The live sessions will include webinars, panel discussions, interviews, and game shows.

Each session will have one or two moderators assigned to housekeeping tasks, including timekeeping and Q&A moderating. Each session will also have an eShow technical person assigned to make sure everyone can get in the room, mute the audience, and make sure that everything is running smoothly. In terms of recommended format, in general, we recommend 45 minutes of presentation followed by 15 minutes of interactive Q&A with the audience.

Yes. We understand that there will be an inset image of the primary speaker.

Our understanding is that yes, multiple presenters can be pinned to the screen. This will be controlled by the moderator of the session.

Yes, multiple presenters can be designated for appearing on the screen at once. The total number of windows is limited to nine (9), with up to six (6) designated as “presenter” and three (3) more designated as “audience”.

TBD

Yes.

Yes. BigMarker.com provides virtual background choices, or speakers can upload their own virtual background.

Our understanding is that no, BigMarker.com does not handle time-keeping functions at this time.

There is some possibility of using a Chrome extension when the attendee enters the conference using the Chrome browser. Details are not yet known.

TBD

Yes. We recommend that the presenters, panelists, and moderators meet using either Skype or Zoom in advance of the session to get acquainted and to practice.

Yes. Our plan is still developing, and we expect a “playground” to be available for training and dry runs. Meantime, and because of the short time frame, our recommendation is that teams meet on Zoom or Skype to discuss their sessions and get used to working together, even before we have access to the conference software.

Questions & Answers will be handled via a chat-room dialog box where the attendee can type in questions that can be aggregated, edited, and presented to the speaker during the appointed time during the session.

TBD — We are investigating using a pre-established chat room to gather advance questions that could be managed by a volunteer and communicated to the moderator of a live session prior to the session’s scheduled time.

Yes. And we are working on a suggestion for how best to do that.

Yes. However, the focus will be on the questions submitted via chat room and presented by the session moderator, and the moderator will be controlling who is muted and unmuted.

Yes.

Yes.

TBD

Yes. For this virtual conference, we will allow up to eight (8) pages in PDF format.

If a speaker can provide us with a transcription, then yes.

The formulation and composition of the handouts are up to the discretion of the presenter.

Yes.

Yes, and it can be loaded up to 60 minutes prior to the live session. However we do not recommend this approach for two reasons: (1) the handouts will disappear from this option at the end of the hour; (2) it may distract the viewer from focusing on the presentation as they fumble for the handout.

The BigMarker.com platform for live sessions includes the ability for speakers to upload their PowerPoint presentations (in PDF format), as well as Video Clips, 60 minutes in advance, and there is a screen-share option as well.

TBD — however, the recommended procedure is to preload the video clip into the BigMarker.com application and run the video clip through the platform.

Either the presenter(s) or the moderator(s) can control the presentation materials, such as the PowerPoint presentation.

Yes. The slides are already available on our website (see the next question about how to find them) and are highly recommended. They include a spot for speakers to customize the name of the presentation, provide the speaker’s name, and even insert photos of the presenter(s).

The bracketing slides can be found at the bottom of the page with instructions for preparing material for Lecture-Library presentations (most of that page does NOT apply to live presentations, so don’t let the MP4 instructions confuse you as a live speaker) by clicking HERE.

Yes. We have set the default to “download” but can restrict the user from downloading when the speaker selects “OPT OUT” in the Speaker Service Center.

No.

Unknown.

We do not yet know if it’s possible or whether we’ll have the volunteers step forward to do that.

Unknown. We understand that there is some ability to set the quality, but the procedure is not known.

Yes. It is recommended that presenters pre-load PowerPoint presentations or videos into their “room” to minimize the effects of having old computer equipment or slow Internet connections at their homes. However, it is also possible to simply share screens.

Yes.

Response time and quality of a presentation’s visuals and sound may vary by computer and Internet connection. BigMarker.com recommends uploading these pieces prior to a session and playing them from the BigMarker.com platform rather than from a home computer setup.