Equipment & Room Set-Up Request for Jamie McKenzie

I hope you will be able to take care of the list below.  I try to be 
as specific as possible to increase the prospects for an excellent 
experience.  While the list might seem daunting, it seems to help 
folks to anticipate all details and particulars.

1. Placement of PC and lectern or speaker's table

Please provide an auditorium or meeting room designed for speaking. 
Except in rare cases with prior approval and discussion, gymnasiums 
and cafeterias are not effective spaces for presentations because of 
acoustics and other considerations.

I prefer to remain close to the audience, not up high and removed 
onto a stage.  If necessary to raise me up a bit, a small low stage 
of 18 inches close to the audience is fine.  Please do not set me up 
far away from the audience.  I like to stroll around a bit and 
sometimes enjoy moving up the aisles.  I will need my computer in 
front of me and the projector needs to be set up to work well with 
the screen, which sometimes requires a long extension from computer 
to projector.  The standard cable that comes with the projector is 
often a bit too short.  I also need the computer elevated to mid 
chest height, so a speaker's lectern works best.

2. Equipment

For the best results, I require a live, robust Internet connection 
for all sessions (nothing slower than a 28.8 modem, preferably a T-1 
line?).  No ISDN lines, please, because they require a special modem. 
Please provide a high quality active matrix video projector and a 
screen for each audience that is large enough and appropriate for the 
depth and size of the room.  We will need a very recent active matrix 
projector which projects at 1024X768  and can handle a MAC PowerBook 
G4 (Apple's Latest Model).   We can project from my PowerBook and use 
a modem connection to a phone line or we can use a network connection 
to the Internet with the Ethernet card in my PowerBook.  It is 
important that your AV person understands the specs for the PowerBook 
G4 and is able to supply the correct projector and cables so there 
are no unpleasant surprises.  When the PowerBook G4 meets an older 
projector with less capacity, it downgrades its image to a smaller 
size and turns off its own screen.

3. Screen Size

The deeper the room, the larger and taller the screen must be for the 
material to be viewed successfully.  Please check with a professional 
on the appropriate screen size for the depth of the room.  Rooms with 
low ceilings cause significant problems and should be avoided.  A 
screen which is 6 feet by six feet only works for groups of 30-40 
people, all of whom are seated close to that screen.

Please do not substitute a wall for a screen, as the screens
have reflective properties that create better images for the audience.

Another important screen issue is the distance of the screen from the 
projector and the ability to locate me as speaker close the audience 
rather than far up and away.  Too much elevation and distance may 
improve visibility but it reduces intimacy.  I would rather be up 
close.

4. Software and Set-Up

I bring my own presentation software and files on my own PowerBook.

5. Lighting
Lighting is very important.  Please make sure there is good light on 
me but no wash spilling on to the screen.  Please provide enough 
darkness in each room so the screen images will be vivid but I can 
still see audience faces.

6. Testing the Set-Up
Please provide 90 minutes ahead of the presentation for all equipment 
to be set up and tested.

7. Microphone

Please provide a portable, wireless microphone so I can move about 
and attend to the computer without having to hold a mike.