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Quality pre-conference
communication. The more I know about the group I'm addressing the
better I can customize my talk to their needs.
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A good sound system is
very important! Good sound enables me to be much more verbally expressive
and enhances every joke, every song and the overall message. Don’t
save money on sound.
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If possible, have a knowledgeable
AV technician to set-up and trouble shoot. I often use PowerPoint™,
a CD player and sometimes video clips and it is distracting if there
are technical problems. Having said all this, I should add that
I’m not chained to technology. If the system breaks down I
won’t.
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I believe that in most
instances, I’m best used as an opening keynote presenter. I
want to send the audience out of the room feeling good about themselves,
inspired and ready to get the most out of the conference or event.
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If I’m doing a workshop
I feel it’s better placed after a keynote speech than before.
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I love doing banquets,
they’re a license for levity and to miss the joy is to miss
it all. For banquets all I need is a sound system.
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My optimal speaking time
for a single presentation is between 75-90 minutes.
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Be careful of too many
introductions, messages from the mayor or president, housekeeping
announcements, door prizes and other formalities. They have a way
of expanding into the time set aside for your visiting speakers.
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As a general rule at
a conference, don’t try to cram in too much. People want time
to socialize, network and relax. Very often, less is more. For example:
Start a conference first thing in the morning with a bang. In order
to get in one extra presentation conference organizers sometimes
have the opening keynote on the evening of the arrival day. It’s
not a good idea. When people arrive at a hotel or conference center
they are tired and they usually want to greet old friends, or make
new ones. Have a wine and cheese, or some other social event, but
don’t make tired delegates sit down to a keynote speech. Even
a fine keynote speech will seem twice as good if delivered to a
rested audience the next morning.
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Once I arrive at a conference,
I am yours and I am at your service. The only reasons for the previous
suggestions are to maximize the impact of the presentation to the
delegates. My job is to make the work of the organizers pay off
with a memorable presentation.
If you are employing an external conference management team, the
organization that impressed me most this year was Buksa Conference
Management and Program Development. This conference management team
overlooked nothing and did everything possible to accommodate the
needs of the presenters and the goals of the creators of the event.
They were courteous, efficient and a pleasure to deal with. Visit
their web site: www.buksa.com
