- Check out the room. If possible, attend the session in your room that is directly before your session. Look at how seating is used and if it can be adapted in time for your session. Report any questions to HFMA staff or house A-V staff.
- Note where the lighting control is and turn it as high as possible to be able to still see your computer visuals. The house A-V staff probably did not set it as high as it will go; ask for help here if you need it.
- Test the microphone by having someone sit in the back of the room to hear how you sound. Pin it securely on a lapel 4-6†from your chin.
- Review final delivery decisions for yourself and your partner: Who will begin? What slides are most important? Who will manage the remote? Plan ahead so you are not stuck in front fiddling with the projector and conferring with your partner as the crowd that you want to impress is entering.
- Practice the first four minutes alone or with your partner, as this is where you make important first impressions. Know this part without notes so eyes can be out at the audience.
- Plan to speak as much as possible OUT from behind the podium. Walk across the front or down the sides of the room to answer questions if you can. If in partners…
- Plan to include one or two of the top three ways to engage the audience early on: ask a question, ask partners to discuss a topic-related issue, or tell a story and ask them to comment or reflect in some way.
- Select three points in your presentation where audience members will be asked to exchange ideas—in partners, small groups, or in large group Q/A that you control.
- When you do ask the audience to get involved, give very clear movement and timing instructions. In large conference groups, participants especially need to be very clear about what they’re doing and why, and they will do it.
- As Aristotle taught, both credibility and charisma sell ideas. Don’t underestimate the value of you and your stories. Tell ‘em like nobody else will!
Conference Speaker Checklist: Top Ten Onsite Tips for Success
September 20, 2007
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