I always get in a bit of a spuddle before I give a talk whether it is to a handful of people or an entire auditorium. Some of it is stage nerves but most of it is about whether the tech will work. And whether I’ve brought the right presentation.
One experience, way back in the days of 35mm slides has left me slightly scarred. I have lots of photos and am in the habit of using photographic images to keep me on track as well as illustrate points.
As always, I arrived in plenty of time for my talk and my host asked, ‘Shall we project on this wall – or the one behind us?’
Looking around, I responded, ‘I don’t mind but where is the projector?’
My host put her hand over her mouth and said, ‘Oh!’
During the talk, I handed around 35mm slides illustrating the dangerous wildlife I was discussing.
Even when there is a projector, there are new anxieties. Will we have the correct cables? There are so many possibilities. I end up packing so many they arrive in a tangled mess and I’ve lost track of which goes where. Then is an adaptor needed? Which orifice does the HDMI fit into? Is there an extension lead? Where’s the remote? Microphone? Pointer? 
What will we stand the projector on? And will someone walk through and either trip on the wires or demolish a precariously erected tower of books stacked on an unsuitable table or chair. 
Everything works though and the talk goes without a hitch and I can enjoy the best bit, chatting to the attendees, meeting characters, hearing their stories. Often people have out-travelled me.
On Tuesday, I met a splendid woman who, despite her good age, effused an aura of authority. Others in her group boasted on her behalf: she had acted as a Russian interpreter to Queen Elizabeth on her last state visit to Moscow.
Last Monday I agreed to give a talk on zoom, and looked forward to this, thinking it would be easy technically. My powerpoint was ready and all I needed was to log in and click SHARE SCREEN. 
Not so, of course. My first attempt to join the call resulted in that awful circle of death. Round and round. I messaged the host warning her I might be late. Round and round. I logged in again. The same round and round. I swapped from my dependable ancient Mac (actually only bought in 2016) and fired up a new model, and was soon in. 
Phew.
I apologised. Clicked SHARE SCREEN but failed to display my beautiful powerpoint of Nepali scenery, animals and medical cases. My host helpfully suggested I could talk without photos.
‘You think!’ I responded tartly.
I clicked various things in what eventually turned out to be the right order and began, cut off from my audience, unaware even if any of my jokes had worked. 
At the end, there was polite praise from the organiser, but I realised I missed the cable-crochet, trip-wire electricity supply, projector balancing and interactions with a real audience. I missed the chuckles and guffaws and cheeky comments and questions, and even the applause at the end. 
 

Talking through a powerpoint presentation in school