Zoom 101 - Video Chatting

Zoom one of the tools we use at Vaudeville. To see info on all the tools we use, go to the VV Tools Overview article.

Getting Started with Zoom Account

1. You'll get an email to your Vaudeville email account with a link to sign up for your Zoom account

2. Once registered, download the desktop and phone apps

2. Check out the Zoom Resource page, and learn how to get the most out of this product.

Setting Up a Zoom Meeting

Join Before Host

• This setting must be enabled -- it will allow attendees to get onto the conference line before you join. Otherwise, if they call before you do, they’ll get kicked off the line.

• This setting is updated in 2 places on the Zoom website (www.zoom.us). The log-in is the same as what you use on the app

1. First, under “Meeting Settings,” toggle on “Join before host”

2. Then, under Meetings → Personal Meeting Room tab → Edit the Meeting Options to check the “Enable to Join Before Host”

Using a Consistent Meeting ID

• Your Personal Meeting ID is a consistent meeting ID that can be used for every meeting. This is enabled through the desktop application in the “Meetings” section -- check the “Always Use PMI” box. If this is not checked, the ID will be random every meeting. The number itself can also be edited on the website.

Scheduling a Meeting via Zoom

• You can schedule a meeting out of Zoom using the “Schedule” button and it will open a Google Calendar event including the dial-in information, which you can then update

• You can also add the Zoom Chrome extension and use it to schedule it through your browser. Instructions can be found here

Audio Settings

Set up your account to automatically mute yourself when you join a call to avoid audio reverb if you are in a room with other people that are also calling in

1. Go to Settings then Meetings

2. Enable "Auto connect audio" AND "Always mute my microphone" AND "Always turn off my video"

3. Once you are in a call, you can adjust your settings as needed

In-Meeting Settings

• When you are in the meeting, as the host, you have controls that include:

  • Recording a meeting

  • Muting participants

  • Locking the meeting so that no one else can join

  • Control participant’s ability to annotate things being shared

• In the meeting, everyone can:

  • Share their screen

  • Annotate shared documents (if permitted)

• Full details can be found here