Our Prime Supplier Member, Showcore joined The American Meetings Network in 2018 and they are already seeing the benefits by meeting 1:1 with AMI’s Meeting Planners and Sourcing Managers at Global Procurement Day.
About Showcore: Expert Event Design
At Showcore, we don’t just stage events, we push the boundaries of what audience engagement looks like. We are an event design and production services company headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Since 1989, our team has provided innovative and full-service event production for events of all sizes across the U.S. and beyond.
Our proprietary design platform, Audience Encapsulation, allows us to drive excitement and engagement to audiences of all sizes. With our global services network, our ability allows us to support our clients no matter where their events take place. We serve some of the largest brands in the world. No matter the scale, our events deepen audience connections, promote your brand, and communicate your message in a powerful way.
Audio Visual is one of the areas that most planners never really develop comfort around. Sure, we can all stand behind a tech table and call a show, but what is all of that equipment for and how much are they charging for it anyway? Why do some properties have union fees and high drayage while others don’t? Why do I see 4 techs at one location and 3 at another when the scope of the program is the same? Do I have to use the in-house AV group or can I bring in someone else? Why is the hotel adding a service charge to the in-house AV bill?
In order to effectively build your budget and truly understand what you are getting, start a very clear dialogue with your supplier and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Take the time to learn what you are paying for and carefully review a line item breakdown. I can’t tell you how many times I have received a proposal that has a bucket cost for the total services but also has a disclaimer that additional fees can be incurred. Our clients expect us to provide them with an accurate budget, so we need to be sure to have the same expectation from our suppliers.
And always get at least three bids! Even if you have worked with a group for a long time, you may be surprised at what you find when comparing apples to apples.
