Test your projection equipment beforehand

Projection equipment should be tested at least several hours before use. By checking things beforehand, you’ll have time to order repair work or replacement parts. If the machine cannot readily be fixed, you’ll have time to get a substitute.
“I had to learn this the hard way,” confessed a chap in Des Moines. “Because the machine worked the last time I used it, I thought it should work the next time. But even if it should, it sometimes didn’t. Now I test it beforehand.” As the equipment is set up, electrical cords should be protected so that the power will not be cut off by a careless footstep. The cords can be covered by rugs and run outside the traffic lanes.

Some “play” in the cords will provide for further protection. Also, cords can be taped to the baseboard near the wall outlet, to make a disconnection even less likely. The screen should be high enough so that persons sitting in the rear of the room can see. This means that the bottom of the screen must be higher than the heads of the people who will sit on the front row. Ordinarily, the bottom of the screen must be nearly five feet high.

If a loudspeaker is used it can best be located on a chair or table near the screen. This produces clear and more realistic sound effects. At a signal previously agreed upon, the projectionist can turn on the speaker for a warm-up. As for lights, it will be necessary to turn off room lights without turning off the current to the projector. This is another item to be checked in advance. But get everyone properly seated before turning out the lights. Stumbling in the dark can be dangerous!

Timing is important

Having selected the visual aid that will best serve your purposes, decide on the most effective time for using it. Effectiveness is greatly increased with proper timing.

Consider stopping the projector once or twice for discussion of major points. A work clothes manufacturer averred, “We seldom run a film through without stopping. It’s better to halt for a moment and clinch the teaching points covered up to that time. The audience gets much more out of it.”

After deciding whether to stop your movie, work up the introductory material title of the film, background information, type of message, and running time. Be explicit regarding the purpose of it. Suggest that the audience watch for certain things, especially things related to the teaching points. When your salesmen know they’re expected to learn certain things, they’re more likely to learn them.

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