Whether you are watching or presenting, it’s likely you’ve experienced the uncomfortable moment of a presentation having ‘technical difficulties.’ A video won’t play, the projector won’t turn on, the audience can’t hear the presenter, etc. The list of potential problems is a long one, and although sometimes these events are unavoidable, there are several things you can do as a presenter to help the audio-visual components run smoothly.
Number one: Practice makes perfect! Running through your presentation before you are in front of an audience is crucial. Run-throughs not only help to calm your nerves, but also gives the AV Technicians a feel for your pace and a chance to test the equipment and work out any potential issues beforehand.
Number two: Back it up! Having two copies of your presentation eliminates any possibility of losing your information. The ideal places to store your presentation are online, and on a “hard copy.” For example, saving on both google drive and a flash drive.
Number three: Dress to impress! Surprisingly, what you wear can have an effect on the AV aspects of your presentation. Patterned shirts, such as pinstripes or small polka dots can appear blurry or grainy on video. Also, keep in mind you may have to attach a microphone to your clothing. Articles like turtlenecks and bulky sweaters can be difficult to mic, and clothing without pockets or belts will be nearly impossible to attach a battery pack to.
Number four: Speak up! There is only so much a microphone can do to enhance your sound. Whispering closely into a mic can create feedback and make it even more difficult for the audience to hear you. A good rule of thumb for handheld microphones is to hold the mic approximately two to three inches diagonally from your face, tipped up so the audience can see your face! This will send your sound directly into the mic and give you a crisp, clear voice.
Having an Audio Visual company, like Oncore AV, assist with your presentations can help insure that everything runs smoothly. Taking some of the set up and preparations off of your plate can free you up to focus more on your content. Having a technician can boost your confidence that everything will run smoothly, and gives you peace of mind knowing that we have your back! Keep these tips in mind to help your AV technicians insure you have a great presentation.