How many times have you thought you were going to hear a presentation, then couldn’t? The microphone isn’t working, the slides don’t play, etc.
The technology aspect of making a presentation is something many of us don’t think enough about before we stand behind the podium. Almost everyone puts time into their PowerPoint, and they will practice in front of family or a mirror to get their cadence and pronunciation right. Sometimes we take the time to find out who will be in the audience in order to tailor our talk to them.
However, no matter how good your talk is, it won’t help anybody if they can’t hear you.
Deborah Shames and David Booth of the communication training company Eloqui have coached some of the biggest names when it comes to giving effective talks. The latest post from their weekly newsletter reminds us about some of the most important, but overlooked, aspects of giving a presentation.
By the way, Deborah gave one of the keynotes at the recent Los Angeles Business Journal Women’s Summit. And, Eloqui has been sending out a tip of the week, which they write themselves, for 12 years.
TIP OF THE WEEK: AUDIO GLITCHES
A recent women’s conference in Los Angeles provided many examples of microphone mishaps. One panelist wore a dress with no belt. There was no place for her to clip the lavaliere or the battery pack. She had to hold both during her entire presentation. She was not alone.
Another speaker lost her frequency and was given a handheld microphone. But without training, she spoke too loudly, causing distortion. When she turned away from the mic, the audience couldn’t hear her at all! She needed to aim the mic at her chin, about 3″ away, then turn at the waist whenever she spoke while keeping the mic in place.
And yet another speaker didn’t dress her cable correctly, causing her blouse to ride up and not lie smoothly under her jacket.
If you speak in public, you need to master this technology. Always wear a shirt or blouse that can hold the weight of the mic and accommodate a clip for the lavaliere. A jacket with a lapel will also do. Don’t wear hanging necklaces, which can create a sound nightmare.
Dress the mic cable so it doesn’t show or make clothing hike up… Turn off power when you go to the bathroom, unless you want to entertain the tech crew… And rehearse with the mic, even a few sentences, so you can best monitor your volume on stage.
