SEMINAR ROOM & AV SET UP:
1. UTILIZING MICHELE GUZY:
How to get the most out of her presentations
Michele will provide you with an introduction to read before she speaks. She likes to meet as many members of her audience as possible. She is available to attend your events before and after the presentation. Michele also offers her services for "one on one" consultations for those interested in meeting with her privately to improve their skills.
Keynotes and seminars are meant to be informative and also FUN! After athletic activities, marathon meetings, sad announcements, cocktail parties, gourmet dinners or arriving jet-lagged from another time zone, an audience is not alert for a speaker no matter how dynamic the topic may be.
For multi-day conferences, consider having Michele speak at the beginning of your program when the audience is more alert. Quite often participants tend to socialize until late in the evening. It is best not to place your main speaker on the last day.
Consider having Michele speak before awards, long announcements or cocktail parties. If this is not possible, please provide the audience with a quick break to stretch and get focused. Remember, the energy you create in the room before your speaker arrives will determine the success of the day.
For banquets, try serving dessert at the next break instead of after lunch. People will be less full/sleepy and it makes for a nice pick-me-up instead of the usual coffee service. Playing upbeat music and turning on all the lights will help keep mental stimulation high.
2. ROOM SET UP:
Michele Guzy is a petite, dynamic speaker! Please make sure she is visible and can be seen from all angles during her presentation. For groups more than 100, a "riser stage" is helpful for the audience have full visual impact of the program. Michele's speaking style is very interactive. She prefers not to stand behind a podium, lectern or head table. If these are used for introductions or for other speakers, please pull it aside so that Michele may walk in front to connect with her audience.
Avoid a center aisle. The best seats in the house are directly in front of the speaker. Have chairs chevroned rather than in straight rows to create more comfort and focus. Stagger chairs if possible and allow for a minimum of 6 inches between chairs. If room is rectangular, set the stage in the center of long wall with single chair "exit lanes" for every 6-7 chairs if your rows are long.
Keep the front rows as close to the stage as comfortable. Reduce the distance between speaker and the participants in the last row. If speaker is on floor level, create a 6-foot walking area between her and the 1st row so she can do demonstrations. DO NOT overset the room. Only have as many chairs you expect people with a few extra chairs available in back of room. Have a "host" direct the participants to take seats up front first. Tape off last rows until 10 minutes prior to speech.
Most hotels are not savvy to a speaker's needs. It is vital to develop immediate rapport with all attendees. If the side/back doors close loudly, please have a door stop or tape the lock to avoid noisy distractions. At banquets, ask the wait staff to clear dishes AFTER presentation and have minimal noise if serving coffee. This will be less distraction.
Please set up coffee breaks outside meeting room. Have water stations inside if needed or place pitchers of water with glasses directly on participant tables.
Provide treats, goodies and fun table dressings to enjoy during longer seminars. People love having extra "freebies" when they arrive or come back after lunch and breaks.
3. AUDIO / VISUAL:
· PowerPoint and/or Overhead Projector
· Projection Screen (size depending on room)
· Wireless (lavaliere) mic and hand-held mic (optional) for audience questions
Try to use your own speaker sound system rather than the speakers in the hotel room. Quite often the hotel speakers are not working properly or have a "buzz" to them. For large groups, have speakers in front, middle and back of the room. If you are in a divided ballroom, make sure your audio system is not patched in to the function next door. Nothing is more distracting than hearing someone else's speech over yours. Check to see that dividing walls are closed tight.
Michele prefers to have music playing to welcome audience into room and during breaks. Check to see if hotel has music available through their stereo system. If not, please provide a portable CD player that may be patched into a sound system to play her CD's.
Please make sure the entire room is well lit, especially the stage area. Make use of spotlights if available. Your mind believes if it cannot "see" you - it cannot "hear" you! When the ceiling lights shine directly on the projection screen DO NOT dim all the lights. Have the hotel remove only the lights above the screen. Bright rooms stimulate high energy, dark rooms are for sleeping!
When videotaping use Beta-SP format or Mini-DV rather than VHS. It produces a higher quality for reproduction. Audio/video recording must have a separate contract with speaker.
Photo opportunities are available before and after the presentation. It is possible to take action shots and posed photos with members of the audience during the break. Please consult with Michele about using flash photography during the seminar to avoid distractions. | 
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