[TriLUG] Presentation pacing

[Steve Litt via TriLUG]

On Sat, 16 May 2015 13:51:19 -0400
Kevin Otte via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org> wrote:

> A follow up to our panel this week: When we were discussing leaving
> enough time for your presentation and Q&A, this came to mind:
> 
> http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1553

Man, Kevin, that comic brings back memories that get me angry all over
again.

Doesn't it always seem that the clown who bleeds 10 minutes over into
your 20 minute slot is the crappiest, most boring presenter, and he
keeps asking, over and over, "are there any more questions",
desparately wanting to stay on stage, all the while not even being
considerate enough to disconnect his computer from the projector so you
can use lxrandr to try to get your presentation visible?

What I always try to do is:

* Talk to the presenter before me, and ask that he end on time, and not
  take offense if I start setting up a minute before my time officially
  starts.

* Have the laptop running, with my presentation all queued up, so once
  I successfully lxrandr it (and this is never easy), I'm ready to rock
  and roll.

* With small audiences, pass out paper copies of the presentation so
  worst comes to worst, I can present without video.

* Make my presentation, in the broadest sense of the word, something
  that can be done without video or notes at all.

* Ask a friend in the audience to warn me 5 minutes before my time
  ends, so instead of being "that guy", I'll be off the stage in time
  for the next presenter to set up and present.


SteveT

Steve Litt 
May 2015 featured book: Quit Joblessness: Start Your Own Business
http://www.troubleshooters.com/startbiz