Results 1 to 30 of 35

Thread: Presentations

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Member Megas Methuselah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Prairie Grasslands
    Posts
    5,040

    Thumbs up Re: Presentations

    Quote Originally Posted by HopAlongBunny View Post
    If you have time, practice. Present to family/friends; rehearse to the wall :p_ becoming comfortable with the material is key
    Hi, Mr. Echoer. Nice to see you echo my post!

  2. #2
    Nec Pluribus Impar Member SwordsMaster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    3,519
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Presentations

    If you know the topic well, just keep a general structure of the discussion in your mind, most definitely do NOT just read off of a 1000 word paper, people can read by themselves, and if they wanted to read the paper you can just email it to them...

    Stand upright, take one encompassing look around the room, take a big breath, smile, and say

    'Welcome, thanks for coming, I'm Rhyfelwyr, and today we will talk about blah. I encourage you all to listen and participate, otherwise I will just make you read the paper on your own time...'

    You're the Master of Ceremonies. Hell, if you wanted to, you could make the audience read the paper aloud, one person per sentence, with one person only reading even words, or something equally ludicrous. You can dismiss the paper altogether, and instead come up with a graphical representation of what you're discussing, or tell the story in your own words.

    Be comfortable in your clothes, keep a glass of water nearby in case you need a second, avoid light shining directly into your face (personal pet peeve, i feel like i should wear sunglasses...), and don't be afraid to ask people to participate. It's your discussion, do with it whatever you want.
    Managing perceptions goes hand in hand with managing expectations - Masamune

    Pie is merely the power of the state intruding into the private lives of the working class. - Beirut

  3. #3
    the G-Diffuser Senior Member pevergreen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Brisbane, Australia
    Posts
    11,585
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Presentations

    I hate pracitising in front of other people.

    Try alone in front of a full mirror (so you can see yourself completely) and just do it.

    In more Australian terms: Harden the up.


    You'll be fine.
    Quote Originally Posted by TosaInu
    The org will be org until everyone calls it a day.

    Quote Originally Posted by KukriKhan View Post
    but I joke. Some of my best friends are Vietnamese villages.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur
    Anyone who wishes to refer to me as peverlemur is free to do so.

  4. #4
    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    The EUSSR
    Posts
    30,680

    Default Re: Presentations

    Quote Originally Posted by SwordsMaster View Post
    If you know the topic well, just keep a general structure of the discussion in your mind, most definitely do NOT just read off of a 1000 word paper, people can read by themselves, and if they wanted to read the paper you can just email it to them...

    Stand upright, take one encompassing look around the room, take a big breath, smile, and say

    'Welcome, thanks for coming, I'm Rhyfelwyr, and today we will talk about blah. I encourage you all to listen and participate, otherwise I will just make you read the paper on your own time...'

    You're the Master of Ceremonies. Hell, if you wanted to, you could make the audience read the paper aloud, one person per sentence, with one person only reading even words, or something equally ludicrous. You can dismiss the paper altogether, and instead come up with a graphical representation of what you're discussing, or tell the story in your own words.

    Be comfortable in your clothes, keep a glass of water nearby in case you need a second, avoid light shining directly into your face (personal pet peeve, i feel like i should wear sunglasses...), and don't be afraid to ask people to participate. It's your discussion, do with it whatever you want.
    Yeah and casually look at every person once. I hate it personally, teach your monkey tricks, but alas. It always turns out badly because I'm not very good at not being sarcastic.

  5. #5
    Liar and Trickster Senior Member Andres's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    In my own skin.
    Posts
    13,208

    Default Re: Presentations

    I'm the type of guy who starts sweating and is very nervous, but once I'm busy, it all goes very naturally. Getting started is the hardest part, I think. Once you're going, it goes automatically smooth; at least that's how it went with me at such occasions.

    Hypothetical questions, as TinCow suggested, are definitely a very good way to go. They also give opportunity to add a fun factor, like making up silly names instead of just "person A and person B" or

    Other fun factors could be:
    - do overacted voices when you talk about a certain important historical figure
    - instead of "King X declared war on Y", say something like "On a sunny sunday morning, King X stood up, looked at his petty subjects and decided to annoy them, and their children, and grandchildren, and eventually you and me, certainly me, forcing me to stand here in front of you which I absolutely hate and makes me nervous, don't mind the sweaty smell, it's all King X's fault, but anyway, on a sunny Sunday morning, he decided to force me to talk today about the war he declared against Y".

    Be creative, stay on the subject of course (you're not a stand-up comedian after all) but make sure your presentation has a few lighthearted pieces in it and be sure the fun stuff is easy to catch; it'll draw the attention of your public which will result in more feedback and discussion. It'll also make for a more relaxed atmosphere.
    Last edited by Andres; 10-29-2009 at 13:01.
    Andres is our Lord and Master and could strike us down with thunderbolts or beer cans at any time. ~Askthepizzaguy

    Ja mata, TosaInu

  6. #6

    Default Re: Presentations

    Quote Originally Posted by Megas Methuselah View Post
    Hi, Mr. Echoer. Nice to see you echo my post!
    Repeating key ideas is essential in any communication transaction :)

    (Sorry Megas, didn't read all the posts )
    Ja-mata TosaInu

  7. #7
    Deadhead Member Owen Glyndwr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Santa Cruz, California, USA
    Posts
    464

    Default Re: Presentations

    I only read about half of the previous posts, so I don't know if this has already been suggested, but try getting a bunch of your friends together and practice giving your presentation in front of them. That's always helped for me, although I've never given a speech in front of a seminar...

    As another poster suggested, sometimes the best way is to know your stuff cold. A lot of stage fright comes from being afraid of ridicule or a contesting argument. However, if you know your stuff flat you can be more confident in knowing that you won't make a mistake and look silly in front of a bunch of people.
    "You must know, then, that there are two methods of fight, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second. It is therefore necessary for a prince to know well how to use both the beast and the man.
    -Niccolo Machiavelli


    AARs:
    The Aeduic War: A Casse Mini AAR
    The Kings of Land's End: A Lusitani AAR

  8. #8
    Ranting madman of the .org Senior Member Fly Shoot Champion, Helicopter Champion, Pedestrian Killer Champion, Sharpshooter Champion, NFS Underground Champion Rhyfelwyr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    In a hopeless place with no future
    Posts
    8,646

    Default Re: Presentations

    Just chaired the group this morning, and it went OK! Must be my most succesful public speaking this so far, I managed to prevent myself getting too nervous before it somehow.

    Thanks for all the advice here.
    At the end of the day politics is just trash compared to the Gospel.

  9. #9
    Deadhead Member Owen Glyndwr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Santa Cruz, California, USA
    Posts
    464

    Default Re: Presentations

    Quote Originally Posted by Rhyfelwyr View Post
    Just chaired the group this morning, and it went OK! Must be my most succesful public speaking this so far, I managed to prevent myself getting too nervous before it somehow.

    Thanks for all the advice here.
    Congratulations! That's very good to hear!
    "You must know, then, that there are two methods of fight, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second. It is therefore necessary for a prince to know well how to use both the beast and the man.
    -Niccolo Machiavelli


    AARs:
    The Aeduic War: A Casse Mini AAR
    The Kings of Land's End: A Lusitani AAR

  10. #10

    Default Re: Presentations

    Congratulations on a well presented presentation

    (...the magic of the .org works at a distance...)
    Ja-mata TosaInu

  11. #11
    the G-Diffuser Senior Member pevergreen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Brisbane, Australia
    Posts
    11,585
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Presentations

    Huzzah!
    Quote Originally Posted by TosaInu
    The org will be org until everyone calls it a day.

    Quote Originally Posted by KukriKhan View Post
    but I joke. Some of my best friends are Vietnamese villages.
    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur
    Anyone who wishes to refer to me as peverlemur is free to do so.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO