Presenting your poster

The format of poster sessions varies but you will probably be present when most people are likely to view your poster. 
Try to choose your clothes to match your poster color.  Research (see Keegan and Bannister 2003 in "Useful literature") has shown that your poster will be avoided, a bit, when you clash.

Examples of good and bad poster/wardrobe coordination Photo From Keegan and Bannister 2003

• Do not wear a hat.  Do not wear a muscle shirt.  Etc.
• Wear a name tag, if possible, so that viewers know that the poster belongs to you.
• Do not chew gum or tobacco.
• Keep your hands out of your pockets, especially if you are a key or coin jangler.  Fill your pockets with pushpins if you think you won't be able to resist.
• Do not refer to notes when explaining your poster.
  
• Speak to your viewers as you explain your poster.  Look them in the eye.
  
• Point to specific parts of your poster frequently so that viewers are aware of your progression.
• Carefully walk your viewer through your figures.  Avoid vagueness such as "this figure shows our main result."
• Keep a black pen and correction fluid in your pocket in case a viewer discovers an embarrassing typo.
• If more viewers arrive halfway into your presentation, finish the tour for the earlier arrivals first.
• When in doubt about how to act at your poster, imagine that a viewer will be considering your application for a job next year.
• Bring a small coin envelope of business cards to attach to your poster (via pushpins, or via a binder clip).  Students:  you can print up a small stack of business cards for the event.  Glue one of the cards to the outside so that viewers know the contents, and write, "please take one," or something equally inviting.
• If you must leave your poster, affix a note alerting any viewers to your expected time of return or telling them where you can be found (e.g., which bar).
• Have on hand, but do not aggressively peddle, manuscripts and reprints of your work.
• Also have on hand full-color, "shrunken" versions of your poster on standard paper.  If you have resisted the urge to shrink your font size, the shrunken text will be legible.  Put your contact information and abstract on the other side.
• Thank your viewers for visiting.  If they have stayed more than 4 minutes, you have succeeded.