When putting together an event, audio may be one of the last things you consider. You just plug in a mic and go, right? Wrong! Audio requires careful attention to detail and forethought like so many other aspects of event planning. Let us walk you through just a few of the basics of audio.

Primary Consideration: Size

How many people are going to be at your event and what are you trying to accomplish? Is this a small meeting for 10-12 people around the boardroom or are you trying to impress 1,500 people in a grand hotel ballroom? You want to make sure the person speaking or entertaining is able to deliver their message. Making sure your audience (no matter how small or large) is being clearly communicated to is an extremely important factor in your audio setup.

The event space itself is also a big consideration to keep in mind. If you are in a large, cavernous ballroom or convention center, the audio system that you’re going to need in that type of environment is a different requirement than if you’re in a small ballroom with 50 people.

What Else is Happening?

What is happening on stage? How many people onstage will need a mic? These questions need to be answered and will weigh into your communications with the audio company you choose so they are well-equipped and prepared for your event.

It could be as simple as one podium, a podium mic, and you’re done. But there might be times when you have a meeting where there is a guest speaker at a podium, and a discussion panel with 6-10 people who will all need lavalier mics.

Takeaways

There are 3 things that you should think about when you do an event as it relates to audio:

1. How many people are you presenting to?
2. What or who is going to be on the stage? Is it just a podium or a panel full of people? Is there entertainment or a band?
3. What is the room like? Is it massive or small? Does it have surfaces that make it a complex environment for audio?

These are the things that you’re going to want to think about when you’re getting ready to try to solve audio considerations for your next meeting so your audience isn’t left going… huh?