Page 51 - Summer 2024 EDM Today

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Again, “Sorry, guys, but I’m kinda busy right now.”
“PLAN B”

Because this was to be my first all-electronic presenta-
tion, I had instinctively packed my multiple slide
Suddenly conscious that the Police and Security uniforms
magazines, my own slide projector and mylar overlays
were standing in a large room on the center of a brightly
as a backup in the event of an electronic failure, hence
lit stage with hundreds of people staring at them in uni-
“Plan B.”
unnoticed, exiting ironically, through the same backstage
“Plan B” had me taking out my own 35mm slide projector
“wings” the computer thief had probably used.
and slide magazines and resuming the afternoon part versal curiosity, they quickly withdrew and slipped away
of the presentation as if nothing had happened. Making In welcoming the audience back, I explained to them
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this pivot for me was routine and easy, as I had made
truthfully (although not entirely) that I had experienced “a
this presentation many times before without a computer,
computer problem” and apologized for the delay while I
but it also required the announcement and apology for a
switched over to my backup U/V presentation.
“15-minute delay,” while an overhead projector was being
located. What happened behind-the-scenes and what
followed was not routine and an entirely different story
IN THE MEANTIME
the audience was aware of.
Rumors and speculation had begun circulating through-
out the large audience regarding the obvious presence
BEHIND-THE-SCENES

program’s resumption. Unaware of this and after breaking
Since I had previously been speaking from behind a
away from law enforcement, I continued through the early
podium and running an electronic presentation, more of the Police and Security onstage and the delay in the
room was needed to set up my manual equipment and a afternoon presentations as if nothing had happened. Only
and wondering what was going on, onstage.EDM Today Magazine
EDM Today Magazine to old slideshows and mylars. EDM Today Magazine
during the afternoon break did I learn that almost all of
folding cafeteria-style table was quickly set up. Upon it, I
the audience was aware of the theft and the reason for
was hurriedly trying to assemble my AV equipment while
my change of venue – from new animated PowerPoints,
focusing in the mentality of, “The Show Must Go On.”
Despite my struggles, both the Chicago Police and Navy
Everything went well for me in the afternoon, except I was
Pier Security were insisting on interviewing/questioning
disappointed that I was unable to show off my fancy new
me about my knowledge of the theft: computer location,
animations. However, I did receive good grades on our
description, make, model, value, etc. Keep in mind that we
speaker “Report Cards.”
were all onstage as I was setting up, with four uniforms
following me around the table, asking questions and tak-
ing notes, all the while my audience was filling the room

REPORT CARDS
Yes, there were questionnaires or “Report Cards” which
I answered them the best I could, my attention divided,
were included as part of all conference proceedings.
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while I was placing slide magazines and mylars in proper
order and seeking power outlets. (Actually, I knew very
These asked for the attendees’ “grades” for the overall
little that could help them, except that my laptop was
conference itself; speaker quality, content, value, venue,
missing and that I was especially pained with the loss of
food, accessibility, etc. Likewise, there were grades for
my weeks-long preparations – all from scratch.) I meant
each speaker regarding their content, relevance, knowl-
no disrespect to them or their assigned task, but at that
edge, subject interest, clarity, audio/visuals, etc.
moment, I was concentrating on the future, not the past.
These usually consisted of a simple 5-dot, fill-in grading

system, with 1 for worst and 5 for best and pages for
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
My main concern was for my patiently waiting paid
This information was important in the planning of the
audience and their distracted curiosity about what all the additional written comments.
next event, striving for improvement in both future
commotion was onstage. Finally, with all my A/V connect-
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facilities selection and to guide future speaker selections
ed and tested, I politely excused myself from the uniforms
(or de-selections) for the next conference.
with a, “Sorry guys, I gotta go,” explanation and walked out
to the center-stage podium. They automatically started to
Ex.: As a Steering Committee member of many EDM
blindly follow me out onto the stage as they had previous-
conferences, I have seen numerous versions of these
ly done all around the A/V table.
“Report Cards,” and despite gaining experience and
improving from each event, ironically, the two most
Safely behind the podium, I switched on my wireless
common complaints and comments were consistently;
Lavalier microphone and began welcoming the returning
“Too many sales pitches” and “The room was too cold.”
audience, waving to familiar faces, answering live EDM
(I can only surmise that unbiased speakers and tempera-
questions and purposefully placing myself beyond their
ture thermostats are difficult to locate.)

well-intentioned, but ill-timed questions.
Despite my forced pivot and fallback into using older
media, I received higher marks and more comments than
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(Continued on next page)
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EDM Today, Summer 2024 Issue