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I submitted a proposal to PyCon India 2-3 months before the conference. They accepted my proposal, I think, mainly because of my contribution to CPython. I am not a core developer but I have many patches accepted to CPython code (https://hg.python.org/cpython/log?rev=vajrasky&revcount=200). So in my case, contribution to open source -> proposal -> giving talk in conference.
"In this presentation, Strom will guide you through researching, preparing, and giving a technical talk to a diverse audience. He'll help you avoid common mistakes, and point out some not-so-obvious mistakes that even the best tech presenters tend to make. If you've never given a tech talk before, this presentation will make it much easier for you to get started; if you're an experienced tech presenter, this talk will make you even better."
Some of the more common lightning talk topics I've seen is:
"5 random {{language}} tips" "5 things you didn't know about {{language}}"
They force you to be on the lookout for oddities and to do your research.
- Start small.
I started with brown bags at my company, then moved to our quarterly company meetings, then user groups (I spoke in multiple user groups any chance I got), then a local conference, and finally with the big ones.
- Topic choice
Always speak about something you know well. Audiences will often throw a curve ball at you and you should be able to step away from the main script, answer a question and then arch the conversation back to the main talking point.
A good starting point, once you have a topic in mind, is to read a book on the subject (or at least glance at the table of contents) or watch someone else's video on the subject. This usually gives you a (good) starting point to frame your agenda.
- Practice practice practice!
Even after doing this for many years, I incessantly practice my talks. Do it out loud and it will help highlight rough edges when segueing from one section to another, or even gaps in your own understanding.
As other commentators have said, it also improves timing. I now have a gut feeling on how much material fits in a 60 or 90 minute talk, or even a half/full day workshop. It will come.
Finally, get your significant other/kids/friends/colleagues to watch you give a talk and provide honest feedback. Body language, tone, inflection all matter.
- Slides are good, but not important
In other words, slides are props, you are the main act. I have never appreciate it when conferences ask you to email a PDF of your slides, because invariably my slides contain at most a word or two. They do not and cannot stand by themselves.
- Again, start small, get a feel for it, then read a book or two. One I highly recommend is Presentation Patterns - https://www.amazon.com/Presentation-Patterns-Techniques-Craf... [Disclaimer - All 3 authors are friends of mine]
Speaking is like running. Till you don't do it, reading a book on it seems to add little value. Once you have a little bit of experience sections of these books will pop out at you, revealing places where you can improve
At the time of giving the talk, just remember,
- It's OK to be nervous. If you are not nervous then something is wrong. I still get butterflies in my stomach every single time - The audience WANTS you to succeed. They are going to spend the next 60/90 minutes of their lives watching you speak, and they want it to be a productive time.
Good luck!
- internal employer conference
- my alma mater (university)
- companies of friends (at this point you have zero stage fright)
- anywhere else
This should get you comfortably started ;-)
1) Start small. Start in your company. Then go to local user groups (LUG, universities, etc). Then submit applications to small/local tech conferences, then go on to large ones. 2) Read something about the topic, e.g: https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Public-Speaker-Scott-Berk... (there're tons of other books and resources, I won't provide everything here) 3) Speak about something you know very well. 4) Reharse. One…
Any suggestions on finding small/local tech conferences other than Meetup.com?
wash - rinse - repeat
1) Start small. Start in your company. Then go to local user groups (LUG, universities, etc). Then submit applications to small/local tech conferences, then go on to large ones. 2) Read something about the topic, e.g: https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Public-Speaker-Scott-Berk... (there're tons of other books and resources, I won't provide everything here) 3) Speak about something you know very well. 4) Reharse. One…
1) Start small. Start in your company. Then go to local user groups (LUG, universities, etc). Then submit applications to small/local tech conferences, then go on to large ones. 2) Read something about the topic, e.g: https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Public-Speaker-Scott-Berk... (there're tons of other books and resources, I won't provide everything here) 3) Speak about something you know very well. 4) Reharse. One…
1) Start small. Start in your company. Then go to local user groups (LUG, universities, etc). Then submit applications to small/local tech conferences, then go on to large ones. 2) Read something about the topic, e.g: https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Public-Speaker-Scott-Berk... (there're tons of other books and resources, I won't provide everything here) 3) Speak about something you know very well. 4) Reharse. One…
What about confronting crowd fear? I think I was scarred by my first presentation ever at the age of 12 (on DNA) in front of not 1 but 2 classes full of people, because I basically stuttered through the entire thing (speaking to 1 person- Fine. Speaking to 5 people- Fine. Speaking to 10 people- Mostly fine. Speaking to 30+ people- NOT FINE. lol). I took a public speaking class in college and they videotaped us while…