Using Lecterns at an Exhibition

Setting up

Portable lecterns, also known as a podium, are very easy to set up, needing no tools for construction and only 5 minutes of your time to build. The position of you lectern in terms of its placing in your exhibition stand is very important, you want your exhibition displays, graphics and products to form an impressive backdrop behind you. You should have all your notes ready and placed on the lecterns slanted top before it’s time to speak; you don’t want to be rustling papers whilst giving your talk. Having a glass of water is usually a good idea as talking to a large crowd is intimidating to even seasoned speakers and a dry mouth can be a likely outcome from nerves. Also taking a sip of water can be an excuse to glance your notes if you need to be prompted on your next area of discussion

Using the Microphone Correctly

Before the event is open to the public it is a good idea to check the sound level on yourlecterns microphone as it would be quite embarrassing to begin to give your talk and no one can hear you, equally embarrassing will be if your sound is so loud it’s at an uncomfortable level for listeners. The perfect level should be achieved when you are talking 8-10 inches from the microphone whilst it is pointed directly at your mouth. You will not want to have to lean in and speak directly in to the mic to be heard, or stand well back from the lectern and not be able to read your notes.

Moving Around the Lectern

Try and always keep your face pointed at the podium, even if your body way swing to the left or right as to gesture towards a product, otherwise the sound of your voice will trail off.

Of course you could choose a microphone option that can be handled and this will allow you leave the lectern completely, which is a good idea as simply standing behind the podium the whole talk may not grab the audience as a brief excursion may attract more attention.