Everyone knows that the best presentations are the ones that are well thought out, prepared and rehearsed. Another important element in your presentation's success is your presentation room arrangement. The best-laid out presentation can turn into a nightmare if the room is not properly arranged. To ensure a dynamic presentation, room arrangement should be part of the preparation process.

First, take a look at the presentation room before the big day. If the room is offsite at a hotel ask the hotel to fax you a floor plan of the room. Visualize where you would like your equipment, the audience seating, flip charts, whiteboards, etc. to be located. Arrange to meet with the hotel room coordinator and indicate your room design wishes to him/her.

Arrive early on the day of your presentation. Begin by adjusting your projector and arrange the image to fit on the screen. Next, your projector may require the lights to be dimmed during the presentation. In that case, find the location of the lighting control before the presentation begins which will save you from an awkward moment during the presentation.

Now, check out the audio system. If at all possible, request to use a lapel microphone. This type of microphone simply attaches onto your shirt, leaving your hands free for the presentation. Test the system to make sure it is working properly. Also, if your laptop presentation has audio effects, you may want to consider running the audio through your projector's audio system for better audio system sound.

Next, take a walk around the room. Sit in different seats around the room to make sure each area is obstruction free and that the lighting and audio are correct for the presentation. Also, you may want to create a center isle between the chairs so that you can be free to move near your audience during your presentation.

Lastly, if your presentation is being held in a hotel find out if there are other nearby presentations. Ask the hotel coordinator if there will be groups of people on breaks in and around your presentation room. If so, you may want to coordinate break times in order to minimize disruptions from large masses of people gathered outside your room.

When planning your next presentation, don't forget planning the room arrangement. It is just as important as preparing for your presentation.

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