G’day,
I recently got the opportunity to speak at the “PASS Marathon, The New World of Data Privacy”.
I had not spoken at a virtually event for quite some time and I’d forgotten how different it is to a live presentation.
There’s pros and cons to both live presentations and virtually presentations, but for me, the main difference is having audience interaction.
At a live event you are able to see the faces in the audience and constantly gauge how you feel things are going – and if appropriate change on the fly. You can also take questions ‘in real time’.
However, with a virtual event you get to ‘stay on script’ the entire time and just carry on, not really getting a gauge of how your presentation is ‘going down’.
I’d like to thank everybody who gave me feedback and take the opportunity to encourage viewers of such events to provide feedback – in as much detail as you feel comfortable with. For example if you didn’t like an element of the presentation then please say why (not just that you didn’t like it please) – this helps people to improve.
I’d additionally like to encourage audience members who have not spoken previously to consider doing so. If a virtual presentation is not the place to start for you, then consider heading along to a local SQL Saturday event – there’s always a call for speakers before hand.
There’s plenty of people to help you along on your presentation journey at these events and also in the wider SQL community.
These’s also a lot of online courses aimed at presenting and finding one of those might be a good starting point for you.
I hope to be viewing your presentation soon.
Have a great day.
Cheers
Martin