Bob Reed, Author at Stage Right

The Essential Event Checklist for a Successful 100-Person Meeting

Bob Reed November 24, 2025 No Comments

TL;DR Do you have an essential event checklist? A successful 100-person meeting requires planning across three phases: pre-event (objectives, budget, venue, AV, catering, registration), day-of execution (early setup, run-of-show management, attendee engagement), and post-event follow-through (feedback,…

Renting AV Gear vs. Partnering with Event Experts: Which Delivers Better Results for Your Event?

Bob Reed September 24, 2025 No Comments

TL;DR Renting AV gear gets you hardware — nothing more. A production partner adds strategic planning, skilled on-site technicians, backup systems for when things go wrong, and hybrid/virtual capabilities. Attendees…

Recurring AV Issues: Best Practices for Reliable Audio Visual Experiences

Bob Reed September 17, 2025 No Comments

TL;DR AV problems keep recurring because providers set up the gear and disappear. The solution is treating AV as a real partnership — with clear performance standard upfront, onsite technical…

Building Better Presentations: Show Ideas with Visual Design and Standardization

Bob Reed June 3, 2025 No Comments

TL;DR Most presentations fail because slides are crammed with too much data, tiny fonts, clashing colors, and pointless animations. The fix: lead with your conclusion (not your buildup), use large…

Strategic Lighting: How to Craft the Right Event Atmosphere

Bob Reed April 16, 2025 No Comments

Strategic lighting choices can transform your space into one that matches the desired atmosphere.

Wired for Profit: How Electrical Markups Drain Event Budgets

Bob Reed January 29, 2025 No Comments

TL;DR Venues often treat electricity as a profit center where surprise power charges can blow an event budget. The defenses: get power estimates from your production partner early; always request…

Event Staging vs. Stage Craft: Know the Difference

Bob Reed November 4, 2024 No Comments

TL;DR Two related but distinct disciplines. Event staging is the big picture — the overall layout, lighting, sound, decor, and flow of the entire venue. Stage craft is the specialized…

Corporate Event Production: How to Balance Wants and Needs in Your AV Budget

Bob Reed October 28, 2024 No Comments

TL;DR Every event budget is a tug-of-war between what you need (clear audio, solid visuals, proper lighting) and what you want (projection mapping, holograms, laser shows). Start by locking down…

Main Streams: How to Keep Virtual Event Participants Connected

Bob Reed October 8, 2024 No Comments

TL;DR Hybrid events are now the norm, but a glitchy or dropped stream will send virtual attendees straight to the exit. Success starts with defining your requirements upfront — audience…

The Hidden Cost of Getting Into Your Own Event

Bob Reed September 25, 2024 No Comments

TL;DR When you can access your event venue is an overlooked budget killer. Early setup, off-hours access, weekends, and union labor rules can all trigger surprise costs. The fix: negotiate…

Author: Bob Reed