Checklist for a great presentation / archived / read-only

 
  • Before the event
    • Questions to ask to prepare:
      • Who is the audience? Why are they coming?
      • Can organizer provide demographics?
      • Can you look at last year’s programs? Were there reviews of the event on blogs?
      • What are other speakers speaking about?
    • Will this be a keynote lecture (more scripted) or small (more interactive)?
    • Create a list of questions audience will want answered in the talk
    • Prioritize the list and sketch out stories / ideas / points
    • Budget at least 10x time to prepare ( 1 hour talk will take roughly 10 hours of preparation)
    • Develop ten minutes of rough draft material
    • Practice the ten minutes. Do not procrastinate.
    • Revise material when it doesn’t work, then practice again from beginning. Repeat as necessary. (See Chapter 5 of Confessions for a full description of how I prepare)
    • Do a test run in front of people who will give honest feedback (Or videotape and watch).
    • Practice with a clock with goal to end reliably with an extra 5 minutes.
    • Ask for emergency contact cell#, give organizer yours
    • Get directions to the venue, including office-park insanity, and within building insanity
    • If appropriate, post slides to web, include URL at end of talk
  • Leaving for the event
    • Get an hour of exercise that morning or night before.
    • Check laptop: do you have all cables? Is it working fine? Are slides on it? Battery charged?
    • Bring backup slides on flash drive / Extra-backup online somewhere / Print back-up of slides
    • Bring remote control: Check battery
    • Shower, shave, prune, scrub, brush, deodorize
    • Ensure you avoid all avoidable stress (get there early no matter what)
  • At the event
    • Register and let organizer know you’ve arrived (txt message if necessary)
    • Find your room and watch another speaker speak in it. Notice anything?
    • If time allows, mingle and meet people who might be in your audience
    • Return to room to catch (at least) tail end of last speaker before you – maximize time to set up.
    • Get laptop hooked up to projector immediately. Most problems occur here.
    • Find tech person, or call organizer – you’ll need their help to get microphone set up, or to deal with any tech issues.
    • Test remote. Test any fancy videos or fancy anything.
    • Walk the stage. Get your body comfortable.
    • Make sure you have a glass of water or preferred beverage at the lectern.
    • Sit in the back row for a few seconds, and imagine yourself on stage. Also check that the text on your slides is readable from back there.
    • Relax. You’re prepared and all set. Nothing left to do. Nothing you do now will change anything. Either you prepared well or you didn’t. Enjoy the ride.
    • If needed, distract yourself by going for a walk or other physical activity
  • After the event
    • If a speaker follows you in the room, get out of their way so they can get set up
    • Make yourself visible so people can find you to ask questions about your talk
    • Write questions from attendees on their business cards so you can answer in email later
    • Post slides if appropriate
    • Email people who gave you their cards, answering their questions
    • Thank the organizer and ask for any feedback (positive/negative)
    • If your talk was videotaped, ask for a copy so you can watch and improve.
    • Have a beer
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