More with Less in Tough Economic Times

March 8th, 2011

Budgets are busted all over. The federal government may shut down. The State of California is nearly bankrupt. There is strong agreement at all levels of government that we need to do more with less. In tough economies, some businesses have to do the same thing.

One very important benefit of CRE computer rentals, like all our high-tech rentals, is a straightforward financial one: You save money. If you need render farm rentals a few times per month, purchasing the equipment is not a good investment for you. You have to maintain it, repair it and upgrade it – and ultimately you have to replace it. It’s a costly cycle. For monthly training sessions, getting a dozen or 20 iMac rentals is a bargain compared to buying the computers to sit idle most of the time.

The dismal science

Every business has a unique situation with respect to equipment needs, budgets, production demands and so forth. Yet no matter what your needs, CRE has you covered. As just one example of the real-world edge CRE offers, we know that your marketing and trade show dollars need to go farther and do more than ever. CRE convention rentals will bring your exhibit area to life.

You could have your interactive product demos running on touchscreen LCD monitor rentals, or stop passers-by and show them the same thing on the bright, colorful screen of our iPad rentals. Send some of your team members around the conference center, with iPads or even tablet PC rentals, and they can stay in touch with Wi-Fi, capture information from attendees, show product videos or PDF brochures, and check work e-mail. Work efficiently, follow your plan, remain positive – and you will stretch that budget.

Micro and macro

On the micro level – you, your company – it’s easy to see the benefits of CRE for everything from the aforementioned tech gear to office equipment rentals. There’s lower capital investment, reduced production overhead and predictable expenses. On the macro level – everyone else, the rest of the planet – CRE rentals are a nice shade of green. With multiple production companies, studios and animators using potent Mac Pro with Kona Card rentals just when they need them, there is no “inefficient ownership.”

CRE offers efficient rentals to counter the inefficiencies that some businesses experience with costly hardware that needs continuous upgrading. Whether it’s one of our Xserve RAID rentals or a slick way of enhancing your small firm’s presence in a cavernous conference center, we’re ready to equip you for whatever it is that you need to do. Call or e-mail an Account Executive and we’ll show you how efficient and effective CRE service and support can be.

Learning from Apple (and Walmart)

January 18th, 2011

It’ s been a rough couple of years for the global economy, but both high-tech Apple and down-home Walmart are doing quite well. Each succeeds like any other business, by giving customers what they want, but they also keep people spending regardless of the direction the stock market is going, a rather more difficult challenge. We’ve blogged about financial challenges facing today’s businesses, and today we can learn from these two firms about strategies for success.

Apple’s triumphant decade

Apple Logo Over the last several years, tributes to Apple CEO Steve Jobs have appeared in such premier publications as Fortune magazine (“Steve Jobs: CEO of the Decade”), the Harvard Business Review (“Steve Jobs, Best-Performing CEO in the World”), the Wall Street Journal (“Steve Jobs: Person of the Decade”) and Adweek (“Apple: Brand of the Decade”). Our many customers with Mac Pro rentals and other Apple products already know how good the technology is, but what lessons can we learn to help our own companies?

Apple succeeds because it is focused and cuts no corners. From industrial design to the “user experience,” every Apple product has to meet not just high standards, but the highest ones. As every user of CRE’s iPad rentals knows, Apple doesn’t follow trends, it sets them. And the world follows, as the CES 2011 avalanche of wireless “padlets” proves. Lesson: Commit to quality, aim for excellence, work hard and don’t settle for second best.

A different kind of focus

Sure, Apple is on a roll, but Walmart Logo Walmart has done well over the latest decade, too. Their success is built on their famous “always low” prices, of course, but is solidified by their unrelenting commitment to A-plus customer service. Walmart spends considerable time and money to discover what it is doing wrong (and right – the stores don’t have iMac rentals but they do have iPods, iPads and iPhones), and the results of the most recent internal customer survey are interesting. Know what keeps Walmart on top? The greeters.

According to survey results going back some 40 years, the store’s greeters are second only to “low price” (and way ahead of quality) in keeping Walmart customers loyal. The key business insight gleaned from the surveys, of course, is that business is really very personal, and people value being treated with politeness, respect and a smile.

Service at every step

CRE believes in the customer service model, too – 100%. We also stay on technology’s leading edge so we can always offer you the best possible alternatives while keeping things simple, easy and glitch-free. It starts with a call, an e-mail or our Quick Rental Quote online form. An experienced Account Executive will give you the best possible service, and every contact with CRE will prove just how hard we work to do that. Your success is our success, it’s that simple.

Event Planning on the iPad

January 13th, 2011

In November 2010, Filemaker, Inc., released a new set of templates for the iPad version of its “personal database,” Bento 3. Bento 3 Event Planner is a customized set of six new templates for managing conferences and events. The free download at the Bento Template Exchange includes a 30-day trial of the app for those who do not yet own it (or only have the Mac version). CRE iPad rentals can be quickly outfitted with it too.

The templates link so information flows from one to another without requiring redundant data entry. For organizing everything from small company meetings to trade shows, Bento 3 Event Planner syncs data among Macs, iPads and iPhones. Although the iPad and iPhone both run the latest iOS (4.2), Bento apps for each are sold separately. If you’d prefer Bento 3 installed on MacBook Pro rentals for your conference management needs, that can be done, too.

Another approach for event planners

Event managers and conference planners did not sit still waiting for Bento 3 Event Planner, of course. You can also assemble a number of separate iPad apps to customize your own approach to conference management. Here are a few suggestions:

Apple’s Keynote application has not dislodged PowerPoint from its #1 spot, but it is the favorite presentation software for a growing number of people. The iPad app will be home away from home for users of the Mac version of the software.

The online storage-site-cum-utility, Dropbox is a great way to do backups, distribute files and much more. Dropbox syncs the documents you can’t afford to lose in 2GB of free online space. Create an account, download the app(s) for your device(s), and you’re in business.

Office2 HD recognizes that document types “.doc” and “.xls” are the global standards. For opening and editing Word and Excel documents on the iPad, Office2 HD gives you near-total control over MS-Office documents.

Desktop Connect means the “I left it on my desktop” excuse is a goner. Desktop Connect lets you control your PC or Mac’s desktop from an iPad. Meeting planners, of course, need this functionality during events, whether on tablet PC rentals or an iPad, since remote access to the desktop is crucial.

Voice Memos enables recording voice memos on the go. Oddly, the iPad did not arrive with such a feature (but there is now an app available); Voice Memos is very handy and the fastest way to capture those fleeting thoughts (the ones worth saving, that is).

CRE Rentals is an expert event planner and can supply you with iPad rentals to suit your event needs (Note: we stock “standard” iPads; for apps noted above, we can add them using trial versions and/or free downloads, upon request). To learn more about our services, call or e-mail an Account Executive, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form.

Top 5 New Year’s Tech Resolutions

January 4th, 2011

2011 is now upon us, so people will be resolving to pursue a zillion different diets, new jobs or exciting relationships. “Top 5 New Year’s Tech Resolutions” contains much more practical advice, and will help Top 5 New Year's Tech Resolutions anyone who works regularly with a computer (or an office full of ‘em).

1. Think “safety first” – The Macintosh and Windows Operating Systems (OS) both update components automatically, with your approval, of course. This keeps your security patches and other OS components current, and many of your installed productivity applications have the same feature. Use Software Update under the Apple menu in the Mac OS, and the Windows Update application in Vista and Windows 7. CRE computer rentals, of course, are always updated and good to go.

2. Check the basics – Whether you need MacBook Pro rentals or A/V equipment, CRE will supply flawless working devices with perfect, flexible, unkinked cords and cables. The fact is, power cords, USB/FireWire cables, printer connections and other cables do go bad, especially when bent 90 degrees behind furniture or crushed under heavy peripherals on desks.

3. Firewalls and weapons – In addition to a constantly updated OS, a comprehensive security strategy includes a good firewall and several powerful anti-malware and anti-virus utilities. No single approach catches everything, so get a few well-reviewed products. Since e-mail brings most viruses and Trojan horses to your PC, it’s vital that your anti-virus program scan incoming messages and attachments. CRE ensures that all desktops, laptops and tablet PC rentals are 100% trouble-free.

4. Keep cool – High-tech equipment tends to get warm (some kinds more than others), so always maintain enough airflow over, under, around and through the various components to keep them cool – the computer itself along with monitors, external drives, printers and the rest. When layers of dust build up over time on components inside your PC, printer or other device, overheating can result. A quick blast of canned air once a month or so will keep things cool in both tower computers like Mac Pro rentals as well as rack-mount servers, printers and other devices.

5. Back up to go forward – Storage is so cheap that you can make a complete backup (or clone) of system components, work documents, program files and everything else. Your PC’s internal hard drive is likely your primary drive, but if you have external or online storage you need to back up those devices, also. Windows Backup in Windows 7 is a good tool, as is Time Machine in Mac OS X. Both can automate backups in customized ways.

CRE Account Executives are the people to call when you need powerful tools for your digital workflow or expert event production services. Give us a call, send an e-mail or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, but remember.– whatever your goals for the New Year, we’re here to help you achieve them. That’s our resolution, in 2011 and beyond.

Top 10 Financial Challenges for SMBs

October 28th, 2010

In the ever-accelerating rush of everyday business, owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may neglect key financial issues. Top 10 Financial Challenges - CRE Rentals Here are some good tips for getting through the top 10 financial challenges that owners of SMBs face.

1. Know the risks: More than simply knowing them, you need to understand them, too. As the fast pace of business and technology gets nothing but faster, you must clearly (and quickly) understand and explain all the risks associated with markets, finances and business practices.

2. Choose helpful innovations: You need the right tools at the right time, so you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of both technology and operations. CRE computer rentals, for example, offer state-of-the-art power without a big price tag, and can help keep down the high cost of high tech.

3. Measure by ROI (Return On Investment): Don’t base decisions on what feels right or puts out the most pressing fire. Focus on ROI, and measure what products, services, technologies and customers contribute to success. Weed out low-return activities.

4. Customers drive success: Businesses survive because profits pay for operations now and growth in the future. One key to profitability is mining your current customer base for new opportunities. If you know your customers, their unique characteristics and the cost of sales, you can identify new opportunities.

5. Focus on profits, not revenues: All businesses want sales numbers charting “up and to the right.” But rising revenues may not mean more profits. Stay on top of the cost of doing business, and put energy into refining your profit formula, not charting revenue figures.

6. Empower people to do their best: Employees are essential to business success, so equip them with the best collaboration and communications tools to maximize employee productivity, company morale and customer satisfaction.

7. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): ERP systems keep SMBs on top of costs, revenues, customer behavior, profitability and decision-making. For establishing accountability, of course, it is unsurpassed.

8. Don’t miss the “important” by focusing on the “urgent”: This is an age-old problem and is a tough nut to crack. As mentioned in #3 above, managers can get stuck in a cycle of putting out fires. Learn to address ongoing matters in a timely fashion.

9. Chasing deals rather than building value: A business is an asset whose value grows or declines over time. SMB managers must see beyond the moment (the latest deal or product) to the strategies required for growth. Decision-support systems especially designed for SMBs can help keep you focused on value.

10. Don’t stand still: A common error is thinking that whatever worked in the past will work today or in the future. Markets, customers and the competition ignore and even change the rules all the time. Stay on top of industry trends, change any failing strategies, update/upgrade your systems – and keep your customers satisfied!

Whenever you need to bring some powerful Mac Pro rentals on board to finish a big project, or set up a conference breakout room with audience response system rental, CRE is up for the challenge. Simply call us to reach an experienced Account Executive who will assist you with every challenging detail.

Top 3 Little-Known Breakout Session Tips

October 20th, 2010

There is a lot of good advice about setting up a conference breakout session. Like anything else, there are trends to stay abreast of, like the increasing use of plasma rentals that are easier to position and use with various devices (DVD and media players, laptops, even iPad rentals with an adapter). However, it doesn’t matter how great the breakout session plan is if no one attends. Your first job, then, is to develop the right kind of session for the particular conference, and then get people into the room. The third little-known tip is follow-up.

1. The right kind of session

Obviously, the session topic needs to relate strongly to the conference theme. In a recessionary economy, you may need to focus on the one or two most important conferences rather than spread yourself thin covering “second-best” venues. The “right kind of session” also means the appropriate delivery method – video on LCD monitor rentals, presenter with slides, interactive, discussion panel – and compelling content. Experts note that attendees need to feel that the material they are receiving will resonate with them and be filled with concrete and practical advice.

2. Pre-session promotion

In most cases, you can buy the e-mail list of last year’s conference to promote your breakout session at the current one. You can also do some promotion via trade journals, newspapers, blogs and the Web newswire services. Don’t forget that interactive kiosk rentals can serve as “robot PR people” at the conference. The kiosks can run promotional spots as attendees walk by or showcase additional information on the spot. You need to get people to your session, so drum up some excitement!

3. All-important follow-up

Whatever the audio visual requirements are, CRE has audiovisual rentals and the broadest selection of LCD monitor rentals to fill the bill. Add great content, and you could have a real hit.

Unfortunately, there is no way to speak with every attendee individually, so post-session and post-conference follow-up is essential. Collect attendee contact info with an old-fashioned sign-up list. Or, try polling attendees during the session using an audience response system rental. Not only will you gather feedback about the session but you can also collect attendee contact information. Once the conference is over, you can start following-up.

Remember, whatever your situation with conventions or digital workloads, CRE is your premier solution provider. Call or e-mail an Account Executive today, or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form, and get moving with state-of-the-art speed and capabilities!

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