Tips for presenting to large audiences:

1. Use a large screen

Have you ever been to a presentation where 60 or more people are forced to look at one of those wobbly 3-legged, 8-foot-wide screens? You know the ones that always have creases in them? If your presentation is worth showing then it is worth seeing and for your audience to see it you need a big screen - one that’s at least 12-feet across. Don’t leave it to chance. Demand a great screen for your next presentation.

2. Enlarge presentation drawings live

Another common presentation problem is when the presenter refers to a drawing that is too small for the audience to see. This can happen during mid-charrette reviews when there isn’t time to scan or photograph the drawings and import them into PowerPoint. The public hands-on workshop (The Charrette Handbook, p. 91) is a prime example of when charrette drawings are literally lifted off the desk for presentation in a large forum. A method perfected by Dover, Kohl and Partners is to use a video camera on a tripod to project the drawings onto a large screen. This should only be done with a skilled camera operator who knows lighting and can effectively zoom in on details without making everyone in the audience nauseated. Warning: Practice this method before going live.

3. Plan and rehearse team presentations

Have you ever had a team presentation take forever? Even (or especially) seasoned professionals have been known to blow a timed presentation by going too long. The success of team presentations depends on everyone staying on time. Be wary of someone who says they can present within 15 minutes when they have 60 slides. The best advice is to rehearse well ahead of time so that adjustments can be made. If time does not allow rehearsals, you should probably ask the presenter with 60 slides to cut it in half, just in case.