Top Presenters Arrive Early!
You’ve given your presentation dozens of times. You’ve got it down. You can show up and be ready to fly in fifteen minutes. So what’s all this stuff about arriving an hour early? Oh yeah, that’s right – in case there’s traffic and to find the restroom.
If those were the only problems …
Don’t learn the hard way about all the things that can go wrong just prior to your talk.
You pull up to your destination 15 minutes early. You find your contact person and gab for a few minutes. She directs you to your presentation room. You notice there is no overhead projector. Did they forget? Is it on the way to the room? This uneasiness causes you to forget a prop on your second trip to your car. You’re now scrambling. You don’t get to do your final mental run-through of your opening. You don’t get to meet any of the attendees. In fact, the attendees see an anxious person in front of the room. Not a great start.
To be in top form, you must be relaxed and full of confidence. You don’t want to be dealing with last minute hassles.
Here is a comprehensive list of things that a speaker is in charge of.
First: Confirm address, directions, and map … know exact building and room (number). Enter contact person into your cell phone.
After that, arriving early allows you to:
• Find a parking place
• Find your name tag and place card
• Put your contact person at ease – you're early!
• Review the schedule
• Confirm the length of your talk and ending time
• Check for enough room for all your activities
• Set up props
• Note any bunched carpet or extension cords
• Note any doors that bang closed
• Know the lighting controls or find who does
• Check sound system (mic, volume control,
speaker feedback areas, length of cord)
• Check for unwanted background music
• Check room temperature – 68 to 72 degrees
• Learn the names of the staff – waiters,
convention leader, sound technician
• Learn the names of some audience members
o Get their stories
• Tweak your speech due to: the facility, weather,
spirit of the event, meeting new people
o Look for fresh, new humor
o Compose situation-appropriate opening
• Rearrange seating if necessary
o Is the front row close enough?
o Do you need to create a center aisle?
Even if you end up with a half hour of free time, no great speaker ever said, “Gosh, I got here too early.” You can always meet a few more people to gather more stories or learn more about the organization. Visit a breakout session (if appropriate). Or wander off and clear your head. Or pump yourself up. Be seen! That is, be seen as someone who is part of making the whole event a success, not just the speaker who pops in, speaks, and pops out. Take note, many people will know you are one of the speakers so maintain that smile and upbeat attitude.
Remember, the comfort and confidence that comes with knowing practically everything is in order goes a long way toward assuring a dazzling and memorable performance.
Oh yeah, one more bonus to arriving early, contributed by a female speaker friend of mine: you can freshen up your lipstick.
