Neil Dempster uses voice, sound and imagery (still and video) to enhance the audience's experience and engage both hearts and minds. Because technology can be a speaker's best friend or worst nightmare, he has put together several audio/visual tips to consider (and traps to watch out for) when you are communicating your requirements to a hotel or conference center.

Please Note: Neil requires access to the meeting room one hour prior to the meeting start time to set-up his equipment, test everything thoroughly and perform the audio/visual checks. If other activities will take place immediately before Neil is to begin his speech, please let us know so he can set up set up before the activities begin.

For his presentation, Neil will bring:

• A Windows-based laptop. Mirror-image graphics output (LPT port) is configured for native projector resolution (1024 x 768). HDMI and DisplayPort outputs are also available on this laptop.
• PowerPoint slides will be configured in 16:9 format.
• A wireless presenter 'clicker' with an effective range of 150 feet. His laptop does not need to be close to where he is presenting (he does not need to see the screen while presenting).
• A Samson SE50 omni-directional headworn microphone that plugs into any of the following transmitter belt-packs: Shure, AT, AKG and Sennheiser.
• A direct box (DI) to allow sound from his laptop to be run through the house sound system (XLR).
• A jump drive containing his presentation and all media files (with all links pointing to the correct directories). In the event of equipment failure, his presentation can be run from another laptop that is equipped with a USB port.

For his presentation, Neil will need:

• A wireless lavaliere microphone (please use fresh batteries). Note: If the audience size is less than 75 people, a microphone is not necessary unless the room is an odd shape or there is some other limitation (e.g., large room or extraneous noise).
• A projection system and VGA cable for his laptop. Neil is very animated and he typically presents with full house lights on. In addition, his presentations include brief video clips. As a result, he requires a projector with suitable projection brightness. (Note: A projector that is used in an office environment for small meetings usually does not have the power to project for a large audience in full light.)
• A projection screen. For front or rear screen projection, there are many options as to where to place the screen. If you have a choice in the placement, Neil would prefer the screen in the front corner of the room, stage right (that's the left-hand side of the stage if you are looking at it from the audience's perspective).
• A small, sturdy table (i.e., 4 feet x 4 feet) draped and positioned at the front of the room.

If you are renting equipment for Neil's presentation . . .

If you are renting audio/visual equipment just for Neil's presentation, or if you find that the selected venue does not have a qualified audio/visual professional available, then let us know! Neil has a complete audio/visual package (excluding screen and speakers) that he can bring with him. The total cost is $250 US (this covers the airline's "extra baggage" fees, insurance, and wear and tear). He has available:

• A Sharp XG-C55X 3,500 ANSI Lumens LCD Projector (suitable for audiences up to 2,000 people)
• A Shure Wireless Lavaliere Microphone
• A Mackie 1202-VLZ Pro Eight-Channel Mixer
• A Whirlwind IMP 2 Direct Box
• All necessary cables (including XLR for connecting to the house sound system)