Until in-person events and gatherings resume, presenters that are accustomed to presenting in front of a live audience may be asked to lead a virtual session. Here are some audio-visual tips to help your presenters be successful:
Audio is everything! Make sure that you have a good microphone or headset with a microphone so the presentation can be heard by all participants. You should test your audio connections several days before the session to ensure that everything is working as expected. You should also re-test your audio on the day of the presentation, at least one hour before the session starts to allow time for troubleshooting if needed.
Make sure the lighting in your room is bright enough to give your remote audience a good image. Avoid sitting in front of or next to a window. If the window is to your right, the right side of your face will be illuminated but the left side will be in the dark. A ring light is a cost-effective purchase that will help. Here is an example:
Be mindful of your surroundings and what your viewers will see behind you. A blank wall is not necessary, but you should not have a very busy background or anything that may be distracting.
Script out your presentation and practice several times. Leave room for some spur-of-the-moment ad-libs so you don’t come off mechanical or stiff, but you will want to make sure your presentation fills your allotted time. Many presenters feed off the energy from the audience for pacing and improvisation and find themselves at a loss when those reactions are not there.
Bring your attendee’s attention to the screen with phrases like “As I’m about to show you” or “as you can see here.” This will entice them to look up if they are focused away from your presentation to see what your slide shows.
Keep a large format clock by your presentation area to replace the TRG speaker timer used at onsite events to stay on time!
Contact TRG to discuss your next virtual session. We have a great system that works with your company’s platform for a seamless and interactive remote presentation.