Hybrid Presentations: How to Present to Two Audiences
Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash
Now that the office is opening back up, work-life will go back to how we remember it pre-pandemic, right? Although that may be true in some ways, there are a few changes to your office that may be permanent. Hybrid work schedules are being implemented across businesses in order to stagger who is in the office and when. There are some adjustments you’ll need to make in order to account for these changes when giving your first hybrid presentation.
When presenting to both the office in person and those who have logged in over Zoom, you’ll have two audiences instead of one. Your content may be the same but you’ll need to make a few changes to the way you present...
Eye contact. This is always an important aspect of any presentation, you may just have to think about it a little more during a hybrid presentation. Make a conscious effort to make eye contact with those in the meeting room, without forgetting to look into the laptop camera or webcam. You don’t want to forget about your virtual audience. Make them feel seen by switching back and forth between your in-person audience and your remote one.
Think like a cinematographer. Position your laptop/tablet/webcam so that it’s taking you in from the audience’s viewpoint, so there’s less of a shift you have to make between the live audience and the camera lens. If it’s a large meeting, or if you’re standing up, put your device on an adjustable lectern or stack of books so that the virtual audience can see you fully in the frame. If possible, fully dedicate that device as a camera/audience monitor, and use a tablet or seperate laptop for your deck or notes.
Involve both audiences. It can be easy to forget about your virtual audience with people in the room. Consider asking everyone to have their cameras on. Take a moment to ask if anyone has questions on Zoom before addressing your in-person audience. If you’re acknowledging someone who isn’t physically there, you can make gestures to the camera and keep them involved in the conversation.
It can be tough to balance both an in-person audience as well as a virtual one, but it’s important to give each equal attention while presenting. Need help planning out your presentation? Book an appointment with me here!