As soon as you arrive in the space, you can set the stage and open up the house.  

 

The first thing you should do is walk the perimeter of the room. Literally walk around the perimiter of the room. How will you and any media look from the back of the room? Note where the doors are located. Can they be closed before you begin? Are the windows clear or opaque? Are there shades or blinds that can be lowered. Do lights need to be raised or dimmed?  If you can't walk the room (for example, you just arrived and are the second speaker to go in an extended peresentation), then just do a quick visual tour. Look around the space and take note of points above. Take inventory of the challenges and the advantages of your space.

 

Then plug in. Make sure your PC connections, wireless mouse and mic all work. If there is one, move the speaker phone close enough to you to easily pick up your voice. Adjust Mic if there is one. Do you need to dial in to a conference call or WebEx?

 

Clear enough space for you to move freely in the stage area. Reduce clutter on table/desk tops at the front of the room and wipe any white boards. Arrange any Props so that they are easily accessible to you. Place your Rescue Kit in an easy to access location.

 

It’s good to vocalize a little bit if you can before the audience arrives, just to see how your voice sounds in the space. If some of the audience are already there just say a few words of greeting to them in full voice. You will get the same effect.

 

Identify the power positions on the stage using the  Power Position Map.