2014 is here and we are already excited about all of the upcoming conferences on the horizon. Speculation about products coming this year began last year (i.e. 4k video). The inevitable fusion of the AV industry with IT via integrated technologies such as AVB will have a significant impact on current and future capital campaigns and infrastructure upgrades. The “mobile revolution” is rapidly changing the we interact with one another. Tech trade shows allow us a peak at where technology is headed. Conferences for creatives lets our imaginations run wild. Tech arts conferences help us build community.

Don’t have room in your calendar/budget to hit every conference this year? Following a conference from the comfort of your own home or workplace is certainly a smart way to stay up to date on the latest in the industry. Twitter has become a great place to aggregate coverage of the shows, press conferences, and presentations from top conferences to up & coming conferences. Twitter’s character limit generally produces precise announcements containing only the information that matters. Tech news media on twitter like @CNET, @Techcrunch, @Engadget also post video footage of their coverage. Quick searches using the #hashtags for conferences will also see things through the lens of conference attendees who are present. You can also follow the manufacturers you want to watch directly.

With that in mind, here is my hit list for conferences that church tech artists will really want to attend. Leave a comment if I left a good conference out and I’ll update the list!

Church Tech Conferences

Gurus of Tech

Dates: tba
Location: tba (usually in Chicago, IL)
Prices: tba
http://www.gurusoftech.com/
@gurusoftech on twitter

WFX

October 1-3,
Dallas, TX
Prices: tba
http://www.wfxweb.com/
@wfx on twitter

Creatives Conferences:

Seeds

March 5-7th, 2014
Tulsa, OK (Church on The Move)
$259+
https://seeds.churchonthemove.com/events
@seeds on twitter

Catalyst Conferences (http://catalystconference.com/)

West – April 2nd-4th (Mariners Church, Orange County, CA) http://catalystconference.com/westcoast/ $109-$299
Dallas – April 30th-May 2nd (location & pricing TBA)
Atlanta – (dates, location, and prices TBA)
One Day Atlanta – Feb 24th, 2014 (North Point Community Church) http://catalystconference.com/one-day/one-day-atlanta ($79-$149)
One Day Denver, CO Feb 27th (Southeast Christian Church) http://catalystconference.com/one-day/one-day-denver ($79-149)