While it is not entirely your responsibility to control an audience you must remember that you set the tone.  No one is learning when no one is listening.  Often you can  assess just what you are getting into with a group before you even start.  Groups that come in rowdy often stay rowdy.  Groups that come in quietly or get quiet quickly are probably going to be good listeners.  Try and figure out what that school’s quieting technique is.  Many schools have students raise one hand when it is time to be quiet.   Here are some tips and tricks that might help you when you are facing a difficult audience:

• it is probably best not to start with anything too silly.  A simple “Good Morning, boys and girls my name is_____ and I am here to share __________ with you today” is probably a good start.  If you are planning on wearing a silly costume you might want to not put all of it on till a little later.  For example: you could save putting on the really silly hat till later in the presentation.
• if your audience has not quieted down -stop talking and send a pleading glance to the teachers to see if they can help you out.
• if things are still a mess after this you may need to let your audience know that you have one big rule called “Respect”.  Invite students to share what “respect is”.  Take answers till you get one about listening.  Hopefully you won’t have to do any of this.
•  when you ask your audience for questions or answers you are likely to get stories.  If it obvious that a child is about to launch into a story politely ask them is “this a story?”  Tell them that you will be happy to hear their story when your presentation is over.  Likely you’ll be off the hook and they will forget about it- but if not, then do take the time to kindly listen and respond with a kind word.  You did promise them that you would listen to the story.
• Watch your audience.  If they are wiggling you might be droning on and on.  Shut-up, shorten things, simplify, or throw in some audience participation.  Ask yourself do I sound like Charlie Browns parents to this audience?

See my post on speaker techniques for ideas for avoiding the Charlie Brown parent syndrome.

If you haven’t been to a school for awhile you need to know that security become a top priority. You will probably have to use a buzzer/intercom system at the front door.  You just press the buzzer and let them know who you are.  The door will unlock (you’ll hear it click) and you can go on in.  You must stop at the office and sign in.  The nice (but busy) office person will explain the sign in procedure and will give you some sort of name tag.  It is important that you wear this as you make you way through the halls.  Whew that’s done!

Now you have to haul all your stuff in.  If you do a lot of presentations it might be worth investing in a small foldable dolly cart or your own media cart.  After your stuff makes it in be sure and ask the nice (but busy) office person where  to park your car.  You may need to move your car somewhere.  More thoughts:

• Go early.  You have a lot of things to do before you even see the first student.
• If you are presenting in a classroom do as much of your set up as you can out in the hall.  Please try and stay out of the students view as you do this.  The teacher will be conducting a lesson right up until your scheduled time.  As soon as you walk in the classroom you create a huge distraction and the teacher’s lesson is over.
• When it is just a couple of minutes before your scheduled time, knock on the door (in some schools the classroom doors are locked too) and introduce yourself.  Then quickly finish your set up.  Hide any surprise elements of your presentation under a blanket or in a crate.  Have your crate so well organized that props come out in the order you need them.
• After your presentation be sure and thank your audience, the teachers, anyone and everyone that helped you.  You are the guest and you are there because you were invited.  All these things will help you get invited back next year!
• You will need to sign out in the office and turn in your name tag.
• Since you are likely to be leaving at the end of the day make sure  your car’s location does not interfere with the buses.