We enjoy answering questions about what we do. In our business, there is a lot to know.

We don’t claim to know it all, but one thing we do know is that sharing our knowledge helps us and our clients work smarter. Throughout our history, TEK Productions has been involved in educating industry professionals on the technical side of live-event and media production.

TEK Tips is a resource for the event community. This resource is mostly limited to terms and guidelines for use in the media production and live-event environment.

Education & Resources for the Production Community

Gobo

A steel or glass plate perforated with a pattern or image used in a lighting fixture.

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RFP [Request For Proposal]

A document from a client with information about a meeting or event sent to a production company to request a proposal and cost estimate for their technical and creative services.

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Screen Size

The dimensions of the screen required for the needs of the presentation.

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Site Visit

An opportunity to visit a venue to determine if the location has the logistic and technical requirements for an event or meeting.

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Wardrobe Guidelines

What do I wear on camera? This is a great question to ask.

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Presentation Tips

Appearing on camera can be an intimidating prospect. Whether you are in a one-on-one interview or live onstage, you want to be aware of your body language and the message it conveys.

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iPad Video

Acquiring good video with good audio on your iPad or iPhone can be tricky. Follow these simple tips to help you maximize the capabilities of your iPad and realize your creative vision.

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Glossary

A
A1 [Audio Engineer]
A2 [Audio Technician]
Aspect Ratio
Audio System
B
B-Roll
Backlight
Backstage
BGM [Background Music]
C
CAD [Computer-Aided Design]
Camera Operator
Candids Video
Conventional Lights
Cyc [Cyclorama]
D
Dead Case Storage
Delay Screens
Double Stacking
Dress Kit
DSM [Downstage Monitors]
E
e-Learning [Electronic Learning]
Editor [Video]
ELMO Presenter
ENG [Electronic News Gathering]
F
Fast-Fold® Screen
Feedback
Fill Light
Floater Tech
Flying [or Flown]
Foliage [Greens]
Follow Spot
Frequency
Front Projection
FTP [File Transfer Protocol]
G
Gobo
Gooseneck Microphone
Graphics Operator
Green Room
H
Handheld Microphone
House
House Lights Control
I
I-MAG [Image Magnification]
In-House Audio System
iPad Video
K
Key Light
Keystone
L
Labor Rates
Lav [Lavalier] Microphone
LD [Lighting Designer]
Lectern
Lighting Focus
Lighting Gel
Lighting Look
Load-in
Lumens
M
ME [Master Electrician]
Mic Runner
Mic Technique
Microphone
Mixer
Moiré
Moving Lights
O
Offstage
Onstage
P
PA [Production Assistant]
PerfectCue™
Pipe and Drape
Play-ons
Powered Speakers
Presentation Tips
Producer
Projectionist
R
Rear Projection
Rehearsal
RFP [Request For Proposal]
Rider
Riggers
Room Setup
S
Satellite Link
Scenic
Screen Placement
Screen Size
Shader Technician
Show Flow
Site Visit
Speaker Notes
Speaker Ready Room
Spotlight
Stage Left
Stage Manager
Stage Right
Stage Wash
Streaming Media
Strike
Switcher Technician
T
Tape Op [Tape Operator]
TD [Technical Director]
Tech Booth
Teleprompter
Three-Point Lighting
Tripod Screen
Truss
V
Video Engineer
Videographer
VOG [Voice of God]
W
Wardrobe Guidelines
Webcast
Windows Media Video
Wired Microphone
Wireless Microphone
Wireless Presenter

DSM [Downstage Monitors]

Flat screen video monitors placed on the floor in front of the stage for presenters to see their presentation slides or speaker notes.

TEK Tips Downstage Monitors

Placing monitors on the floor allows the presenters to look out at the house rather than turn their backs to the audience to reference their presentations on the screens. DSMs are also called confidence monitors or doghouses.

The term doghouse refers to the black tri-fold cover used to conceal the back of large CRT (tube TV) video monitors prior to the advent of flat-screen video monitors.

Testimonials

What our clients say.

Mike mentioned how relieved he was when he walked in the door to see that TEK was running the show. He said it immediately put him at ease because everything always goes flawless when TEK is there!

Just wanted to send a note thanking you for all your efforts last week. The program ran flawlessly, and I know the kids had a great time. You all were a pleasure to be on site with, and I really look forward to working with you again in the future! Thanks for all your hard work.

It was a pleasure having you both on board for our event this week. The audiovisual was seamless, and it was a great relief knowing that you had everything under control.