1.      Make sure your machine has at least 512 Megs of ram memory 1Gig is mandatory for sound clips, movie usage and a lot of graphics/pictures.

2.      Test your video card with an outside source such as a projector or other monitor to make sure it can handle projecting both your screen and projector at the meeting.

3.      Bring your own wireless mouse that has been tested with your machine or the show machine, if you use a foreign one you have no clue if it is going to work.

4.      Back up your presentation on a CD or a portable USB drive just incase there is a problem with your computer.

5.      Keep all liquids away from your computer, I have seen many laptops lost because of this!

6.      If you are intending to use an associate’s computer make sure that is TOTALLY clear! Show up early and test your presentation on their machine. I have seen both people show-up with no computer thinking the other person was going to bring it.

7.      If you are not using a wireless mouse use the arrow keys, you are least likely to hit another key because of their location on the keyboard.

8.      If you have some key slides that you are likely to reference, record their numbers. Type in the slide number and hit enter, this will allow you to hop right to the target slide.

9.      If you are using a lavaliere make sure it is no more that 12” away from your mouth 8” is optimal, the softer your voice is the closer it should be. It should also be pointed at your mouth; they will pick-up horizontally but only at 50% efficiency. If you have to put the mike on one side, choose the side that the screen is on (you will be turning that direction more often) make sure that there are no chains, pens or name tags near it.

10. Finally, stand back 3’ from your computer screen, in a general setting this is what your audience is going to see, you should adjust your text size for this distance. Also think grey scale value as well as color, light against dark and alternating brightness values.