RALEIGH — As a presenter at the inaugural Ignite Raleigh, I'd encourage any would-be speakers to give the 20-slides-in-5-minutes presentation format a try. Though Ignite events began as technology events, now Ignite presentations may introduce their typically receptive audiences to a wide variety of topics. I spoke about my positive experiences with some online training groups during my Disney marathon attempt -- and I got very favorable reviews, even though only a small percentage of the audience (I'd guess) ever hopes to complete a marathon.
Although, after one presentation, I'm hardly an expert, I will share with you my own personal list of do's and don'ts based on my experience. Remember, though, that we are all different and as we runners say, "Your mileage may vary." As in all things, to thine own self be true.
DO pick a topic about which you feel passionate. You need a LOT of energy to present successfully at an Ignite event and it's hard to muster that if you are just reciting a prepared speech. Listeners know when you care about what you are speaking about and they respond to that.
DO watch as many Ignite presentations on youtube.com as you can make time for. Search for "ignite Seattle" or "ignite Baltimore" or "ignite..." any given city. Pay attention to what appeals to you about these presentations and try to incorporate those aspects into yours if they suit your own presentation style. There are even some great presentations and blog posts about how to give an ignite presentation -- Go wild with Google search and drink them in!
DO be prepared for an audience with a wide range of ages and interests. What I really mean is that not everyone will be actively listening to you -- some folks will be moving around and talking -- It's more of a quiet bar atmosphere than a conference. A lot of folks will be listening though -- and they are one of the most accepting audiences I've encountered.
DO practice and practice and practice. I was so terrified onstage that I can barely remember what I said, but I had practiced so much -- with my auto-advancing slides -- that I was pretty much on autopilot when I spoke.
DON'T freak when you muff a slide. Because the slides advance so quickly, and because you will likely be nervous (unless you are a pro, as some of the speakers were), you will probably stumble at some point. I tried to remember that that isn't a big deal unless I made a big deal out of it. Think about normal conversation: You pause, ramble, begin sentences you never finish, etc. Nobody cares! They are listening for your message.
DON'T overfill those slides -- LESS IS MORE! Stick to slides with a single large image or very few words. 15 seconds per slide means the audience has to "get" each slide instantly. Otherwise, they are distracted by trying to read while you speak, or figure out what in the heck that photo has to do with what you're saying.
DON'T be afraid to carry an "anchor" on stage with you. My musician friend advised me to carry something on stage with me -- he said there was something about having his guitar on stage that made him feel calmer. For me, it was a handful of index cards that I never looked at (or intended to). They calmed me because I knew they were there -- and that was enough.
DON'T let other speakers or their topics psyche you out. As I said, this is a broad audience -- some folks preferred other presenters over me, and some preferred my speech over others. It's a wide world -- be yourself and you'll find someone who relates to your idea and your delivery style. It's about valuing your own gift and making your own contribution, not about being in competition with others. I'll also say that every speaker there was very encouraging to me. It was very affirming!
Hope this helps! I hope to hear you present next year at Ignite Raleigh!
