The author needs a nicely covered
4-6 foot table for display/demonstration materials. No podiums,
please. A hands-free microphone is necessary if the room has more
than 100 students in the audience. Because I don’t like to be removed from
the audience, the author will not use a performance stage. A
simple 6-inch riser is acceptable, but not necessary.
The assembly will be presented with the least interesting wall to the
author’s back. Remove distracting posters. Turn on all the lights, but
pull the shades. Students are often distracted by an outside view.
Entrance/Exits must be to the audience’s rear so that latecomers or
staff/students who must leave for illness, errands or the bathroom does
not distract students. Seat the youngest grades first in the front rows.
Have each student bring crayons or colored pencils for the craft.
Once the assembly has begun, doors must be closed. Put a sign outside the
door saying: “Quiet, program in progress.” Please do not leave the author
alone with the audience during the presentations. Chairs should be
provided for teachers and parents, who should sit in the outermost
semi-circle. Have staff assigned to monitor and control student behavior.
Also, please do not allow students to crowd the exhibit space afterwards.
The display will be moved to the autograph table for up-close viewing.
Have cold bottled water waiting for the author after each assembly.
