Title: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: Katie G on January 11, 2006, 06:10:22 pm
Major presentation/event tonight (5:30) with CEO in attendance.
A-V guy just called and "flaked". Won't be there to oversee the projection equipment. Tells me he's only part time and leaves at 4:00. Why this little snippet of information wasn't mentioned when we had the initial discussion THREE WEEKS AGO, or in any of the follow-up discussions is beyond me.
IT guy just called and mentioned that the technician I requested to be onhand in case something goes wrong with the company laptop won't get there until fifteen minutes before the beginning of the program. I'm praying there's no problem.
PR people just called and mentioned that "they don't know if the photographer will be able to be there" tonight. No reason given, even though they've known about this for MONTHS.
Ladies and gentlemen, I started the discussions/paperwork/phone calls/etc on this presentation THREE WEEKS AGO. It is now the day of the presentation and NOW I'm getting all kinds of "malarkey" about why nobody can do the job they're supposed to.
So, I'm heading around to meet with the AV guy to get a tutorial on the projector, the IT guy to get a tutorial on the laptop and how to hook it up to the projector, and to borrow a digital camera from any department who can spare one. In other words, handling the responsiblilties of three departments MYSELF.
Folks, it would have been easier for me to borrow my husband's laptop, my brother-in-law's projector and my best friend's digital camera and do the d*mn thing myself from the beginning. (Of course, that's not actually allowed, but....)
If anyone's having a drink at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, please have one for me. A strong one, preferably.
A-V guy just called and "flaked". Won't be there to oversee the projection equipment. Tells me he's only part time and leaves at 4:00. Why this little snippet of information wasn't mentioned when we had the initial discussion THREE WEEKS AGO, or in any of the follow-up discussions is beyond me.
IT guy just called and mentioned that the technician I requested to be onhand in case something goes wrong with the company laptop won't get there until fifteen minutes before the beginning of the program. I'm praying there's no problem.
PR people just called and mentioned that "they don't know if the photographer will be able to be there" tonight. No reason given, even though they've known about this for MONTHS.
Ladies and gentlemen, I started the discussions/paperwork/phone calls/etc on this presentation THREE WEEKS AGO. It is now the day of the presentation and NOW I'm getting all kinds of "malarkey" about why nobody can do the job they're supposed to.
So, I'm heading around to meet with the AV guy to get a tutorial on the projector, the IT guy to get a tutorial on the laptop and how to hook it up to the projector, and to borrow a digital camera from any department who can spare one. In other words, handling the responsiblilties of three departments MYSELF.
Folks, it would have been easier for me to borrow my husband's laptop, my brother-in-law's projector and my best friend's digital camera and do the d*mn thing myself from the beginning. (Of course, that's not actually allowed, but....)
If anyone's having a drink at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, please have one for me. A strong one, preferably.
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: whitesatin on January 11, 2006, 06:16:10 pm
Oh Didface.... 
That sucks big time. I don't know what to say only I'm sending you cyber hugs {{{{{{Didface}}}}}} and positive vibes ~~~~^^^^~~~~^^^~~~~ that all will go smoothly and come off without a hitch. 
WhiteSatin 
That sucks big time. I don't know what to say only I'm sending you cyber hugs {{{{{{Didface}}}}}} and positive vibes ~~~~^^^^~~~~^^^~~~~ that all will go smoothly and come off without a hitch. WhiteSatin Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: donnap99 on January 11, 2006, 06:24:37 pm
I just PMd you. I used to supervise the A/V department at a school of the university where I work.
DonnaP99
DonnaP99
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: Susan V on January 11, 2006, 06:26:47 pm
Ouch!! Hang in there, everythng will go just fine. You're a professional and if heaven forbid something doesn't go as planned, well hopefully, you'll be the only one to know it.
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: countrigal on January 11, 2006, 10:30:36 pm
I completely understand Did... that's why I HATE doing those type of events unless I do get to handle it all myself, and explains why I'm such a micro-manager when it comes to knowing everything about everything at one. I know that you'll do fine, you'll rise above all the malarky... and I'll have drink for you when I get home, but it won't be until closer to 6:30 EST. 
Let us know how it goes! Cyber hugs!!!!!!{{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
CountriGal
Peer Moderator
Let us know how it goes! Cyber hugs!!!!!!{{{{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
CountriGal
Peer Moderator
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: Katie G on January 12, 2006, 05:11:31 pm
Well, guys, apparently somebody put the fear of someone or something into somebody else, because the tech was there at 3:30 meeting with the AV guy before he left, so that was taken care of. (And I even got a compliment from the tech: "Cool powerpoint. I see a lot of these things and most of them are so dull -- but yours was really neat." So that made me smile a little.
Managed to borrow a digital camera and rounded up a student worker to take pictures. They'll probably turn out better than the photographer's anyway.
Now I'm doing all the post-mortem stuff. And planning a couple of vacation days....!
Thanks for all the good vibes, everyone. They really REALLY helped!
Managed to borrow a digital camera and rounded up a student worker to take pictures. They'll probably turn out better than the photographer's anyway.
Now I'm doing all the post-mortem stuff. And planning a couple of vacation days....!
Thanks for all the good vibes, everyone. They really REALLY helped!
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: dettu on January 12, 2006, 05:18:51 pm
Cool powerpoint? Care to share tips or screenshots? I don't do a lot of them, but I might if I did them in some more exciting manner...
and congrats on whipping them all into shape.
and congrats on whipping them all into shape.
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: countrigal on January 12, 2006, 05:56:11 pm
Congratulations on the success. Glad to hear that it all worked out in the end. And definitely, if there are any pointers you could share, or great tips for great powerpoints, share them.
And how'd the drink taste?
Drank a shot for ya yesterday evening...and then one for myself. It was one of those days.
CountriGal
Peer Moderator
And how'd the drink taste?
Drank a shot for ya yesterday evening...and then one for myself. It was one of those days.CountriGal
Peer Moderator
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: Katie G on January 12, 2006, 06:16:34 pm
Well that's the thing -- I didn't think the powerpoint was anything special....
Without going into too many details, ironically enough, this was to be a "fun" event. An employee drawing for a fundraising effort to be exact. So the powerpoint was a screen for each prize that was being drawn. I found various cliparts/photos etc that went with each prize (for instance a clip art of a steak on a grill for a gift card to a local steakhouse restaurant.)
Generally, though, I do try to keep them simple but colorful. Not a whole lot of text on any one screen.
And I personally dislike having stuff appear on a screen one letter at a time or spiraling in or any of those other animated things (gives me a headache!). The most I'll do is a fade in or out.
But again, thanks for the good vibes!
P.S. And yes, I sent the tech guy an email copied to his boss thanking him for taking care of everything.
Without going into too many details, ironically enough, this was to be a "fun" event. An employee drawing for a fundraising effort to be exact. So the powerpoint was a screen for each prize that was being drawn. I found various cliparts/photos etc that went with each prize (for instance a clip art of a steak on a grill for a gift card to a local steakhouse restaurant.)
Generally, though, I do try to keep them simple but colorful. Not a whole lot of text on any one screen.
And I personally dislike having stuff appear on a screen one letter at a time or spiraling in or any of those other animated things (gives me a headache!). The most I'll do is a fade in or out.
But again, thanks for the good vibes!
P.S. And yes, I sent the tech guy an email copied to his boss thanking him for taking care of everything.
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: ozbound on January 13, 2006, 01:50:02 am
You pulled it off cuz....you rock!
Yes, I agree with the Powerpoint--keeping it simple is best. Too much clutter and too many "cutesy" animations=one big headache!
Yes, I agree with the Powerpoint--keeping it simple is best. Too much clutter and too many "cutesy" animations=one big headache!
Title: Re: Why I'd rather do it MYSELF!!!
Post by: reddrogue on January 19, 2006, 04:32:18 pm
Yeah, I REALLY hate it when letters pop up (oh so slowly) one at a time in a PowerPoint presentation. Its very "youthful." Not very professional.
Rr
Rr