“Nobody can’t teach nobody nothing,” says O. P. Kolstoe, author of College Professoring. We need better presenters, as our conference attendees often suggest. Or we need better attendees as our speakers often state. I think Kolstoe hit the bull’s-eye. As a presenter, so also a learner--the conference attendee. (paraphrased Joseph Lowman, 1995). If there is not instruction and learning happening on both sides of the presenter-learner situation, then what we call education is insignificant … [Read more...]
Speakers Required To Promote Your Conference In Social Media Must Follow FTC Endorsement Guidelines
We've come a long way, baby! ~ Loretta Lynn The times they are a-changing. ~ Bob Dylan The catch-phrases are abundant that our world and work continues to evolve. The Ever-Evolving Conference Speaker Contract Nowhere is this evolution more evident than some conference speaker contracts. I have personally seen a change in some conference speaker agreements that I sign. I am often now required to do more than just show up and present. I'm being asked to blog on the event, create … [Read more...]
Your Presentation Needs To Start With A Presenter Attendee Agreement
I start the majority of my presentations by making an agreement with my audience. I call it my presenter-attendee agreement. Why use valuable presentation time for the presenter-attendee agreement? Most people come to conferences and presentations with an implied agreement that the presentation is about and for the speaker, not the audience. In reality, the focus should be on the audience, the learners. Audience Presentation Expectations Some come to my presentations with an unspoken … [Read more...]
Our Ability To Learn Has Deep Roots In Our Ability To Talk To Others
Listening is often the only thing attendees do in formal learning environments. Speakers talk. Audiences listen. They listen to keynote speakers at conferences. They listen to presenters in workshops. They listen to industry speakers in education sessions. They listen to staff in HR trainings. The truth is that all that listening amounts to very little learning or change in attitudes, behaviors and skills. Talking Is More Important Than Listening Listening should actually be the smallest part … [Read more...]
Things I Despise About Speaker Marketing Videos
You've probably heard the saying, "If you've seen one, you've seen them all." In the case of the majority of speaker marketing videos, it's true! According to research by VCC and Tagoras, meeting professionals consider the speaker marketing video the most important sales tool available. More than a book, social media presence, blog or one sheet. Note: this post is about meeting professionals using speaker marketing videos to hire that speaker. Not videos used to market the conference or … [Read more...]
Speakers Talk Too Much!
You talk too much! Yes, that's right. You talk too much! Talk, Talk, Talk I remember growing up that my sister and father never stopped talking. They seemed to be in an endless competition to see who could talk more. They never shut up. They even talked when other people weren't listening. My father would wake up in the morning and begin singing at the top of his lungs. Never mind that it was 6 am. He'd walk into my bedroom and pound on the walls with glee, shouting: "Good morning, good … [Read more...]
Expert Presenters Make A Difference In Conference Education
Your conference presenters have tremendous power. They probably have more power than the venue, the logistics, other registrants, the host organization, the schedule or the content on your attendee's experience. So shouldn't conference organizers focus their energies on enhancing the aspects that truly make a difference in an attendees' experience? How many of your past conference attendees return because the logistics were so smooth? Or registration ran perfectly? None of them! They return … [Read more...]
Fostering Hot And Spicy Audiences
Imagine for a moment that you're preparing for a presentation for an upcoming conference. Close your eyes and visualize that your audience appears to be actually sizzling in their seats with enthusiasm. They are on fire for your words. Creating Audience Combustible Motivation Now imagine you have that same experience every time you present. This vision is not unrealistic. You can create experiences that foster combustible motivation in your audience! How? By eliminating the two primary … [Read more...]
