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--- balug:speaker-presenter_information_and_resources [2013-02-28T03:59:56+0000] – broke out typical meeting timeline section (hopefully lots more improvements to come) michael_paoli
+++ balug:speaker-presenter_information_and_resources [2025-08-24T17:56:14+0000] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Information, resources, common questions and answers
 **for those doing or prospectively doing talks/presentations at BALUG**
+***Thank you for your interest.*** Please direct all correspondence to balug-speaker-coordinators@balug.org. Our primary people and a group of volunteers will respond.
 If you will or may be giving a talk/presentation at BALUG,
@@ Line 40: / Line 42: @@
 likes to jump out of perfectly good planes for fun").
-Projector
+We're hoping to have some improvements on this in future,
-We generally have projector and screen available to us, but do note
+but as of 2014-10-21, we've had a change of venue, so at present with
-that our typical video setup results in rather low resolution
+our regular venue:
-projection to the screen.
+Projector - we don't have projector or screen or particularly good
-Particularly, we have a converter device which accepts most VGA type
+surface/wall for projecting onto
-input (has VGA type connector) - it then converts to NTSC (ye olde
+Audio - we don't have a PA system
-analog television) composite video.  That is then projected onto
+Networking? - may be possible to tether via cellular, but cellular
-overhead screen (about a 10x10' screen mounted on about 20' high
+signal can be spotty.  There may be some Wi-Fi at the venue that we can
-ceiling).  This generally works quite adequately if the "slides" aren't
+use - if you may need that, ask us in advance, and we'll see what we can
-too detailed (smaller text, lines and detail won't work so well, most
+find out.
-everything else works adequately or better.  E.g. a screen of 80x24
+Power - AC power isn't conveniently available, but generally can be made
-text is typically slightly too small to be easily read, but slightly
+available.  If you'll want/need AC power, let us know, and we can
-larger (e.g. screen of 62x22 text) is quite readable.)
+probably arrange that.
-We sometimes are able to make available higher resolution projector and
+The present venue is restaurant - generally not all that crowded when
-portable screen (to bring screen closer to most of the audience - also,
+we're there, but we don't have our own separate room/area - typically
-other than the ceiling mounted screens, the restaurant doesn't have
+just a (large) table or two for us (up to around 10 people per table) -
-surfaces that are well suited for projection) - but such isn't
+possibly more tables if we have a larger group.  If we get sufficiently
-necessarily the case, and requires advanced notice and confirmation.
+large number of people (e.g. well over 20) we might be able to use
-One can bring one's own projector if desired, but again, there's the
+separate area of restaurant.
-issue of available projection surfaces (sometimes BALUG may have
-portable projection screen available - may not always be the case, and
-also requires advance notice and confirmation).
-Audio
-We do have a pair of wireless microphones (and a microphone stand) and
-PA system generally available to us.  It's probably also possible to
-feed other audio into the available equipment, but we may need some
-additional advance notice if such is desired in order to work out such
-arrangements.
-Networking?
-We generally have some type of Wi-Fi access at the Four Seas Restaurant
-(ESSID: FSR key: f0urseas) with NAT/SNAT Internet access to The
-Internet.  It seems to be fairly reliable, but might occasionally drop
-out, drop connectoins, or (less commonly) require the access point to
-be reset.  We typically don't have wired Ethernet connections
-available.  Cellular reception is generally reasonable or better, so
-networking via EVDO or the like is also generally doable - though we
-don't have equipment to provide such - just the cellular signal is
-there.
-Power
-Standard 120 VAC 60Hz is available, and we can likely handle up to
-about 5A (600W) without particular concern (likely all on a single 15A
-circuit shared with other devices and equipment).  If you do or may
-need more than 5A (600W), check with us first - we may or may not be
-able to provide such (or one might need a long suitably rated extension
-cord to draw additional power from another circuit).
 </file>
@@ Line 93: / Line 66: @@
 (some times are approximate):
 <file>
-:30 P.M. meeting officially kicks off - we gather near the restaurant's
+:30 P.M. meeting officially kicks off - we gather and are seated in the
-          bar, socialize/meet/greet, typically do nametags, collect cash
+          restaurant.  We might order appetizer(s) and/or soup.  We
-          for dinner (we treat our guest speaker/presenter to dinner -
+          socialize/meet/greet, may do nametags.
-          so no charge there).
-:00 P.M. BALUG pays the restaurant for dinner, and we're seated for
+:00 P.M. We order dinner.  Folks should arrive before 7:00 P.M. if they
-          dinner.  For >= 40 people, we generally eat upstairs (same
+          wish to join us for dinner (we typically dine or mostly dine
-          room as used for presentation), for < 40 people (also a fairly
+          "family style", and may not be able to accommodate folks in
-          common occurrence) we generally eat downstairs in the main
+          that manner after 7:00 P.M.  Folks can still be later and
-          dining area.  Folks should arrive before 7:00 P.M. if they
+          order separately off menu, but that's often a bit more
-          wish to join us for dinner (after 7:00 P.M. we may not be able
+          disruptive, and we may not have open seat(s) at the table(s)
-          to accommodate them for dinner due to our "family style"
+          we're already sitting at - so we try to encourage everyone to
-          restaurant dinner pre-order arrangements).
+          show up not later than 7:00 P.M.).
-:55 P.M. if we're eating downstairs, and haven't already set up A/V
+:00 P.M. We typically transition from social/informal/dining to
-          equipment and connections upstairs, typically
+          talk/presentation around this time.
-          presenter/speaker and a BALUG person (or two or three) will
-          migrate upstairs to get the A/V equipment set up, connected,
-          and all set to go
-:00 P.M. if we're eating downstairs, we migrate upstairs for
+          We commonly do "announcements", and "brief community
-          talk/presentation.
+          announcements" (folks can take up to a minute to announce
+          stuff likely to be of relevance to BALUG) before and/or after
+          the talk/presentation
-          We do "announcements", and "brief community announcements"
+:45 P.M. - 9:15 P.M. talk/presentation typically concludes somewhere in
-          (folks can take up to a minute to announce stuff likely to be
+                      this timerange, and often/typically winds down to
-          of relevance to BALUG) before and/or after the
+                      Q&A (formally and/or informally) and/or more
-          talk/presentation
+                      general discussion.
-          Introduction and talk/presentation
-:45 P.M. - 9:15 P.M. talk/presentation concludes somewhere in this
-                      timerange, and often/typically winds down to Q&A
-                      (formally and/or informally) and/or more general
-                      discussion.
                       if "announcements" and "brief community
                       announcements" haven't already been
-                      done/concluded, we'll wrap that up.
+                      done/concluded, we'll typically wrap that up.
                       if we have any door prize drawings and/or
                       giveaways, we'll typically do that
-folks may continue to mill about and talk following completion of the above
+folks may continue to mill about and talk following completion of the
+above
 <= 9:30 P.M. we try to fully wrap up and leave the restaurant by 9:30
              P.M. (we are fairly often the last customers in the
              restaurant, and try to avoid inconveniencing the restaurant
-             as much as possible, particularly in consideration of the
+             as much as feasible).
-             deal they give us on dinner and use of the upstairs
-             "banquet room" for our talks/presentations).
 Following the above, and if/as announced and if there are interested
 folks, some of us will occasionally gather after the meeting at a nearby
-pub (e.g. Li Po Cocktail Lounge, 916 Grant Ave. - two blocks away from
+location (e.g. some brew pub or the like) for continued discussions,
-the restaurant) for continued discussions, etc.
+etc.
-"bumping" & the upstairs restaurant space and other restaurant notes:
-The restaurant is kind enough to allow us to use the upstairs
-restaurant space ("banquet room") gratis, but as part of that
-arrangement, though it rarely happens, we're subject to being "bumped"
-(if paying customers book that room that evening, then we don't have
-the space available to us).  Our being "bumped" is a rather rare, but
-not unknown occurrence.  In such cases we'd generally know in advance,
-but sometimes not very far in advance (e.g. many hours to a few days or
-so).  Also, the larger the crowd we can accurately predict and
-"guarantee" for the restaurant, the less likely we are to be "bumped"
-(e.g. if/when we are or are likely to be a dining crowd of 50 or more,
-and are able to project that relatively well in advance, it's
-improbable the restaurant would "bump" us).
 </file>