(12-30-2020, 05:21 PM)wjt Wrote: Anyone here belong to a Woodworkers Guild that is using Zoom meetings in place of in person events.

If so I would appreciate some feedback on how it is working. How have you set up the meeting options, etc. What has worked and what would you have done differently ?

Thanks, Bill

• People don't mute themselves and you get interruptions with coughs, dogs barking, kids, talking to the spouse, etc. *
  
• Some people feel they have to comment on everything.   Sometimes, it's just "Yep" or "Uh-huh"  *
  
• People show up late and might have audio or video problems that then delay the start
  
• Time limit of 40 minutes unless you have a paid account
  
• One group had a two-part presentation.  Though you were supposed to put in a reservation for either/both parts that was capped at Zoom's limit of 100, either people from the first part never left or the link URL got passed around.   The result was the second half speaker could not log in.   People volunteered to leave the meeting, but it appeared others joined in during the gap and it took 10 minutes to get the speaker in.
  
• I have found entering questions in the "Chat" window the best way as it does not interrupt the speaker.   The moderator can then pose the questions to the speaker(s).   I think it would also help for regular points in a presentation, "Any questions on what I just talked about?"
  
• "Hybrid" meetings where some people were on Zoom and some physically present was a disaster.  You cannot tell who in the physical meeting is speaking and unless they are right next to the host device, you cannot hear well.   If more than one person at a location has audio on, there's a tremendous echo.
  

(01-07-2021, 04:55 PM)bhh Wrote: We (Cincinnati Woodworking Club ) are doing our first one Saturday.  But we have elected to go with Google Meet.   It does not have a time limit and at least to me, clearer audio and video.   You can also do closed captioning for yourself if you wish.

Our Church and another club I belong to has had a few sessions using Zoom.   Some of the issues we have had:

• People don't mute themselves and you get interruptions with coughs, dogs barking, kids, talking to the spouse, etc. *
  
• Some people feel they have to comment on everything.   Sometimes, it's just "Yep" or "Uh-huh"  *
  
• People show up late and might have audio or video problems that then delay the start
  
• Time limit of 40 minutes unless you have a paid account
  
• One group had a two-part presentation.  Though you were supposed to put in a reservation for either/both parts that was capped at Zoom's limit of 100, either people from the first part never left or the link URL got passed around.   The result was the second half speaker could not log in.   People volunteered to leave the meeting, but it appeared others joined in during the gap and it took 10 minutes to get the speaker in.
  
• I have found entering questions in the "Chat" window the best way as it does not interrupt the speaker.   The moderator can then pose the questions to the speaker(s).   I think it would also help for regular points in a presentation, "Any questions on what I just talked about?"
  
• "Hybrid" meetings where some people were on Zoom and some physically present was a disaster.  You cannot tell who in the physical meeting is speaking and unless they are right next to the host device, you cannot hear well.   If more than one person at a location has audio on, there's a tremendous echo.
  

* This might be helped by an active moderator, not the speaker, who can "Mute all"

(12-30-2020, 05:21 PM)wjt Wrote: Anyone here belong to a Woodworkers Guild that is using Zoom meetings in place of in person events.

If so I would appreciate some feedback on how it is working. How have you set up the meeting options, etc. What has worked and what would you have done differently ?