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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Apr 20, 2014 - 04:51pm PT
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Humor, humor, humor and less is more....too long and it becomes "death by slideshow" a worse death than ebola can deliver. Forty five minutes max. Congrats on the route!
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Apr 20, 2014 - 05:02pm PT
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45 minutes perfect. After the Q&A ask where the nearest bar is. Move the venue to the Pub and you're my hero.
Where's the presentation? I'd like to see it.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Apr 20, 2014 - 05:20pm PT
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tell a story you think the audience will enjoy
two things here: 1) have a narrative to hang everything on and 2) consider the audience
don't rag on yourself or your abilities... being self-depricating is good to an extent, but you actually did something outstanding that not many in your audience will ever get a chance of doing, don't spoil it for them, their cheering for you
climbs tend to be "linear" that is, one-dimension, and a lot of images are shot of the bottoms of feet, butts, helmet tops and strained upward poses "look up I'm taking your picture" think about not showing those unless there is something important to your story (you do have a story... some story... like how you came back from a broken leg or something like that...)
in general, try to use the images you have as a part of the story, but certainly being there is a large part of the story, and I'm sure you have a lot of "oohs" and "aahs" type images... deploy them strategically (not necessarily in the order they were taken)
have fun, be loose, be spontaneous but do go over your presentation before you actually get up on stage and give it... and especially time it so you have an idea that you can tell your story in whatever time you have decided it should be told in...
...it's better to leave the audience wanting more, so the 40 or 45 minute limit isn't a bad one to shoot for on your first time.
Insider comments can be cool for those in the audience that are "in the know" but if the entire narrative is like that the rest of the audience will get bored quickly... if it is a general audience, then consider the use of climbing jargon (don't use it or use it with an explanation), once again, consider the audience
Finally, if you're really stressed out and/or want to give a good performance (and it is a performance), record yourself (voice record) giving the show and listen to yourself on playback. That can really help point out what you sound like, it is not possible to imagine what the presentation is like to other people without doing something like that...
Aside from beta-blockers, chemical assistance probably isn't recommended (and go easy on the beta-blockers, you passing out on stage isn't great for anyone).
But mostly just have fun with it... you're a pretty intelligent and wryly humorous person with a pleasant edge and a lot of interesting experiences, that will show through.
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Michelle
Social climber
1187 Hunterwasser
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Apr 20, 2014 - 05:28pm PT
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Ditto everyone's comments. I would suggest a test run in front of some friends too. I saw a slide show a well known mountaineer did and it was kind of weak because there wasn't good flow. Also, give people swag (jk) and MOST importantly, have fun and laugh!
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Apr 20, 2014 - 06:12pm PT
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This is turning into the good-advice thread.
More tips on public speaking (Ed's stuff up there is gold.)
You are not speaking to a "group" you are speaking to an individual. Don't think or say "everyone." Say "you." Go like it's a one on one.
If you start to black out- slow down and just keep going. It's only because you need to do more public speaking. You could call a quick intermission if it gets bad. The goes away eventually if it even happens at all.
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Apr 20, 2014 - 07:06pm PT
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Lots of great advice!
Yes, keep it to around 45 minutes (definitely under an hour). Keep a good pace going, with stories, changes of pace, mostly fast, gotta keep the interest of the audience. Planned pauses, for dramatic effect, can work real well, but not so good is to dry up, forget a name or what you planned to say.
I'll second the importance of a trial run, but ideally do it in in real time and alone, speaking (either under your breath or out loud) so that you can synchronies stories and slides. An audience of one or two is not at all like an audience of 30. Repeat these trial runs. The more times you do this the better it gets, smooth, controlled, easier.
Restart the laptop before the show, just to ensure there's no crashes/bugs. Charge it all the way, in case there's no outlets nearby. Bring a selection of connectors (or your own projector). If you can, check out one or two slides beforehand, just to be sure the laptop and the projector are talking to each other and the colors are OK.
Lastly, the audience is on your side. Remember that. If things go wrong, they will forgive a lot.
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mechrist
Gym climber
South of Heaven
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Apr 20, 2014 - 07:06pm PT
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humor humor humor... and hot chicks.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Apr 20, 2014 - 07:15pm PT
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if using a lap top, make sure you extend the "screen saver" mode and the "energy saver" modes to "never"
I attended a colloquium given by a Provost once who was talking some crazy stuff about the "multi-versify" and getting all spacey... he was using his computer and as if right on que while he was going on and on his lap top screen saver turned on, which was sort of like the opening credit of the old "Star Trek" with the stars whizzing by...
...highly appropriate for this talk but not what the speaker had in mind.
If you use someone else's computer, make sure to preview the presentation all the way through BEFORE your show... and if the quality of the images doesn't work out, make sure you know how to calibrate the computer display to make the images the way you want them to be (not too dark, not too light).
If using your computer make sure you plug everything (and that you have all the various things to do that) and go through the whole talk... different display projectors will have different calibrations...
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phylp
Trad climber
Millbrae, CA
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Apr 20, 2014 - 07:16pm PT
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Lot's of good advice above...
Practice OUT LOUD (not in your head) before hand! You don't want to be reciting a script but if you have never said the words before and you are a novice speaker, there will be too many ums and ers and vocal stutters. Think of it as a one-person stage performance. Effortless humor usually requires some advance effort.
Go to the venue EARLY and make sure all the audio visual stuff is working properly. I recently went to a slide show which was delayed a full hour because they couldn't get the computer/projector interface right. If I hadn't been dependent on a ride from someone else I would have walked out.
Use a remote controller so you can stand in the front of the room and face your audience. Physical animation enhances your vocal animation. As stated above, you are speaking to individuals, not a crowd. If you get nervous focus on a friendly face.
You do not only have to use your own photos for the slides. A few public domain images that enhance your story will move things along (maps, transit, area photos...). Kind of goes without saying but please have a photo/topo of your mountain face with the route and belays, bivys highlighted.
Let us know where it is, we will try to come and will smile at you.
Phyl
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Apr 20, 2014 - 07:37pm PT
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All good advice from everyone.
Since this is your maiden slideshow, let me add more advice from 45 years of slide shows.
All climbers are used to slideshows that logically follow the timeline of the adventure. I have seen slideshows where the person didn't bother to organize their slides, and at least for myself, it was not good.
You, of course, love each and every one of your photos. Especially now with digital cameras, we save way too many less than stellar images. Only show your best shots, and hopefully the best of the shots your friends have shared, and those that are essential to the story.
You don't need to hand out prizes to the audience. Your story is supposed to be the prize.
Big Yes to rehearsing the show! Especially, since it is your debut show! Very best thing, is do it for friends that you can accept constructive criticism from, and ask them for that criticism, then practice the presentation again.
Remember that you are having a great time when you are doing the show. If you act like you are having fun, you are fun --------up to a point. No dancing or off-color jokes.
Good advice on talking to the audience as individuals. If you can talk from in front of the audience, but in a spot where you can still see the slides, that is good. Try to look at individuals while talking, and do that for everyone in the audience.
Have fun!
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz CA
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Apr 20, 2014 - 08:09pm PT
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Try to look at individuals while talking, and do that for everyone in the audience. You are getting wonderful and thoughtful ideas.
What Fritz said is very important. I don't know your set up or audience size; however novice presenters often "freeze" in one spot and have a blind side to one part of the audience. Try to move around some (but don't be frenetic) and be sure to "sweep" the entire audience. You may wish to move from one side to the other after every few "slides"...is it old school slides or Power Point? I'm assuming PP which gives you more options...but as previous posters have mentioned unintended consequences often happen with PP unless you check and double check your settings. Or move, even a foot or two, when you feel you have a "big moment" to share. This keeps the audience's attention.
Enjoy! Will you be taking this "on the road"? I'd love to see it if you bring it up NorCal way.
Susan
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Tricouni
Mountain climber
Vancouver
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Apr 20, 2014 - 08:20pm PT
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Hook your laptop to the projector beforehand and make sure everything works. Image on screen? Image just the right size? Make sure your battery will last for the show. Better yet, bring an extension cord so you can plug into the wall somewhere.
If they are supplying the computer, make sure the program you created the slide show in is consistent with their
Laptop. (This isn' a problem with PowerPoint but I have seen some pretty oddball formats that most computers won't handle).
Good luck, enjoy!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Apr 20, 2014 - 08:30pm PT
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What Fritz said about images....show your best. I have been to SS's where, believe it or not, there had been no apparent attempt made in editing the images.
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Apr 20, 2014 - 08:38pm PT
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More on the oooh/ahhhh/ummm/errr thing....
Many people new to public speaking do this just to fill up the empty space when they're thinking of what to say next. What else should you do while you are thinking of what to say next? Nothing! Silence can be good. It gives the audience time to digest whatever you said last, and it makes you look a lot better to silently collect your thoughts and then make a deliberate transition. Don't be afraid of silence. But not too much!
Have fun with it, imagine your audience naked, remember they're all just people, and in the big scheme of things it doesn't matter worth a squat, so there is no imaginary bar you have to measure yourself against.
And that line you guys did looks absolutely stunning world class.
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John M
climber
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Apr 20, 2014 - 08:51pm PT
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I love seeing not just the climb, but the travel, the country, the people. The whole experience.
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Highlife
Trad climber
California
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Apr 20, 2014 - 08:52pm PT
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Show the boobs Libster.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Apr 20, 2014 - 09:42pm PT
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I think the slander comes after, right?
not necessarily...
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Apr 20, 2014 - 09:42pm PT
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Remember that YOU are the focal point - NOT the freakin slides!
People bond with people and rarely with things - so look at yourself as being the center of attention and your pictures as being the supporting actors in this play.
Move.
Get it.
Move around the stage - motion focuses attention and attention is what you need from your audience. Want them to look at a particular slide - walk up to the screen and point hard at the spot you need them to see. Gesture, genuflect, jump around - be entertaining fer crying out loud - don't be just another boring ass University lecture by some brain dead PHd candidate who happened to climb up yet another inert piece of boring ass granite.
If you need examples of this concept - I suggest watching vids of Mick Jagger or Chris Rock. Both excel at using physical presence and motion to focus a crowd.
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