Many Exhibitors are looking for ways to incorporate a TV monitor into their Exhibit. It’s a great way to play a marketing video or slideshow about your company during a tradeshow or even use for presentations. But it’s not always straightforward as to how to go about implementing a TV in your Exhibit especially if you don’t have a hard wall structure where a TV can be mounted securely. So I’m going to go over the 3 best ways to add a TV monitor when you have a portable or modular exhibit.
#1 The Portable Back Wall + TV Stand Combo
The most effective way to add your TV Monitor (up to 70″) right onto a portable fabric back wall is with the TV Stand + Back Wall Combo. This 1-2 punch is everything you need to place a TV monitor directly on a back wall and have it look pro.
There is no way a portable fabric back wall on it’s own could ever support the weight of a TV monitor without falling over… That is where the TV Stand comes into play.
But this isn’t just any regular TV Stand, this is one designed specifically to sit just behind the Backdrop and arms poke through and your TV Monitor attaches from the front.
It gives it the impression that the TV Monitor is attached to your fabric back wall, when in reality it is being supported by the Free-Standing Monitor Stand behind it. (Click more in the link above for a full detailed blog post where we go into more depth on my favorite way to attach a TV to a Trade Show Back Wall)
No need to sacrifice TV size for the sake of stability. This option gives you everything you need to effectively hang a large size TV monitor.
Pro Tip #1- Use a newer TV monitor. The new ones are wayyyy more lightweight then the older plasma models. Plus, the cost has come down so much that it is totally worth it.
Pro Tip #2- Ship your TV Monitor to the show in the original box and foam padding from when you bought it. Samsung, LG and the others have perfected the fine art of shipping TV Monitors long distances and reducing damage. No better way to ship them than in the original packaging.
Pro Tip #3- Depending on the city of your trade show, you might want to check if there is a Walmart, Target, Best Buy or other retailer nearby. It will save you money on shipping to the show and is a great option if you are searching but don’t already have a TV Monitor or are looking to upgrade.
#2 Using a Backwall Stand-Off for your TV
Fortunately, exhibitors have a lot of options when it comes to portable display systems that are specifically designed to hold a TV. One of those is the Formulate Master series which has a range of different back walls that offer standoff accents and connectors that actually attach onto the back wall. The standoffs then allow for a TV mount typically for monitors up to 42 inches. There is a limit to how large of a TV monitor can be when using standoffs because while they are secure especially when used with the backwall, it still doesn’t take the place of a solid hardwood structure or specially designed TV Monitor Stand like above.
The Formulate Master series is certainly a great option for exhibitors who are looking for a portable system while still being able to use a decent sized TV monitor.
#3 Using a Freestanding TV Stand
Another great option is to use a special TV stand that is free-standing and one that is actually portable enough to ship from show-to-show. This option might not be one that physically attaches to a back wall or anything else, but still an excellent way to have a Monitor in your booth space with the added benefit of being able to re-position it as needed.
Our Freestanding Monitor Kiosk is a great option that you can take on the road. It includes a universal VESA Monitor Mount and is capable of holding a TV Monitor up to 55″ or 44 lbs.
It has a 2-piece pole that screws together with a bubble base that can be branded with custom printing on a fabric stretch cover. The bubble base can also be filled with water for added stability with an easy fill cap.
It also includes a Keyboard shelf which is great for using as a demo or sign-up kiosk. Add a 3-tray brochure holder for storing marketing materials.
Bonus: Attach a TV Monitor directly to the Backwall
Lastly, the final way to hold a TV monitor on a portable exhibit that is not a hard wall structure, is to actually build the TV Mount into the backwall frame. This can be done with smaller TV monitors if the backwall has a 2D footprint (a straight wall).
Anything larger than 20 or 32 inches, starts to add too much weight to the face of that backwall and can potentially make it unstable. This can be addressed by either adding additional backwall supports (which isn’t ideal because this typically adds to the depth of the booth where space is a premium) or adding return walls to the sides of the backwall to give it more of a 3D footprint.
This is a technique we use a lot with the TRIGA Frame System and SEG Frame System. This 3D footprint gives the booth some stability even with portable frame systems that allow for a larger size monitor. In this case the TV mount is bolted to extra hardware on the frame in the desired location.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there are definitely different ways to add a TV monitor to your tradeshow display. I’m sure as time goes on the technology will improve and TV monitors will become even more lightweight.
If you are just starting out and looking for the best way to add a monitor to your existing backwall or to a new backwall, do a little extra research since you will be surprised by all the new options that exist and as always, reach out to us below if you have any questions or would like us to recommend some options.