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How to Use a Digital Projector at Small Outdoor Gigs

A digital projector allows you to take the multimedia, digital pictures or video that you have on your computer's hard drive and project it onto a screen or other flat surface for a public performance. You can use you digital projector pretty much anywhere you have your laptop and access to power. Using a digital projector outside you can display your multimedia work on either projection screens or on the walls of buildings. If you choose the latter, you should probably contact the owner of the building to obtain approval for your event.

Things You'll Need

  • Outdoor extension cords or portable generator
  • Sturdy table for laptop and digital projector
  • Plastic tote
  • Projection screen or permission to project onto building wall
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine your projection location. If you are setting up a screen, then you can choose any outdoor location as long as it has some proximity to a power source. An alternative if you cannot connect to a power source is to use small compact portable generator.

    • 2

      Set up your laptop computer and your digital projector. Use a table that is large enough to hold both your laptop and the digital projector. If the weather turns bad, remove the lid from a plastic storage container and place it over the laptop and projector. You can also cut a hole in the side of this plastic container to allow the projected image to shine through. You want to protect both your laptop and digital projector, but not have to cancel the event if there is a little rain.

    • 3

      Connect the appropriate USB cables between your laptop and digital projector and connect both to the power source. If there is a soundtrack to run with your visual projection, you will want to add external speakers to your laptop for better audio.

    • 4

      Turn the power on to your laptop and to the digital projector. Open the file containing the multimedia show you plan on projecting and test to make sure the digital projector is working correctly. If it is still too light outside, you can place a white piece of paper just in front of the projector to see that the show is running. Wait until dusk, and begin the show.

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