| Timing |
- If you have the opportunity before your presentation, allow plenty of lead time to setup the room and your equipment and to test your presentation.
- Start promptly at the scheduled time. End promptly, leaving adequate time for audience questions.
- Be sure you have prioritized the key messages you want to get across to your audience. During your presentation, be ready to skip over less important visuals and content material as you notice time getting short.
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| Equipment, Software, Network, Phone Lines |
- Test all of your equipment, software, network connections, and phone lines and make sure that they all work together.
- Make sure electrical, network, and phone cords are solidly connected to their outlets. Move cords out of your speaking traffic pattern and if possible, tape them down to avoid tripping and/or pulling them loose during your presentation.
- If using software, be sure to have critical files on floppy in case of damage or loss from the hard disk.
- Be prepared with alternative plans in case equipment, software, or connection lines fail. Handouts or overhead transparencies are good backup and "insurance".
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| Lighting |
- Find out where light switches are located. Display one of your visuals and walk around the periphery of the seating area to see the audience's view under different lighting conditions. Identify the best combination of lighting for the audience when you use visuals.
- If light switches are remotely located from your presentation area, ask a session moderator or audience member to control the lights at your cue. Make sure they have an opportunity to identify switches for each lighting bank and test the switches.
- Check that you have enough light to read any notes or to use the computer keyboard.
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| Visuals |
- Test your visuals for legibility. Adjust the screen/projector distance or zoom lens on projector to make sure your visuals are legible to your most distant viewer.
- Have alternative visuals such as audience handouts or overhead transparencies in case of equipment, software, connection malfunction.
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| Sound |
- If using a microphone, test it before the presentation. Generally, microphones work best when located several inches way from your mouth, just below your lower lip.
- When starting your presentation in large rooms, ask a person at the back corner of the room to wave if your speaking volume is adequate.
- Repeat any audience questions before answering.
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| Getting Help |
- Identify how to get help with room, sound, lighting or equipment problems.
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