A few easy to use tips.

In this new world of social distancing and virtual events, many venues have successfully switched over to giving presentations using Zoom. While this may appear to be complicated, we can make it surprisingly simple for you. Often technology appears daunting, but it need not be so.

Here are some points to make things a little easier.

1. There are two types of Zoom platforms: Zoom Webinar and Zoom Meeting.

   When using Zoom Webinar, you will not see yourself or any other attendees on the screen. Only the presenter and usually one other person involved with the event are visible. The only option to have a Q&A at the end of the meeting is to have attendees type their questions in the “CHAT” tab or “Q&A” options, found at the bottom of the screen.

   When Zoom Meeting is used, all participants will have their own square on the screen which, if the attendee has their camera on, will show the participant. If the participant’s laptop or pad camera is not on, the participant’s box will be blank and only show their name. At the end of this type of virtual meeting, a Q&A can be done orally by the participant “unmuting” themselves. When presenting lectures, at Silvin Books & Productions use the Zoom Meeting platform.

2. As presenters, we work with venues in two different ways.

   Option 1: A venue may have created their own “Zoom Account” which makes them the host. The host has to make the speaker (us) a “co-host” thereby enabling us to share our PowerPoint presentations.

   Option 2: We can be the host and take care of the logistics of hosting. All the venue has to do is send their members an email with a link which each guest will use to log into the meeting.

3. If you, as a booking venue, group or individual choose to have us host the meeting, you will not need a Zoom hosting account. Instead we will manage the entire meeting for you. This includes letting attendees into the meeting, making sure every attendee is muted throughout the presentation, sharing the PowerPoint which we use during the presentation, and handling the Q&A at the end of the meeting.

4. When we host we also start the presentation with a short 30 second tutorial to let attendees know how to adjust their screen so that they have “presenter view”. This enables them to see the PowerPoint fully, unencumbered by seeing other participants.

   

   The screen with participant boxes on the right, covering the PowerPoint

   

   A close up of the top picture of attendees

   

   The middle option give you presenter view, eliminating all other attendee pictures

We hope these points are helpful and makes the procedure less intimidated. When you are ready to book us, it will be our pleasure to guide you through the process of choosing what is the best and easiest format for your audience.