Presented by Nashville Visual

Backstage Pass

Insider insight from 25 years inside every Nashville venue.

Thursday · Oct 22, 2026 · Backstage Pass · Issue No. 7 Latest Issue
Government convention general session at Music City Center, Nashville, TN, with AV by Nashville Visual
What to Bring

Nashville Convention AV: What to Send Ahead, What We Bring

A plain checklist of what planners should send us before load-in, and what my crew brings to the room.

By Bo Bankston · 3 min read

What this means for your event

Send final decks, videos, the run of show and the speaker list as early as you can, and name one person to send them. Then nothing is missing when the crew walks into the room.

Read the full story

Also in this issue

02
Rental Equipment

What a Nashville General Session Really Needs: A Rental Equipment Guide

A plain-spoken guide to the screens, audio, switching and crew a convention general session and its breakouts actually need in Nashville.

For your event: A general session is a system, not a screen: size and brightness, audio that reaches the back row, a switcher, timers and a tech at the back of the room....

Oct 19, 2026 · 4 min read

03
Trade Shows

Music City Center Trade Show Booth AV: The Real Checklist

A practical AV checklist for exhibitors at Music City Center, based on 25 years of setting up booths in every hall.

For your event: Do not guess on power, rigging, or video wall rental. Plan your booth AV before you arrive and send the exact dimensions to your vendor. It saves money and...

Oct 15, 2026 · 2 min read

04
Conventions

Running a Hybrid General Session Without the Headaches

Hybrid meetings do not have to be complicated. Here is how to keep your in-room and remote audiences equally engaged.

For your event: Treat the remote audience as a real audience, not an afterthought. Test the platform, the camera feed, and the audio path twice. And always have a dedicated...

Oct 12, 2026 · 2 min read

05
Meetings & Dining

Board Dinner AV in Downtown Nashville: Quiet Confidence

How to bring crisp presentation audio and a clean screen into Nashville's best private dining rooms without ruining the mood.

For your event: For board dinners, less is more. Rent a discreet screen, a wireless mic, and a small sound system, and let the room do the talking. The goal is for the AV...

Oct 8, 2026 · 2 min read

06
Planning

Seven Questions to Ask Any Nashville AV Vendor

Before you sign a rental contract, ask these seven questions. A real vendor will answer every one.

For your event: The best AV vendors in Nashville are direct, responsive, and honest about what you do and do not need. If they cannot answer these questions, keep looking.

Oct 5, 2026 · 2 min read

07
Behind the Gear

Why We Test Every Mic Twice (And You Should Too)

The story behind our most stubborn habit, and how it saves events from the dreaded feedback screech.

For your event: Testing is not optional. Always run a full audio check before attendees arrive, and have a backup microphone ready. It is the difference between a...

Oct 1, 2026 · 2 min read