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So you want to speak at software conferences?

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Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#31

Post by rwmj »

zahlman wrote: post #29
ValentineC wrote: post #5

> Finally, watch out for events that put video of their sessions online. Having a couple of YouTube links of you doing your thing in front of a live, appreciate audience can make all the difference when a programme committee is looking at a handful of talks and can only accept one of them. This, very much this. I run a paid, one-day, mid-sized conference every year, and with only so many slots, we find it very, very…

Okay, but what about the first time?

You can record yourself speaking about some topic. The barrier to entry to making a video online these days is very very low.

Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#32

Post by michaelt »

Aachen wrote: post #22
ValentineC wrote: post #5

> Finally, watch out for events that put video of their sessions online. Having a couple of YouTube links of you doing your thing in front of a live, appreciate audience can make all the difference when a programme committee is looking at a handful of talks and can only accept one of them. This, very much this. I run a paid, one-day, mid-sized conference every year, and with only so many slots, we find it very, very…

I don't want videos of me online. Would an audio recording + slides suffice in your opinion? Or would you doubt it was really live in front of a sufficiently large audience? Idk how common fraud here would be

If you're the sort of private person who doesn't want a big online presence - why bother to speak at a software conference? Especially a conference big enough they're selective about who they allow to present?

About 90% of speakers at big events are there to promote their product, or to get their company's name out there for recruitment purposes, or to promote their consultancy, or to build their personal brand. If you don't give a shit about any of that stuff, maybe you don't need to bother?

Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#33

Post by CPLX »

rmason wrote: post #28

I have run a ColdFusion users group in East Lansing for the past twenty five years. I have helped many first time speakers and this is some outstanding advice. Although I have never done it myself I can also recommend Toastmasters. Seen some speakers soar after attending this group for a year. You wouldn't even think that it was the same person presenting. Having that experience of public speaking can also greatly ac…

The idea that East Lansing, Michigan, can support a regular gathering of ColdFusion users in 2025 is the most astonishing thing I've learned in quite some time. Consider me quite impressed.

Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#34

Post by tonyedwardspz »

simonw wrote: post #26
bronxasaur wrote: post #8

I feel like while this is a great start for how to get practice giving talks, it could do with some expansion on how to make a great presentation.

One tip I've found really useful over the past few years is to always try and include a "STAR moment" in a talk - where STAR stands for "Something They'll Always Remember". Effectively it means try and have at least one memorable surprise or gimmick in your talk. If someone watches a dozen talks at a conference you want them to be able to say "Oh, I remember your talk, it was the one with ..." when they meet you in t…

Yup. This. As long as people remember you for something positive, you'll get a second speaking slot.

Personally it rapping and wigs. They both go down surprisingly well at tech confs!

Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#35

Post by JoshTriplett »

hibikir wrote: post #2

He's pretty right on the "get bored" bits. I have few friends that are doing a lot of conferences every year after, say, year 6, and they are people whose circumstances lead them to not wanting to spend much time at home, for one reason or another. At that point it's like a job with 30% travel: You either have few attachments, or are trying to avoid the ones you have.

> people whose circumstances lead them to not wanting to spend much time at home, for one reason or another. At that point it's like a job with 30% travel: You either have few attachments, or are trying to avoid the ones you have.

Or a couple loves to travel and conferences are a good excuse.

Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#36

Post by RomanPushkin »

This year I spoke at HOPE - Hackers On Planet Earth. The topic was "Hacking ATMs: past and present". I really enjoyed it, it took a lot to prepare though. I haven't gotten any monetary benefit from it, but I would definitely do it again.

HOPE is one of the best hacker conferences, and it's somehow [subjectively] friendlier than other. Feels like home, so if you're on hacker news, I guess you wanna speak at hacker conference or contribute to 2600? ^_^

Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#37

Post by ekjhgkejhgk »

ValentineC wrote: post #5

> Finally, watch out for events that put video of their sessions online. Having a couple of YouTube links of you doing your thing in front of a live, appreciate audience can make all the difference when a programme committee is looking at a handful of talks and can only accept one of them. This, very much this. I run a paid, one-day, mid-sized conference every year, and with only so many slots, we find it very, very…

Thank you for the thought you put into this. It's really frustrating when a speaker has an accent so strong it's unintelligible.

Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#39

Post by WalterBright »

Some things I've learned over the years:

1. do not show a slide full of code. The font will be too small to read. Nobody will read it

2. don't read your slides to the audience. The audience can read

3. don't talk with your back to the audience

4. make your font as big as practical

5. 3 bullet points is ideal

6. add a picture now and then

7. don't bother with a copyright notice on every slide. It gets really old. Besides, you want people to steal your presentation!

8. avoid typing in code as part of the presentation, most of the time it won't work and it's boring watching somebody type

9. render the presentation as a pdf file, so any device can display it

10. email a copy of your presentation to the conference coordinator beforehand, put a copy on your laptop, and phone, and on a usb stick in your pocket. Arriving at the show without your presentation can be very embarrassing!

11. the anxiety goes away

12. don't worry about it. You're not running for President! Just have some fun with it

Re: So you want to speak at software conferences?

#40

Post by WalterBright »

WalterBright wrote: post #39

Some things I've learned over the years: 1. do not show a slide full of code. The font will be too small to read. Nobody will read it 2. don't read your slides to the audience. The audience can read 3. don't talk with your back to the audience 4. make your font as big as practical 5. 3 bullet points is ideal 6. add a picture now and then 7. don't bother with a copyright notice on every slide. It gets really old. Besi…

Oh, one more thing. Keep on hand some of your previous presentations. Often, a speaker won't show up and the conference organizer is panicking and needs a replacement. Be first to volunteer your services! I've done that several times, and the results were always worthwhile.

One time, I didn't have an extra talk with me, but I volunteered anyway and asked for a whiteboard and markers. Frankly, it was the best talk I ever gave. Unfortunately, it wasn't recorded. But it sure was fun! (I simply asked the audience what they wanted me to talk about.)

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