Presenting In Lockdown: A Guide for Virtual Event Speakers

Presenting in a virtual event from your home is new for everyone. With this in mind, we have compiled some essential tips to help speakers in their homes put their best virtual foot forward.

Content Visibility During your Session

If you have Q&A activated during your session and you need to see the Q&A whilst sharing your Powerpoint, then your best experience would be to use TWO (2) screens. You can then have your PowerPoint on one screen and the Q&A link on the other. If you only have 1 screen then you can adjust the settings of your PowerPoint

If you do not have two screens then a second device (e.g. a tablet) will be a good alternative to viewing the Q&A link

Connectivity

A stable, high-quality Internet connection is critical. We recommend a minimum upload speed of 5 Mbps.

You can check the speed of your home Internet at speedtest.net or an equivalent site. If you are concerned about the stability of your connection, hard wiring your computer to your router with an ethernet cable will help.

Your streaming production team will work with you during the virtual event rehearsals to ensure you have the correct set-up.

Microphone

Check that your microphone is working and does not have any interference. You can test the microphone using your computer. Your technician will also be able to conduct a microphone test ahead of your presentation.

Camera

The first is to ensure the camera is at eye level and in front of you. The second is to maintain eye contact with the audience - look at the camera.

Where Are You?

For the virtual stage, a quiet room where the speaker won’t be interrupted is a must. We recommend organizing the space so the backdrop is clear of too many distracting objects i.e. bookshelves, photo frames, etc.

A couple of carefully placed objects can add a little interest without causing a distraction. Lighting should also be considered. Where possible, natural light is best. However, windows directly behind the speaker should be avoided.

If using a virtual background you will need a ‘green screen’ behind the speaker. This can be as simple as a frame with a blanket. The screen can be any color (although bright green usually works best) as long as it doesn’t feature on the speaker’s clothes or hair.

Personal Notes

Consider ways to keep movement to a minimum. Avoid swivel chairs!

Also, speakers should consider clothing choices. Dots, stripes, and small patterns can interfere with the camera and create a distracting, distorted effect.