When someone invites me to be the lecturer at their conference, they usually get a list of questions from me first. Questions that help me prepare myself for the lecture and to create the unique experience for the audience.
At first, these questions cause panic and fear among the organizers, but they soon realize these questions can help them prepare themselves better for the organization of the conference.
When preparing conference presentations, we usually assume our slides will appear on one large screen or projector behind us. But what if the hall is so big that there are two, three, or even more screens? What if the presentation is broadcast to other rooms or streamed online? That’s exactly why I always ask conference organizers this question:
On how many screens will the presentation be displayed simultaneously?
To gain clarity, I always ask additional questions:
- How many screens or projectors will be in the room?
Is it one central screen, or will the presentation appear simultaneously on multiple screens? - Will the presentation be broadcast to other rooms?
If yes, should I address the camera, the audience, or both? - What type of screens do you use? Projector screens or LED screens?
Are they traditional projector screens, large LED screens, or something else? A laser pointer, for instance, works great on projector screens but is useless on LED screens. - Will my face be displayed on any of the screens?
Will the video of me presenting appear on the same screen as the slides, on a separate screen, or maybe in a live stream?
Why is it important to know how many screens there will be?
Depending on the number and type of screens, I adjust my presentation while paying attention to several factors:
- Stage movements:
If screens are placed in various parts of the stage or hall, I must ensure I’m not blocking the view and evenly distribute attention to all audience sections. - Type of presenter (pointer):
As mentioned previously in the question “Will we have a presenter or remote?”, a standard laser pointer is useless if the presentation appears on multiple LED screens. In such cases, I use advanced pointers like the Logitech Spotlight, which highlights slide details on all screens simultaneously. - Choosing a microphone and stage presence:
If the stage is large and my presentation is transmitted to other screens in other areas, I prefer a hands-free microphone, allowing free gestures and eye contact with the audience or camera.
Practical examples
In practice, I often encounter three typical scenarios:
1. A large hall with two or more LED screens
At the Marketing Analytics Summit in London (featured image), the presentation appeared on two screens on either side of the stage. A laser pointer was ineffective, so I used Logitech Spotlight to clearly highlight details on both screens simultaneously. Although the presentation wasn’t streamed online, I could clearly emphasize details without physically approaching the screens.
2. Smaller room with one screen or projector
In smaller lecture rooms, I often don’t even use a pointer! I simply indicate slides with my hands since the audience is close enough to clearly see what I’m emphasizing. This approach makes the presentation more intimate and relaxed, helping the audience easily follow my gestures.
3. Presentation in one room with live streaming to other spaces
At a large conference in Zagreb, my talk was streamed live to two additional rooms and online. Therefore, I had to clearly understand the camera’s location for addressing both the camera and the live audience simultaneously. Here, I used a hands-free microphone for complete freedom of movement and Logitech Spotlight to clearly emphasize important details on all screens.
My approach (brief summary):
- Always ask the organizer for details about screen placement and cameras.
- Prepare a presenter (I always bring my own) and a microphone suitable for the room.
- Confirm with the technician managing the camera whether to address the audience, the camera, or both.
- Check if slides are clearly visible on every screen.
- In smaller rooms, I use natural gestures instead of a pointer.
Tips for organizers:
- Clearly communicate how many screens will be used and their locations.
- Ensure advanced pointers are available or recommend that speakers bring their own.
- If the presentation is broadcast to other rooms, inform speakers clearly where the camera is located.
Conclusion
The number of screens isn’t just a minor technical detail. It is a crucial part of preparing an excellent presentation. The better I understand how the audience will view my talk, the easier it is to adapt my presentation, giving the audience a better experience. And everyone’s happy 🙂
Take a look at other questions for conference organizers, which help me prepare myself for the audience.
Also, if you want me to help you organize your event or to hire some great speakers, do no hesitate to contact me 🙂