When you can't access an audio/visual cart, nothing is worse than lugging your projector through a building for a presentation while making separate trips for presentation notes, briefcase, handouts, laptop, laser pointer and other items. Hopefully, your projector weighs in on the light side, because your audience won't find you very pleasing to watch if you've recently been sweating and are still a little out of breath.

Whether you show movies at school, in a training session or make Power Point presentations to a corporate audience or prospective client, an A/V cart consolidates your belongings and the number of trips you have to make to the presentation room. Additionally, most carts also double as storage carts for AV equipment, so you don't have to store your projector, TV or DVD/VHS player separate from its accessories. As you shop suppliers of A/V carts, keep the following in mind:

1. Buy a portable AV cart with a locking storage cabinet for storing your projector when you're not around.

2. Get an audio/visual cart with adjustable heights that you can tailor to every situation.

3. Check your TV's weight before you shop to ensure it meets a particular cart's weight capacity.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase A/V carts designed for TVs

You'll find numerous suppliers of audio visual carts who provide carts designed specifically to hold a television or viewing monitor. A/V cart suppliers carry carts for both plasma TVs and CRT TVs where the back end sticks out. Mobile AV carts let you conveniently position your television for optimum viewing by the entire audience and then just as easily push the TV out of the way and into a closet when you're not using it.

I recommend: AV Carts.com carries audio/visual carts designed for TVs of various dimensions, in all price ranges and constructed of metal, plastic and wood. Visit B&H Photo Video for another large selection of reasonably priced mobile AV carts for television and other monitors.

Buy portable AV carts designed for projectors

When you don't have an AV cart, you can waste a lot of time looking for somewhere to put the projector and then have to find books to place under it because it won't adjust to the height and angle you need. AV carts allow a projector to sit on an elevated platform, and you can push the cart to any location in the room.

I recommend: School Outfitters carries portable AV carts of all dimensions and configurations, ensuring you'll find the exact cart you need. Take a look at the portable AV cart at Ergo In Demand; it comes with two pneumatic, independently adjustable platforms that allow you to keep your laptop and projector together during a presentation.

Consider renting an A/V cart

Purchasing an A/V cart doesn't always make sense. If you only make a handful of presentations at your place of business in a year, it may make more sense to rent an A/V cart when you need one.

I recommend: Contact FrancisAv.com for prices on AV cart rentals; their carts range in size from 26 to 54 inches high and with varying shelf sizes. You can also check on the available selection of audio visual cart rentals from AVLane.com or AV Advantage.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you shop for AV cart rentals, check for the company's policy on cancellations. Many companies won't penalize you if you give them at least a one-day notice.