AV Requirements
When I do use PowerPoint I keep things simple and old-school – no obscure fonts or plug-ins, no fancy embedded audio, video or internet links. It’s my way of keeping things reliable and hassle-free for everyone, especially the AV folks [I used to be one].
I always bring any presentation on an Apple laptop with HDMI port [and a spare cable] as well as on a USB, if that’s easier. I also pack a USB Type A-to-C adapter and spare remote ‘clicker’ [and spare batteries!] should we need one.
Oh, and I’m happy to make the slide deck available a week in advance if the tech crew really need it – any earlier than that and I’d still be changing it!
Smart Systems
In my experience the more sophisticated the tech the more obscure and varied its ways of going wrong so for venues with this type of gear I strongly recommend access to the tech {and tech support} a full hour before showtime.
Microphones
Happy to use whatever the AV team prefers; it’s all the same to me so long as I’m not stuck behind a lectern. If the AV team have a spare hand-held lying around I may use it to get comments from the audience as I go.
But whichever way we go I’ll be available for a sound check at whatever time works best for the tech team.