[Design Indaba] See Louise run. See Louise type

I speak clearly… I write copious emails… I make lists… for event organisers and PROs when covering major events, particularly when we are media partners. Here is my list. Is this hard? Did I spell it wrong?

• 1. A chair
• 2. A table
• 3. A plug point

… And all in the same venue so we can hear and see the screen. (It is important to qualify this; apparently it is not obvious).

So there are Anne Taylor (Thought Leader blogger) and I, promptly 30 min before start of proceedings at the 11th annual Design Indaba this morning – waiting to enter the fish bowl translation booths at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (which has no media facilities laid on unbelievably, for such a new venue) – being barred by security from entering despite our fancy electronic media tickets which provide no access in actual fact.

After waiting patiently for 20 minutes, we had to throw our toys to get in as the first speaker started speaking, only to find no power and no sound. So there you go… No matter how prepared and organised you are, flying down from Jozi the day before, packing your laptop bag the night before with fat-free snacks and two different types of plug points and a portable light, getting up early, rushing here all excited because finally things seem to be organised, only to have your hopes vilely dashed…

After two hours we had power and sound and if I combine my Yoga pose ‘worship the sun’ with ‘big bird’ I can even contort enough to see the screen from our perch up here above the auditorium crowd.

So here’s a challenge for the designers here: a laptop with a handle and bag that also folds out into a portal table with chair and solar powered self-generating power/battery pack that lasts longer than 90 min, for the multimedia-portable always-online, live journos we have become without the PR and event industry actually noticing.

So that’s why I have to throw my toys each and every time at these so-called world class event venues at global events run by pretty well-known and apparently fairly competent event organisers/PROs. Surely it is a BASIC requirement of any event to sort out the media so you get maximum publicity. Because if the journalist can type and access your clients easily, have access to speeches and pix – when they need it, in the format they need it, isn’t it logical that you will then get the coverage you want? Even more than you want.

Media are in a race these days to bring you info as it happens, LIVE, INSTANTANEOUSLY. So. How. Hard. Can. It. Be? How. Many. Times. Do. I. Have. To. Say. This? See Louise bang her head on the wall. Again.

Postscript:

Found chocolate, bugger the fat-free snacks. Feel better. Crap media organisation, but awesome snacks.