Chicago events — especially those at McCormick Place and downtown hotel ballrooms — demand clear, controlled audio. These venues are large, reflective, and unforgiving. Without the right strategy, you end up with hot spots, dead zones, echo, or feedback. A strong audio plan ensures exhibitors, presenters, and corporate teams deliver their message with precision.

This guide breaks down how to design a clean, consistent audio strategy for Chicago events.

Determine Coverage Requirements

• Small booths need lightweight reinforcement.
• Breakout rooms require even coverage.
• Large sessions demand distributed audio.

Chicago’s concrete-heavy architecture requires wider audio dispersion to avoid reflections.

Speaker Selection for Chicago Venues

Best speaker types:

• 8-inch powered speakers for booth demos
• 10–12 inch speakers for breakout rooms
• Line-array speakers for larger sessions

 

Use directional speakers for show floors to avoid bleed.

Microphone Selection

Handheld wireless: best for Q&A

Lavalier: ideal for presenters who walk

Headset: best clarity in noisy environments

Gooseneck: for panel tables

Chicago events often require frequency coordination to avoid interference.

Mixing Strategy

Use a digital mixer for:

• Multi-input management
• EQ shaping
• Compression
• Scene recall
• Quick adjustments

 

Chicago rooms are reflective — cut low frequencies and avoid boosting high mids.

Distributed Audio for Large Rooms

For rooms larger than 60 feet:

• Use 4–6 speakers spaced evenly
• Avoid placing speakers too close to walls
• Use delay speakers to maintain timing

McCormick Place often requires distributed audio because of ceiling height and room scale.

Cable Management in Chicago Venues

High foot traffic demands:

• Secured cable runs
• Black cable ramps
• Velcro ties
• Truss or booth-frame routing

Audio failures often come from cabling, not equipment.

Sound Checks and Live Monitoring

 

Before doors open:

• Set EQ
• Balance mics
• Run video playback tests
• Check every wireless channel

 

During the event:

• Monitor levels
• Adjust gain
• Replace batteries
• Correct feedback instantly

 

FAQs

Q1: What’s the most common audio issue in Chicago venues?

Reflections from concrete and glass surfaces that cause echo.

Q2: Do I need a mixer for small booth demos?

Yes. Even a small mixer helps manage gain and avoid feedback.

Q3: Does AVR Expos provide onsite techs in Chicago?

Absolutely — full delivery, setup, tuning, and strike.

Las Vegas hosts some of the highest-production exhibits in the world. Whether you’re at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Venetian Expo, or Mandalay Bay, visual competition is fierce. This means your booth’s monitor configuration can’t be average — it needs to be deliberate, visible, and clean. The difference between a 10×10 booth that looks generic and one that commands aisle attention is almost always the AV layout.

 

Here’s how to optimize monitor configurations for 10×10 and 10×20 booths in Las Vegas without wasting space, blowing your budget, or compromising visibility.

Monitor Sizes for 10×10 Booths

Most exhibitors under-size their displays. For Las Vegas lighting and aisle distance, these are your targets:

• 55–65 inch monitors for primary displays
• 43 inch monitors for secondary or demo stations
• 32 inch touchscreens for lead capture

 

Avoid 75-inch screens in a 10×10 unless your booth has a minimalist layout.

Monitor Sizes for 10×20 Booths

10×20 booths let you layer screens strategically.

Recommended configurations:

• Two 65-inch monitors on side walls
• One 75–98 inch display as the primary forward-facing screen
• A touchscreen kiosk near the aisle for engagement

 

This layout increases visibility from multiple angles — important in Las Vegas where traffic flows in wide aisles.

 

Use Vertical Orientation for Aisle Visibility

Vertical screens perform exceptionally well on the strip side of LVCC North and Central Hall because aisle visibility is stretched.

Vertical screens are ideal for:

• Digital posters
• Motion typography
• Feature highlights
• QR code captures

 

Horizontal screens are still best for:

• Software demos
• Product videos
• Training content

 

Wall Mount vs. Stand Mount

Wall mounts look more premium and save floor space.

Stand mounts offer flexibility but require cable concealment.

 

In Las Vegas, wall mounting is preferred because it:

• Reduces trip hazards
• Keeps cables hidden
• Survives heavy foot traffic
• Looks cleaner in high-end booths

 

If you must use stands, use heavy bases with rear cable runs.

 

Use Multi-Monitor Zones to Control Flow

For 10×20 booths, build zones:

• Zone A: Primary storytelling screen
• Zone B: Demo monitors
• Zone C: Touchscreen engagement

This layout keeps people moving without crowding your space.

 

Brightness Matters in Las Vegas

Choose commercial 4K monitors with 700–1,000 nit brightness.

Consumer TVs wash out in Vegas convention lighting.

 

Use HDMI Switchers or Matrix Routing

Las Vegas exhibitors often run:

• Multiple laptops
• Video loops
• Presentation decks
• Camera feeds

 

Use an HDMI matrix or switcher to avoid cable swapping.

 

Content Tips for Vegas Shows

• High-contrast visuals perform best.
• Motion graphics draw attention.
• Use 20–30 second loops to maintain rhythm.

FAQs

Q1: Should I use one large monitor or multiple smaller ones?

If visibility is your goal, one large display in the center is strongest. For demos, multiple screens work better.

Q2: Do Vegas shows require special mounting rules?

Most allow wall mounts, but some shows restrict stand placement in high-traffic aisles.

Q3: Can AVR Expos deliver and install directly at LVCC or Mandalay Bay?

Yes. Delivery, setup, and strike are included.

Choosing the right monitor size for your trade show booth seems straightforward until you start planning. Exhibitors often discover too late that their screen is too small to be seen from the aisle or too large and overpowering for their booth layout. Screen size affects how attendees interact with your booth, how your content displays, and ultimately how your brand is perceived on the show floor.

This guide breaks down exactly how to pick the right monitor size for any booth layout, whether it’s a 10×10, 10×20, or island configuration.

The Monitor Sizing Formula

A simple rule used by professional AV installers is:

Viewing distance ÷ 1.5 = minimum diagonal size.

Examples:

• Viewers 6 feet away → 40–50-inch monitor minimum
• Viewers 9 feet away → 65-inch monitor minimum
• Viewers 12 feet away → 75–98-inch monitor ideal

Trade shows are busy, with visual clutter everywhere, so it’s usually better to err on the larger side.

Sizing Recommendations by Booth Type

10×10 Booth

• One 55–65-inch screen as the main visual
• Optional small touchscreen for lead capture or quick demos
• Avoid 75-inch displays unless the booth is extremely minimalistic and you have the wall space to support it

10×20 Booth

• Two 55–65-inch displays for dual-side engagement
• Or one 75–98-inch large display as the focal point
• This format is great for software demos, looping videos, and brand storytelling

Island Booth

Island booths offer more freedom and can support bolder AV choices.

Ideal sizes:

• 65–98-inch screens on multiple sides
• Ultra-wide formats for immersive visuals
• Hanging displays or overhead screens if venue rules allow

Orientation Matters: Vertical vs. Horizontal

Vertical (Portrait) Screens

Vertical screens are ideal for:

• Digital posters
• Motion graphic branding
• Product feature highlights
• QR code callouts directing attendees to landing pages

Vertical content is highly effective at catching attention in crowded aisles because it behaves like a digital banner.

Horizontal (Landscape) Screens

Horizontal screens work best for:

• Promotional videos
• Software demos
• Training or walkthrough content
• Presentations or multi-input switching

Horizontal orientation is the safest default for most exhibitors because it aligns with how most content is produced.

When to Use Multiple Screens

Multiple monitors help control attendee flow and create separate experience zones within your booth.

Good use cases:

• Left and right side aisles
• Dedicated product or solution zones
• Demo stations for independent browsing
• Reception or check-in areas
• Multi-person presentations or training sessions

If you’re using more than one screen, make sure your content strategy is consistent and intentional. Each display should serve a clear purpose.

Consider Brightness and Viewing Angle

In a trade show environment, ambient light is rarely ideal. Monitors need high brightness to compete with open hall lighting and other booths.

Target:

• At least 700 nits of brightness for trade show environments

Avoid consumer TVs that wash out under strong overhead lighting. Commercial monitors are designed to stay visible and consistent for longer periods.

How Monitor Size Affects Content Design

Larger screens require content built for scale.

Content rules:

• No text below 40 pt on 55–65-inch screens
• No text below 60 pt on 75–98-inch screens
• Use high-contrast color combinations
• Avoid busy backgrounds behind key text

If your content is built for a small laptop screen and you simply scale it up, it often looks weak or hard to read from the aisle.

FAQs

Q1: Is a 98-inch display too big for a small booth?

Not if it’s wall-mounted and your layout is clean. The key is making sure it doesn’t block sightlines or reduce open space.

Q2: What’s better for demos: a monitor or a touchscreen?

Touchscreens win for engagement and interaction. Monitors win for pure visibility and distance viewing. Many exhibitors use both.

Q3: Can AVR Expos help determine screen placement?

Yes. We handle installation and help you position screens for maximum impact and visibility.

A 10×20 trade show booth gives you room to build something impressive, but it also forces every design decision to be intentional. When you add AV into the mix, the stakes rise quickly. LED walls, monitors, audio, cabling, mounts, content formatting, power requirements — each piece shapes how attendees see, hear, and remember your brand.

 

For first-time exhibitors or small marketing teams, this is where things often unravel. You walk onto the show floor, plug in your screens, and suddenly nothing fits the way you expected. Screens are too low. Content doesn’t scale correctly. Speakers are too loud for the aisle. And your booth that looked great on a PDF layout suddenly feels flat.

 

This guide cuts through the noise. Whether you’re preparing for a show in Las Vegas, Dallas, Orlando, Chicago, New Orleans, or any other major market AVR Expos services, this is the blueprint to plan a clean, high-impact AV setup for a 10×20 space.

 

Begin With the Visual Anchor: Your Primary Screen

 

Every 10×20 booth needs one clear focal point. For most exhibitors, it’s the main display.

That could be:

• A 98-inch commercial 4K monitor
• A mid-size LED wall (for example, 8’ × 12’)
• A set of two 55–65-inch monitors mirrored on each side
• A touchscreen kiosk acting as both a display and interaction point

The goal isn’t to fill the space. The goal is to control where the eye goes.

LED or LCD? Pick Based on Experience, Not Trend

 

Choose LED when:

• You want a seamless digital backdrop
• You need high brightness to stand out
• Your content is motion-heavy or stylized
• You want your booth to look modern, clean, and premium

 

Choose LCD when:

• You prefer multiple smaller screens for different zones
• You want touch capability
• You’re doing software demos or interactive content

LED walls dominate visually, but LCD monitors deliver clarity and consistency for applications that need precision.

 

Screen Height and Placement: The Sightline Rule

Screen height is one of the top AV mistakes exhibitors get wrong.

 

The center of your primary display should be:

• At least 6 feet high
• Angled slightly toward aisle traffic
• Positioned so attendees walking by can see it unobstructed

 

If you mount it too low:

• People block the view
• It loses visibility from the aisle
• The booth feels cluttered

 

Your main screen is your billboard. Treat it like one.

Multi-Screen Configurations for a 10×20 Space

 

A 10×20 booth can support multiple screens without looking chaotic if you plan correctly.

Layout 1: “Command Center” Setup

• One large LED wall as the anchor
• Two side monitors for supplemental content
• One touchscreen kiosk for demos

This layout is ideal for companies with complex products or multi-step presentations.

Layout 2: “Dual Engagement” Setup

• Two 65-inch monitors on each short wall
• One reception counter with hidden cabling
• No LED wall, but strong content flow

This format drives interaction from both sides of the booth.

Layout 3: “Digital Backdrop” Setup

• One LED wall (8’ × 12’ or similar)
• Minimal furniture
• A single touchscreen up front for lead capture

It’s clean, modern, and highly visible from the aisle.

Audio Strategy: Clear, Direct, and Controlled

Audio can easily overwhelm a 10×20 booth. You’re sharing space with dozens of exhibitors, and every booth is fighting for attention.

What not to use:

• Subwoofers that shake nearby booths
• Full PA systems that are too loud and overpowering
• Cheap Bluetooth speakers that are inconsistent and unreliable

What works best:

• Two 8-inch powered speakers
• Minimal volume — just enough for your zone
• A wireless handheld mic for demos or small presentations
• Directional audio that aims toward the interior of your booth

Your goal is clarity, not volume.

Cable Management: The Hidden Part Everyone Notices

Messy cabling kills booth presentation. Great AV is invisible until it fails.

 

AVR Expos technicians typically:

• Run power beneath the raised floor or along truss lines
• Hide cabling behind the LED wall or back side blocking
• Use black cable sleeves to blend with flooring
• Anchor everything to avoid tripping hazards

When done correctly, attendees should never see your wires, connections, or processors.

Content Strategy: The Most Overlooked Part of AV Planning

 

Your AV is only as good as the content running on it.

Content formatting essentials:

• Match LED content to exact pixel dimensions
• Don’t stretch 1080p content to fill a 4K display
• Keep text large enough to read from 10–20 feet away
• Use looping videos no longer than 20–30 seconds

Content types that work best:

• Animated product demos
• Motion graphics that pull attention
• Testimonials or partner spotlights
• Feature highlights with bold typography
• QR codes that drive deeper engagement

Your content shouldn’t just communicate. It should attract.

Power Requirements: Avoid Last-Minute Surprises

A 10×20 booth typically needs anywhere from 10 to 30 amps, depending on your AV load-out.

Typical requirements:

• LED wall: 10–20 amps depending on pitch and brightness
• Monitors: 1–2 amps each
• Speakers and audio gear: 3–5 amps
• Touchscreens: 2–3 amps
• Lighting: 1–3 amps per fixture

Order more power than you think you’ll need. Convention centers charge premium “add-on” rates onsite.

Setup Timing: How Long Does It Really Take?

 

For a standard 10×20 booth, plan on:

• LED wall setup: 2–4 hours
• Monitor installation: 1–2 hours
• Audio setup: 30–60 minutes
• Testing and calibration: 1 hour

If your booth opens at 10:00 a.m., plan to be set by 8:00 a.m.

If your show opens Monday, install on Sunday.

 

FAQs

 

Q1: Can I use both LED and monitors in the same booth?

Absolutely. Many of the most successful 10×20 booths combine technologies for layered engagement.

 

Q2: Does AVR Expos provide setup and strike?

Yes. We handle full delivery, installation, calibration, and teardown.

 

Q3: What’s the best screen size for a 10×20?

Either an 8’ × 12’ LED wall or a 75–98-inch 4K monitor, depending on your content goals.

 

New Orleans hosts some of the most diverse and energetic event environments in the country — from corporate meetings in the French Quarter to large-scale conferences at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Regardless of the setting, your visuals must be crisp, bright, and professionally presented. That’s where projector rentals from AVR Expos come in.

 

We provide high-lumen projectors and screens tailored to New Orleans’ unique lighting conditions and event layouts. Whether your content includes presentations, video, data visualizations, or sponsor loops, your projection needs to be reliable and visually sharp.

Understanding Lumen Requirements

 

7,000–10,000 Lumens

Ideal for mid-sized hotel meeting rooms or sessions with controlled lighting.

12,000–14,000 Lumens

Perfect for ballrooms and corporate general sessions with partial ambient light.

20,000+ Lumens

When you need bold visuals in large or brightly-lit venues.

Choosing the Right Screen Size

 

120”–150” Screens

Great for small to medium sessions up to 80 attendees.

16 ft × 9 ft Screens

Ballroom standard for larger corporate events.

Ultra-Wide Screens

Ideal for creative stage design or multi-presenter sessions.

Rear Projection vs. Front Projection

 

Rear Projection

Keeps gear hidden behind the screen. Clean aesthetic for keynote stages.

Front Projection

Better for tighter rooms where space is limited.

Why Projectors Are Still Essential in New Orleans Events

 

Even with LED walls gaining popularity, projectors remain a go-to for:

• Galas
• Breakout sessions
• Training programs
• Sponsor visibility loops
• Hybrid events

 

They’re cost-effective, reliable, and versatile.

FAQs

 

Q1: Do projectors work well in rooms with ambient light?

Yes, with high-lumen models (10K–14K+) and proper screen selection.

Q2: Do you provide both screen and projector?

Yes, AVR Expos provides full projection packages.

Q3: Can I run multiple laptops into one projector?

Yes, we provide switchers for seamless presentation control.