Read this before purchasing a professional teleprompter to import into your country [Success Story: Cameroon]

Sunday 01 December 2024

I’m Lucía Arribas, founder of Solutions Prompteur. In this article, I share a story that perfectly illustrates the challenges of an international project: the design, delivery, and training of a team on how to use a 32-inch camera teleprompter in Cameroon.

You will discover how this equipment was selected remotely, the logistical and bureaucratic challenges we overcame, and the unique experience of working for one of the most prestigious figures in Cameroon.

The challenge: replacing a teleprompter after 22 years of service

The client reached out from Cameroon to modernize their teleprompter. They had been using a 21-inch PortaPrompt teleprompter for over 20 years, and it was still in perfect working condition. This wasn’t about obsolescence but about meeting new demands: a larger teleprompter for official speeches broadcast on a national scale.

Step 1: Understanding the needs [truly]

From the outset, my role was to listen and advise. This involved multiple meetings, analyzing previous videos, and in-depth discussions with the Cameroonian technical team.

While reviewing the videos, I noticed a crucial detail: during speeches, the president’s gaze seemed slightly off-center. A properly suited teleprompter could correct this issue.

Analyzing every aspect of a case and proposing a tailored solution is essential to ensure the long-term success of such a request.

Step 2: the importance of choosing the right teleprompter

Choosing a teleprompter isn’t just about size or technology. Every detail must be tailored to a specific need. In this case, the primary goal was ensuring the speaker could engage the audience with direct, compelling eye contact, as though addressing each spectator individually.

We selected PortaPrompt’s 32-inch camera teleprompter for its ability to perfectly align text with the camera lens over long distances. This type of teleprompter is ideal for televised or filmed speeches, where visual impact is crucial in conveying the message.

This technical choice also required comprehensive training for the team using the gear. Proper training ensures optimal use, durability, and efficiency of the device for many years.

With equipment of this caliber, every detail matters to maximize return on investment.

Step 3: logistics and unexpected challenges

The biggest logistical challenge was… the flight case! This often-overlooked element is essential. The transport case protects the teleprompter throughout its life. For this project, our supplier had to produce a custom flight case within a record-breaking week.

But that wasn’t the only hurdle. The bureaucracy involved, given the prominence of the client, made every step more time-consuming. For eight months, I received hopeful emails but no concrete confirmations or deposits. At one point, I thought the project might not happen.

Finally, three weeks before I was due to leave for a three-week mission in Saudi Arabia, the client confirmed the payment. We had just two weeks to finalize everything.

The equipment was retrieved in the UK, inspected in Paris, and entrusted to a freight forwarder for its journey to Cameroon. Even then, another issue arose: flights to Yaoundé were packed with huge amount of passenger luggage, which required from the freight forwarder to wait until the was space available to load the packages . For days, we feared the equipment wouldn’t arrive on time.

Step 4: on-site training and enriching anecdotes

When I arrived in Yaoundé, the teleprompter hadn’t yet arrived… but the next day, the first day of training, it was there and in perfect conditions.

The installation and training took place in a prestigious hall, a location with strict security protocols and confidentiality agreements I must honor.

Training the local technicians was an invaluable experience. We covered every detail, from adjusting the teleprompter’s height to the critical importance of gaze alignment.

A memorable anecdote?

One experienced technician had a habit of starting the text at the wrong spot on the glass, subtly disrupting the speaker’s gaze. A simple explanation was enough to transform his approach. It’s these details that elevate an intervention from “adequate” to “natural.”

Step 5: results and recognition

This project required months of effort, but it was all worth it when I received this warm email from the client:

“I am very pleased with our collaboration, both professionally and personally. I truly appreciated it. Even before receiving your email, I had already heard glowing feedback about your visit. You were highly appreciated, as was the equipment… especially since I’ve been requesting this upgrade for quite some time.

(…)

My dear Lucía, you are a professional through and through, and I could feel that from day one. I will always be grateful for the many valuable exchanges we’ve had. I continue to learn from you through your newsletter.”

Such feedback reminds me why I founded Solutions Prompteur: to provide the most reliable equipment on the market, support our clients in their projects, and exceed their expectations.

At Solutions Prompteur, we only offer high-quality equipment that we use ourselves because our clients’ high standards require it.

Lucía ARRIBAS

PS: I hope this publication has been useful to you. I only publish 25% of this information on the web. If you’re in the events business, I’m sharing privately the tips I’ve observed from the most sought-after production directors in France (and around the world) after working with many of them for over 20 years. This information is free of charge and will help you avoid many coordination errors during an event, thereby increasing your prestige.