Addressing a Large Gathering

Dressing for the occasion is of prime importance. So make sure you keep the following in mind while wondering what to wear:

• Be extremely careful about your attire; since bright overhead lights can and will invariably highlight all of you!
  
  
• Your clothes should be elegant and slightly "pro-establishment". This simply means this is not a good time to experiment with new styles in dressing or accessories.
  
  
• Choose smart and comfortable footwear. Don't be too self-conscious because you may trip - consequently, stilettos are not a very sensible option.

Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind as you arrive:

Reach the venue a few minutes before the programme begins, so that you can get yourself "used to" the place. Sometimes, just the size of large auditoriums can seem overwhelming, even to seasoned speakers.

Check whether the mike is working properly, and find out what kind of mike you will need to use, whether collar-clipped, wire-free hand held, or standing and height-adjusted.

Also, if you have to make a presentation, make sure you get familiar with how the laptop computer, projector and laser-pointer works.