talking the talk, and walking too fast

[sergebroom]

I had offered giving a talk about steampunk movies at the local SF club's November meeting. This is the talk I gave at WesterCon on July 4th, but not exactly the same. Tonight, I finally completed my revisions. I then did a rehearsal by myself, talking while running thru my slide show. 'Running' may be the key word. Even though I have slightly expanded the text, and even though I added many pictures, the whole thing clocks in at 33 minutes. That's almost 10 minutes shorter. I think I need to rehearse this a couple more times because I sure stumbled. And I should switch to decaf.

Too late for rehearsals tonight. Also, since my plans for Friday evening involve setting up our Christmas Tree, followed by some much needed relaxation, I'll work on the talk over the weekend.

I can't wait for Friday 13th.

Comments

[jongibbs.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a fun event.

I don't know how often you speak in public, but if you're not used to it, I wouldn't worry too much if you think it may run over a little. The first few times you stand up to give a talk, either your mind sits right back down again, or adrenaline kicks in and you speak about 10-20% faster than normal.

Good luck next Friday. I'm sure you'll be fantastic :)

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Cosidering that I normally speak quite fast, upping it up by 20% might verge on incomprehensibility, what with my accent being added on top of that.

This will be only the 2nd time I've done something like this, but it occurs to me that I might stumble less if I took the text of my talk and turned it into bullet points.

What do you think?

[jongibbs.livejournal.com]

Excellent idea. I always used to use bullet points. I think it helps you connect with the audience more, because a: you're not constantly looking down at your script and b: you can go off at a tangent and come right back to where you want to be.

Just my opinion of course, but I'd say the very fact that you're taking the time to plan and practise your presentation means you're already one-up on the majority of presenters. I saw one of the 95% who 'just wing it' make a presentation the other week. It was not pretty :)

A word of caution though. Don't believe that old wives' tale about picturing the audience naked giving you confidence. The first (and only) time I tried it, my old gran came to heckle... er, cheer me on :(

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, if the granny turned out to be Ellen Burstyn...

[(Anonymous)]

I can't wait for Friday 13th.

Oh, thank you for writing that! I might have not have noticed it until the last moment. I wouldn't want to miss celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary (counting by Friday the 13ths).

Good luck with the presentation!

Carol Witt

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

Speaking of reminders... It's easy for me to remember when the Challenger shuttle blew up, because it happened 2 days after we got married. Mind you, I'd have preferred not having a way to remember either event.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Friday the 13th will be the day that the president of my university is inaugurated. I wonder, I truly wonder, why that day was picked.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

No Mister Chips, and no Mister Thackeray, he, I take it?