h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'lo Milla! For me Marv, some helpful tips are being centred in your body. If you are standing so that your weight is distributed on all four corners of your feet and your feel are well spaces, like hip width, it helps you feel centred and in control. Another good tip is if you are asked a question and need to think about a reply, take a pause to do so. Don't try to keep talking while you think, it is always better to pause. The last is to have fun with it. If you just try to relax into it and treat it like not a big deal, like you were saying something on here say, then there is some alchemy hat happens and your audience relaxes too. It BECOMES not a bit deal in truth. Best of luck!!

Rehearse!

It helps to have notes in front of you, but if you already practiced the presentation, you're far less likely to make slips or get stuck.

Many people like to rehearse in front of a mirror.

Video's better...

Unless you're likely to obsess.

I was generally fortunate with public speaking. It was either to the biggest wigs across the country about wants, needs and creations of military family support centres - stuff that I knew in my core - or my actual expertise in technologies, which I long ago learned to adapt to the crowd. Big hats with deep pockets, keep it simple and focused on the goal. Folks closer to my social status, don't be shy about technical detail. A lot is knowing what the crowd is - - - polite smiles and applause sort, or those who want to learn something?

Something that sticks in my mind is Woolly Mammoth describing how he led a seminar of medical students and threw a plush microbe at the questioner, who then would toss the plushie to the next questioner and so on. It seemed to me that would relax the audience, give the speaker a few extra moments to formulate an answer, and probably stimulate more questions!

So, have you got a plush hacker?

Aren't they all a bit plush?

People told me to imagine the audience only wearing undies.
I tried that.
It was very disturbing

I am not one of the most polished speakers around, but I usually spend a few hours each month dong presentations at a local historical site. I know a great deal about the history and try to understand what each group is interested about so I can tailor my talk to the group. I always encourage questions for the same reason.

If the situation allows, make sure to be available after the talk and thank the audience for attending. They are what makes the experience worthwhile

All of the advice given here is spot on

F S

Tomorrow is the big day. My talk is the second to last of the day, so I will have plenty of time to obsess while I think of failure. Hopeuflly it is a good preso and is well thought of. Better than even money chance that there will be a video on youtube of it, and I will share it when posted.

In other news, I bought a ridiculous keyboard that has colour changing LEDs behind the keys. Oh also, there may be another career change in the offing. Awaiting the offer letter to find out for sure and then need to do all the background investigation etc. A little stressed about that as I haven't been where I am all that long. Ping me out of band if interested in where I am going. I am not going public with it till I have started at the new gig.

[GDZ]

How'd it go Marv?

It was well received and I am glad it's done. Today I am just attending the conference as a participant instead of a speaker.

[tartaronne]

An ugly head cold is upon me. It has stolen my ability to use certain letters of the alphabet.

I'm told that the best test for the severity of a head cold is to try saying "monkey". Results may, of course, vary by accent.

Accept, of course, in Canada where we have no accent.

I'm not sure I can accept that.

I have no excuse - EXCEPT that it was really too early for me to be typing ...