2009/01/09

Code Mash Open Space Session: Getting Started in Speaking

Really great information from a group of about a dozen people including myself.  There was definitely a mix of people that have done several talks before, including larger conferences; some that have maybe spoke in front of coworkers or their user group once or twice and just wanted some more tips; and then those that like the idea of being a speaker, but not sure where to start.  Some keys points that were touched on:

  • Be passionate about what you're speaking on.  It's picked up on really quickly by the audience
  • When writing up your abstract and bio, it's a difficult balance to make it interesting and show that you're a trusted source that is worthy of the audience's time
  • Make sure to practice the speech, as well as prepare for possible failure points (bad hardware, code doesn't compile, etc.)

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