Yesterday was the day many of us had been waiting for . . .
NAR had offered a webinar about the $8,000 Tax Credit and I had preregistered for the event and gone to great effort to get everything perfect in our training room knowing that several folks would be coming.
I launched the computer and the video projector, launched and tested the webcam (several folks would be tuning in on-line), Signed in to the event and tested the audio and video . . . Arranged the chairs and closed the windows for best lighting.
Satisfied that everything was poised and ready for a great session, I sat back and relaxed with 10 minutes to spare.
The room began filling with people who had journeyed from afar to attend this 1 hour presentation ...
Drum roll . . .
At the designated start time, nothing happened!
The webinar just didn't launch -
No sound
No Video
No Powerpoint
NADA!
YIKES!
Had I goofed somehow?
There I sat at the head of a room full of busy REALTORS (who are impatient by nature) and I was NOT delivering the goods.
I gave it 5 minutes - Still nothing!
So I re-booted the computer (Which ALWAYS takes FOREVER when people are staring at you) and joked about how our equipment ALWAYS works - I said out loud that I had meticulously tested things, and everything was working.
The reboot had no positive effect.
I dialed the telephone access number so we could at least get the audio - Got a message that said the "Conference was FULL"
then I Said:
"I bet a MILLION BUCKS, the webinar system is overloaded. I KNOW the problem is not on our end"
There I was trying to save face knowing that everyone in the room would doubt that NAR would botch such a highly publicized event . . . they all gave me that look, and a few of them commented that they thought I'd be losing that Million bucks.
I texted in to the moderators and struck GOLD - The reply to my text was from one of the MODERATORS who was having the same issues.
The webinar system was DOWN.
WHEW!
No Million Dollar pay-out for me that day, but I STILL felt the need to entertain these folks.
So I got a "great idea" (Remembering some tips from a train the trainer class) - Maybe NAR had already posted the PowerPoint Presentation on-line.
MIRACLE ON HILSBORO PIKE IN NASHVILLE, TN
The PowerPoint was there - So I presented the session, and we all got a LOT out of it.
this happened just 2 days after a similar fiasco that WAS my fault. I had promoted heavily that our Morning SPRINTS Session would include the "Gary & The box" video to talk about a low tech way to work your database. Again, I got the technology up and ready early, but this time, the volume of the Mic recording was off,and the on-line audience could not understand the audio - Said it sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher.
turns out there was too much base and the levels were boosted too high (to pick up conversation in the room) - I got it figured out during the session but not before getting a lot of egg on my face.
BTW - We're re-broadcasting that session this morning @ 8:30 CST if you want to chime in @ www.stickam.com/barryowen
Here's the tip . . . If you're using technology with ANY presentation - Whether it be with clients, a room full of people, or a web conferencing technology you MUST do TWO things.
1. TEST your technology early enough so you have time to de-bug any bugs that appear
2. ALWAYS HAVE A BACK-UP plan - a Printed copy of the material to be presented.
Things WILL go wrong with technology - A smooth transition to the back-up will make you the hero you already are because EVERYONE knows technology is a wicked trap - sometimes.
After all, Aren't you glad airline pilots do all system checks prior to hitting the runway?
And aren't you glad to know that every plane has @ 4 back-ups for every technological component on board?
And doesn't it help to know that should all of the back-ups fail, the Pilot and co-pilot know how to fly the darned thing WITHOUT the technology?
We are ALL "presenters"
Let's do it right?
Best,
b
twitter @barryowen
Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd
Nashville, TN - Green Hills
615-568-2123
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