Renting a projector
May 8, 2013 4:55 PM Subscribe
What types of establishments rent or loan projectors that can display computer output? And how much should it cost?
I have a presentation next week and I would like to project from my laptop onto a wall. Just still images.
This is not a work event and I am not getting paid for it. It did not occur to me when I agreed to do it that finding a projector would be a problem.
The public library, where the presentation is taking place, is letting me use their room, but they do not have a projector.
I called a rental place and was told it costs $150/day to rent a projector. That strikes me as very high. Does this sound right? Does anyone have ideas on ways to rent projectors that aren't so costly?
I have a presentation next week and I would like to project from my laptop onto a wall. Just still images.
This is not a work event and I am not getting paid for it. It did not occur to me when I agreed to do it that finding a projector would be a problem.
The public library, where the presentation is taking place, is letting me use their room, but they do not have a projector.
I called a rental place and was told it costs $150/day to rent a projector. That strikes me as very high. Does this sound right? Does anyone have ideas on ways to rent projectors that aren't so costly?
Where are you located? Or more precisely, where is the presentation taking place?
It has been a while since I rented projectors, but $150 is not really out of the ballpark. Yes, its pricey, but not totally horrible. It really depends on the projector and its relative ruggedness among other things.
If you give a location (a city) I can run a quick search of the area. There are a number of businesses that rent this stuff including companies that rent short term computer setups for trade shows and such.
posted by lampshade at 5:17 PM on May 8, 2013
It has been a while since I rented projectors, but $150 is not really out of the ballpark. Yes, its pricey, but not totally horrible. It really depends on the projector and its relative ruggedness among other things.
If you give a location (a city) I can run a quick search of the area. There are a number of businesses that rent this stuff including companies that rent short term computer setups for trade shows and such.
posted by lampshade at 5:17 PM on May 8, 2013
In my small town the local vocational school has some projectors that they sometimes let people borrow (including the library) when they need one for a presentation. If you're in a place that is a little larger population-wise, you may be able to find someone on Craigslist who would let you borrow theirs for a trade or for less than $150/day. I have one in my closet, a lot of nerdy types do. If you're in Vermont you can borrow mine.
posted by jessamyn at 5:20 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by jessamyn at 5:20 PM on May 8, 2013
Definitely try networking first. Have any friends who are in Sales or IT? Those rental places are targeting people with expense accounts and/or are over a barrel and will pay to get it taken care of.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:39 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by Lyn Never at 5:39 PM on May 8, 2013
Did you ask the library about a LCD screen? Public meeting spaces are a core function of libraries these days, maybe always has been. Whoever you spoke with may have taken you too literally when you asked about a projector, when they really have a closet full of 32" LCD screens for presentations.
posted by COD at 6:19 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by COD at 6:19 PM on May 8, 2013
I'm a big fan of Rentex. They were the cheapest for my area and will do longer term engagements. Also if you have any friends who have friends in theater or music clubs they may have something.
posted by edbles at 6:22 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by edbles at 6:22 PM on May 8, 2013
I don't know where to rent a projector, but I would do what COD suggested. It's much more common now to just hook your computer up to a big screen (in my office it's just a big TV in the conference room). Double-check what type of cable it takes and if you have to bring your own.
posted by radioamy at 7:18 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by radioamy at 7:18 PM on May 8, 2013
Seconding COD that if your event is in the library it would be worth having another talk with the library staff - like he says, public meeting spaces are such a core part of library services that I would think they should be able to help out in some way, and there may have just been some minor miscommunication.
What types of establishments rent or loan projectors that can display computer output?
The company I work for has a few projectors that we rent out. Google search terms that should find companies like us would be: event production, event rental, sound reinforcement, lighting rental, audio-visual rental, A/V services, A/V installation, live sound, concert rental, sound system rental, party rental.
All searches, of course, including the name of your nearest town or city, because a lot of the companies that would rent projectors are small local businesses. There are some larger rental companies that are chains or franchises, but the economy of scale thing doesn't always work in the rental business like it does in retail - a branch of a big chain won't necessarily be cheaper.
And how much should it cost?
Sorry, that's too hard to say - it can be highly variable depending on where you are, what kind of projector you want, and what company you're dealing with.
We wouldn't rent you any of our projectors for as low as $150 - but they're the kind of projectors that cost $3000 and up to purchase new, and they've got the lenses and power to put a clear image on a screen at least 10' x 14' in brighter situations than a pitch dark room. So way overkill for your situation, but we don't own anything smaller, so if you had called us just asking, "What does it cost to rent a projector?" you would've gotten a reply of "$250 and up."
IOW, you'll want to call more than one place, and explain what you're looking to do - how many people are expected to be in the audience, the size of the room, the size you'd like the image to be, the time of day and how dark you expect the room to be, so on and so forth. Hopefully the company has something small and cheap to rent, or if they don't they can recommend another company. And get more than one quote, because some companies are aiming at the corporate market, and have priced themselves accordingly.
If you're in or near a fairly major city you could try Googling "laptop rental", as there are companies that rent this stuff for corporate meetings, and they may have some projectors, but those companies are definitely priced for people with expense accounts.
Assuming you're in a fairly small, fairly dark room, you really just need a fairly small low-power projector. Lots of companies own a bunch of these, as do colleges and universities, so it might be worth asking around friends and family and co-workers to see if anyone's got access to one through one of these routes. Otherwise, there are a ton of these kind of projectors available at Amazon or Best Buy or wherever for $299 or less, sometimes way less. So I guess if push comes to shove you could most likely buy one for about $150, and then just keep it and use it yourself, or try to ditch it on Craigslist or ebay and get at least some of your money back.
Or, heck, donate it to your library - I would think you should be able to get some kind of tax deduction.
But yeah, I think your first two actions should be to talk to the library again and ask around to see if someone you know has access to one you can borrow or "rent" as a favor.
posted by soundguy99 at 9:07 PM on May 8, 2013
What types of establishments rent or loan projectors that can display computer output?
The company I work for has a few projectors that we rent out. Google search terms that should find companies like us would be: event production, event rental, sound reinforcement, lighting rental, audio-visual rental, A/V services, A/V installation, live sound, concert rental, sound system rental, party rental.
All searches, of course, including the name of your nearest town or city, because a lot of the companies that would rent projectors are small local businesses. There are some larger rental companies that are chains or franchises, but the economy of scale thing doesn't always work in the rental business like it does in retail - a branch of a big chain won't necessarily be cheaper.
And how much should it cost?
Sorry, that's too hard to say - it can be highly variable depending on where you are, what kind of projector you want, and what company you're dealing with.
We wouldn't rent you any of our projectors for as low as $150 - but they're the kind of projectors that cost $3000 and up to purchase new, and they've got the lenses and power to put a clear image on a screen at least 10' x 14' in brighter situations than a pitch dark room. So way overkill for your situation, but we don't own anything smaller, so if you had called us just asking, "What does it cost to rent a projector?" you would've gotten a reply of "$250 and up."
IOW, you'll want to call more than one place, and explain what you're looking to do - how many people are expected to be in the audience, the size of the room, the size you'd like the image to be, the time of day and how dark you expect the room to be, so on and so forth. Hopefully the company has something small and cheap to rent, or if they don't they can recommend another company. And get more than one quote, because some companies are aiming at the corporate market, and have priced themselves accordingly.
If you're in or near a fairly major city you could try Googling "laptop rental", as there are companies that rent this stuff for corporate meetings, and they may have some projectors, but those companies are definitely priced for people with expense accounts.
Assuming you're in a fairly small, fairly dark room, you really just need a fairly small low-power projector. Lots of companies own a bunch of these, as do colleges and universities, so it might be worth asking around friends and family and co-workers to see if anyone's got access to one through one of these routes. Otherwise, there are a ton of these kind of projectors available at Amazon or Best Buy or wherever for $299 or less, sometimes way less. So I guess if push comes to shove you could most likely buy one for about $150, and then just keep it and use it yourself, or try to ditch it on Craigslist or ebay and get at least some of your money back.
Or, heck, donate it to your library - I would think you should be able to get some kind of tax deduction.
But yeah, I think your first two actions should be to talk to the library again and ask around to see if someone you know has access to one you can borrow or "rent" as a favor.
posted by soundguy99 at 9:07 PM on May 8, 2013
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Clearly you've already found a local A/V rental place, the other places I'd look are:
posted by straw at 5:04 PM on May 8, 2013