Plan An Event You Won't Forget

Successful Planning

What makes an event successful? Successful events are characterized by consummate planning and coordination, and they are organized to the very core Organization, essentially, is the hallmark of spectacular event planning. Event planners are tasked with a substantial responsibility, in terms of the vast considerations that they must make in the process. Not only must they consider the number of guests to attend, but they must also select a venue, commodities, facilities and much more. There is much more that goes into event planning than merely counting the number of guests to attend, or the number of seats to order in preparation for it. Every good event requires the right amenities in the right quantities in order to thrive. Based on this information, every adept event planner must possess the capacity to multitask and to maintain an apt understanding of what goes into the entire event planning process. Planning an event implies a systematic coordination of many different things.
What considerations are first made by an event planner? First, they select the most appropriate venue for the event. Events can transpire in either indoor settings or outdoor settings. Therefore, the type of setting you choose will impact the type of amenities that you rent out, as well. Furthermore, every venue is distinguished by its size, characteristics, construction and much more. Venues also differ according to their cost, and there are a range of different costs accompanying venues. The prices hinges on the size of the setting, the amenities that are already built into the venue, and the relative location of it. The more pleasant the location is, the more that the venue will cost in the long run.
How do you know if an indoor or outdoor venue is appropriate for you? If you are throwing a very large event, then perhaps an outdoor setting would be best. However, if you are throwing a small, sophisticated event, then perhaps an indoor setting would better suit you?

The Perfect Setting

After choosing the perfect venue to suit your event, the next viable step will be to measure the dimensions so that you can accommodate all of the guests that will show up to it. In essence, the size of the venue that you choose will depend not only on the type of event that you are running, but by the type of audience you will have and by the size of the audience, as well. Of course, you must select quality amenities, such as luxury bathrooms. Do not resort to the typical, unsightly-port a potties that most people dread at large events. By renting out luxury restrooms, not only can you grant your guests the comfort that they desire, but you will give them the accessibility that they need in order to feel at home at the event. The more at home they feel at an event, the longer that they will stay and the more they will fund the event.

Concluding Thoughts

Planning an event requires a complex integration of many different factors and skills. Additionally, every event planner must conduct critical research in order to purchase the right amenities in the right quantities, according to the type of audience they will have.

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Building a Bicycle Sound System

Bicycle Sound Systems (BSS) are growing in popularity. Anyone who has gone to a festival, seen or participated in a Critical Mass ride or watched the Skyride events in the UK will have seen a BSS in operation. The following is a description of what I have learnt over the years in the art of building a sound system attached to a bicycle.
Please note that all this is just my opinion; there are no rules. If it works and you or someone else is happy with the result then that is great. Duke Ellington once said, "There are two types of music, good and bad. If you like it, it's good music."
The first consideration before building a bicycle sound system is to ask yourself exactly what is it for? Now this may sound like a stupid question but consider:

1. Is the music for your own enjoyment, other cyclists riding with you, or members of the public watching?
2. Will you be riding the bike whilst the music is playing? (probably answered in the first question)
3. Would you like to play just your own music or have facilities, i.e. mixing desk, microphones, to make the system more flexible?
4. Would you wish to hire out the system at festivals and other events?
5. Where would the system be stored when not in use?
6. How would you get the system to the events?

Hopefully you can see the reason for asking these questions first. Once you know what the BSS is for, there are now a few more questions.

1. What is the budget?
2. How loud is the system to be?
3. Will you want to operate it in the rain?
4. Is it to be self-powered?
5. Would you want to use a trailer?

I am going to presume that the BSS is designed to have the music playing whilst being ridden. I have seen 'static' systems but I feel the whole idea of a BSS is that we have mobile music.
A top of the range BSS could run into thousands of pounds, especially if everything needed was bought new.
The volume of the system is probably the key to everything. The amount of power needed outside is far, far more than is needed inside; most of the sound from speakers inside a building is actually reflected sound. Take the walls away and the volume drops massively.
There has to be a balance between what is audible, the fidelity of the reproduction, what can be afforded, and what is practical. A super loud system can not only annoy the neighbourhood and attract the police but it becomes really heavy and is impossible to move. Remember there is not just the weight of the speakers, there are also batteries and amplifiers that have to be carried.
Again, how loud depends on the use, if it is just yourself and a cyclist next to you, 50 - 100 watts could be enough. In my opinion, 100 watts would be the absolute minimum. If you want many people to hear you and you want a proper bass response, the wattage must increase. I believe 600 watts is somewhere around the maximum, for both volume and weight.
Critically the amplifier must not be overdriven. This usually happens when the output of the amplifier is not enough for the situation. Everything is turned to max to compensate and there is distortion. We have all heard it, in cars, clueless DJ's, PA systems... The crazy thing is that turning it down just a bit will reduce the volume very slightly but everything can now be heard properly without distortion.
The question of waterproofing has to be considered from the outset. Placing plastic bags or sheeting over speakers, amps and players does not work; not only does it look terrible, water WILL get in. Another issue is at what point do the covers go on? In case it looks like rain or when it starts raining? The latter means carrying covers to hopefully quickly throw over the system (whilst it is running!) in the hope that nothing gets damaged. Although there are waterproof players out there, the connections are not waterproof. Waterproof speakers do not sound that good, they are small and low powered. I have never seen a waterproof amplifier.
Self -powered or not? This will come down to the volume of the system. An average cyclist can develop 100-200 watts for an hour. Moving the bike and sound system is going to use a certain amount of that power. There are losses involved in converting that power to usable electricity. Taking these factors into account, never mind the engineering problems in generating the electricity, we do not have much left for powering the amplifier. It can and has been done, the systems are not that loud and, in my opinion, are not that good.
Whether or not to use a trailer is again down to what the BSS is for. We have all seen the ghetto-blaster strapped to the side of a bicycle. It works but the sound is not too good and cannot be heard from more than a few metres away.
The main problem with getting a decent sound without a trailer is one of weight. That is why all the good sound systems I have seen use a trailer.
If it is decided that batteries will power the system, we then consider the amplifier. Although the best amplifiers, in terms of fidelity are the domestic, Hi-Fi amps, they run on mains, 110v or 240v AC. This means the battery voltage, most likely 12v DC, must be converted.
This causes all sorts of problems. The worst is that cheaper converters, or inverters, convert the DC into a square wave AC, this makes an amplifier hum. The other problem is the idea of having high voltages running around the system.
Even if these considerations were overcome, the next, probably terminal issue is that a domestic or PA amplifier would probably fall apart in a short time due to the battering bicycle sound systems get. And they do get a battering; cobbles, pot holes, kerbs, speed humps, all give these rigs a hard life.
These reasons are why every BSS I have seen use 12v automotive amplifiers; they are relatively cheap, easy to bolt down and provided a reputable make is used, are very reliable.
The fidelity of an amplifier on a BSS is not that critical. What is discernable inside a quiet living room will be lost outside. As long as there is no distortion, the most critical component of a bicycle sound system is the speaker(s)
The most important consideration when building any music system, whether a domestic Hi-Fi, car audio system, or public address (PA) is the choice of speakers. Over half your budget should go on the speakers. If top quality speakers are used, you can get away, to a certain extent, with cheaper amplifiers. Do it the other way round and there will always be a poor sound.
Speakers are difficult to get right. The different drivers, e.g. woofer, tweeter, must be matched with each other and they also must be matched with the correct crossover (the device that splits the signal into high and low frequencies). Not only that, the cabinet, or enclosure must also be matched to the drivers and the crossover.
A sound engineer told me that he once worked for a top speaker manufacturer in the UK. His first project was to discover why their latest speaker did not work as well as their previous model. In theory it should have sounded better but mysteriously sounded worse. After a week of messing about he discovered that the screws holding the rear cover on were slightly shorter in the new speaker. Changing the screws for the longer ones magically brought the speaker to life.
It is that story alone that makes the idea of building a speaker from DIY plans very much hit or miss. Yes, the speaker will work but will it sound fantastic, just OK or dreadful? The only advantage of building a speaker cabinet is that it could be made to fit a trailer, or be an integral part of the trailer.
The choice of speakers is massive. Generally, speakers can be divided into three types, Hi-Fi, car audio and PA.
Car speakers can be a popular choice for BSS as they are cheap. The biggest problem with them is that they have to be fitted into a cabinet. Often seen is the 'sub' bass, a 15" speaker already fitted into a cabinet. The problem is that a 'sub' bass is just that, subsonic, or very low frequencies only. Great for certain types of music and a cinema surround sound system but not good enough on its own for a sound system. There will be a need for proper bass drivers as well as a sub. Generally a sub is not needed, not only does it require huge amounts of power to drive it, most music sounds good without one.
Hi-Fi speakers can and are used. The disadvantages with them are:

1. To mount them properly they must either be strapped or screwed down. Screwing them means introducing screws into the cabinet, the cabinets are not designed for this and the material can be weakened. Also see above for the effect of the 'wrong' screws.
2. They are meant to be used in static situations. The electronic crossovers in them are not rugged enough for mobile use and can fail.
3. They are vunerable to damage.
4. The connections are unreliable for a mobile application.

I believe the best speaker for a BSS are professional PA speakers for the following reasons:

1. They are very robust, built for a life on the road. The cabinets are usually made from tough ABS plastic and the speakers have protective grills over them.
2. They often have handles built into them which makes assembling and transporting the system easier.
3. The crossovers are built in and are made for rough use and to handle high power.
4. They have professional Speakon connectors, these are very quick to connect and cannot work loose.
5. A speaker from a quality manufacturer will have designed the drivers to work well together at high wattages reliably
6. The cabinets usually have threaded inserts making it easy to fix them to a trailer. (remember the story about the wrong screws; start screwing into a domestic Hi-Fi speaker at your peril. That is why speaker wall brackets just clamp onto the speaker).

Another aspect of speaker choice comes back to the intended use. Stereo or mono? Stereo only works when the speakers are in the correct position in front of the listener. This is not going to happen with a BSS. Another consideration is placement. Front, side or rear facing?
An advantage of a mono sound is that the amplifier can be bridged. Most car amplifiers can be bridged. Bridging an amplifier has the effect of increasing the output of the amplifier. When bridging an amplifier into two speaker cabinets, extreme care must be taken to ensure the impedance of the combined speakers does not go below the minimum rated impedance of the amplifier otherwise a sorry mess of blue smoke will ensue.
Having carefully chosen the amplifier and speakers. The question of getting it all to fit together must be considered.
There is the choice of trailer and battery. The trailer often comes down to budget and availability. Just make sure it is strong enough to support the combined weight of everything.
Do not use 12v car batteries. They are designed to give a large current in a short burst to operate the starter motor. They are not designed to go flat - a flat battery is anything less than about 12.5 volts. Once they have gone flat they will never recover. Each re-charge will result in a lower and lower final voltage until the battery will fail.
The cheapest form of usable battery is the lead acid 'leisure battery'. These are designed for caravans and wind charger and photo-voltaic systems; they can be re-cycled (recharged) many times before failure.
Always use a fuse after the battery!
Use proper crimped connectors, battery terminals etc. Try to avoid jamming wire under bolts. The vast majority of failures in all electrical systems are loose or bad connections.
Try to use locking compound on screws and other fittings.
Large output amplifiers that are bridged running in an enclosed space can be prone to overheating. A good amplifier will have an automatic shut-down if this happens. Overheating can be easily avoided by using computer cooling fans blowing across the amplifier. Stick-on heat sinks can help. Computer fans operate at 12v and can be found very cheaply on eBay.
Put all the electrics into an enclosure that is waterproof. Have an air inlet at the bottom to let cool air in and an outlet at the top for the warm air to escape.
The speakers can be protected by a cover over the top and some sort of material (printed fabrics are cheap and look good) across the front of them. As long as the material is a few inches from the front of the speakers they will remain dry.
The music player for simplicity and water protection can be mounted near the amplifier. The obvious disadvantage is that it cannot be controlled from the bike. One solution is to mount it in a small box on the handle bars. We have found the best way is to use a plastic lidded box turned upside down with the box attached to the lid with a hinge. As long as the player is mounted above the base (lid) it will remain dry. Obviously if it is raining hard try to avoid opening the box!
Finally, appearance. Briefly, if the system is just to please you and your friends probably the last thing to worry about is its appearance. After all, there is something to be said about the aesthetics of a functional device. However, if you want to hire the system out or use it on paid-for events, the appearance can be a more important consideration than its performance.
So there you have it. I hope you have found this interesting and informative.
Thanks for reading this!

We at Bicycle Sound Systems have been making bike sound systems for about six years. We were originally asked to make one for the Skyrides in the UK and have gone on to make systems for other people and ourselves.
If you would like to see details about our latest 600 watt rig or would like to hire one of our systems or even like us to make a sound system to your specifications, visit us at http://www.BikeSoundSystems.com
If you would like add your own thoughts about bicycle sound systems, visit our blog at http://newbie-online.com/money/?p=8. We would love to hear from you!

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3 Of The Best Media Room Ideas

If you are a media room enthusiast, here are some great ideas that you can go with:

1. Having a sports themed room
If you love sports, you can design your room to have a sports theme. Here you should ensure that the television is the focal point of your room.
Instead of using small pieces of sports décor, you should consider using carpet tiles. For ideal results you should place the tiles around your electronics. The tiles create a big design impact around the television thus make the room look very elegant.
In addition to giving your room an elegant look, the carpet tiles also provide additional insulation from the adjoining rooms.

2. Creating a relaxed media room
When it comes to a relaxed media room, the television does not have to be the center of attention. The best way of going about it is using creative installation techniques that easily blend your electronics into the room.
For example, you can install a flat screen television above a fireplace mantle and install a custom frame around the perimeter of the television. When you do this you create an attractive and less obtrusive look.
If you are not using the television, you should consider hiding it. The best way of hiding it is using a wood armoire.
For a more rustic and artistic statement, you should consider mounting your flat screen on a large art easel. You can also place your TV inside a hutch.

3. A high tech family room
If you want your room to look elegant and modern you should install multiple televisions in the room. For ideal results you should place one large flat screen TV at the center of the wall and then line three small TVs on one or both sides of the TV.
You can also install wood panels behind the TV and you will be able to create a contrast and styled finish.
To hide unsightly wiring that can give your room an unpleasant look, you should use a nice wall covering.
These are some of the best media room ideas that you can go with. If you are unsure of how to create your ideal theme, you should consider hiring the services of professionals.
The good side is that there are many professionals who can help you in creating a perfect look. To find the best company you only need to visit online review sites. You can also ask your friends to refer you to some of the best companies that they know of.

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Smoothies: How Can I Be Certain the Smoothies I Make Are Healthy?

Smoothies are the ultimate get up and go food. Packed with fresh ingredients, the smoothie can be a powerful pick-me-up that gets you through the day. A smoothie is so simple to prepare and quick to drink, that it's the perfect snack - or even meal - for those too busy to turn on the stove or make a sandwich.
Although there are examples of smoothies the world over, such as the Middle East and India - for example the shabat and the Indian lassi, are both made with yogurt, honey and fruit - in the United States the smoothie became popular during the 1960s, when they were sold in health food stores as part of a resurgence in macrobiotics and vegetarianism. The early smoothies were made from fruit, fruit juice and ice, and pulverized in a blender.
Today, with the interest in nutrition and fitness combined with our busy lifestyles, the smoothie is incredibly popular. There are so many flavor combinations that you could easily enjoy a different flavor every day. But with ease and convenience, often comes a little indulgence too, and sometimes it can be too easy to add a scoop of ice cream, a spoon of peanut butter or full fat yogurt, for that smooth and creamy taste.
When you make smoothies at home it pays to keep on the right side of nutrition. The best way to make smoothies is with all natural fresh fruits, berries, nuts and vegetables. If you want creaminess, avoid full fat options. If you want sweetness, add honey, carrot or apple. Try using low-fat coconut milk for richness, and spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg for added depth.
The basis of most smoothies is the humble banana. Store them, pre-peeled in the freezer, to give your smoothie an extra icy blast. Bananas give smoothies a creaminess that is hard to beat, and they make a great base for a whole range of flavors.
Another often-used ingredient is yogurt. To keep your smoothie healthy, make sure you stick to using fat-free plain yogurt, without added sugars. Plain Greek yogurt is a terrific option, and then you can add your own sweetness, such as honey, maple syrup, or apple.
One smoothie that packs a protein punch is the green smoothie, made with powdered spirulina, banana, and apple juice. This vivid looking drink might look like a witches' brew, but can power you for the entire afternoon. Other dark leafy greens, such as fresh spinach, kale, chard and collard pack an equally mighty health punch. Try blending them with fresh nuts and coconut milk for a terrific snack any time of the day.
Another favourite flavor is ginger. A peeled knob of fresh ginger goes wonderfully well with carrot and orange and lends a wonderful spicy warmth to your smoothie.
Next time you head to the market, make sure you pick up a range of fresh fruits and vegetables that will inspire you to create an endless variety of healthy and delicious smoothies.

Are you looking for more information regarding smoothies? Visit http://www.smoothies-and-health.com/ today!

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