While
updating my 2019 presentations excel sheet (for taxes) and I am pleased and
surprised that it lists 20+ presentations this year. These do not include the
group discussions I help lead – it’s the stand-up-in-front of an eager
audience, teaching a topic using a PowerPoint and handout. By adding variety of
new genealogical subjects, 15 presentations are already booked in 2020. These
are enjoyable afternoons or evenings for me. This business launched in 2012 and
over the years, I’ve learned a variety of tips and tricks for growing a
presentation business, improving handouts, and the art of presenting. Here’s my
list, all you speakers out there, if you have other ideas, please let me know:
Growing
your business:
To start,
offer to volunteer to give presentations to libraries and genealogy groups.
New
presentation? Again, volunteer. You’ll be able to smooth out rough spots before
you present to a paid audience.
Arrive at
least 30 minutes earlier, so your host isn’t wondering and you are calm.
Take your
host’s contact information with you when you drive to the presentation, just in
case you have a delay, or get lost. Give them yours so they may contact you
too.
When they
ask for you to sign a contract, send a photo, bio or presentation description,
do so in a timely manner. Send the handout on time. I have been the host, and
it’s annoying to have to repeatedly ask for these.
Thank the
host at the beginning of your presentation and give a personalized reason why
you are honored to be speaking. (I.E. You’ve heard good things about the group
or you have family in the area or in one case – I was the last presentation the
group had before they disbanded.)
Handout:
Make sure it
is readable. Some presenters create the easy three-slides-to-a-page-plus-lines
for notes. The words may be so small they are not readable.
If you do
use the slide format, leave less important slides out with a save-as and then
deleting minor slides before printing.
Be
considerate of the number of pages to be printed. I’ve seen 12 pages but six is
max.
Better yet,
use an outline format. Takes up less paper and easier to read. (I use it.)
In
PowerPoint>File>Export>Create handout>Outline. Then a little
editing.
While the
subject is handouts, leave some information off your handouts. You want to see
the attendees write notes. It’s part of class participation. You’ll know they
are tuned in.
Depending
how you feel, you might want to put a copyright symbol or even a little note to
not copy without your permission.
Include your
email in case there are follow-up questions.
Attendees
LOVE resources, websites and books. Check website links at least once a year. To avoid a cluttered look, use the website name in your PowerPoint, but place the URL in the handout.
Keep a copy with you when presenting. People may ask where something is in the handout or you may refer to it for other reasons.
Keep a copy with you when presenting. People may ask where something is in the handout or you may refer to it for other reasons.
Presenting:
Bring water
– maybe your host will have water for you, but if not and you get a cough or
dry mouth, you are glad to have something to sip. (It’s also good if you need a
moment to think before answering a question.)
Wear
something with a decent pocket so you have a place to put the little microphone
box. I just slip into a pocket.
If
presenting at a library, suggest they pull appropriate books to be checked out.
Also preview their website for their available resources and databases. Refer
to the website in the presentation. Better yet, show how to use it before or at
the end of your presentation.
Laser
pointers are nice.
Bring a
second copy of your presentation and handout. If you bring your laptop, copy to a flash drive and bring.
If just a flash drive, bring two flash drives. Just last week, no handouts were
copied, but the host took my flash drive, made copies, while I started the PowerPoint
presentation using my laptop.
Do not
expect internet to be available, even when the host says it will be. I set up
my PowerPoints with screen shots. If internet is available, it’s a bonus.
PowerPoint slides
should have large easy-to-read letters. Too many words, the audience can’t read
everything before the slide changes. Bullets are better than paragraphs. Keep
words minimal. Pictures improve your look. Consider a relevant theme.
This tip
comes from my daughter who taught. “They don’t know what they don’t know.” This
means if you updated your presentation, but brought the old one by mistake, the
audience doesn’t know. If you forgot to explain something, the audience doesn’t
know. Just keep going and smile. If you remember later in your presentation,
say it then.
Decide how
you feel about people taking photos during your slide presentation. If you
prefer they don’t, ask the host to make that announcement in your introduction.
Or add a slide in the beginning with a camera graphic and your preferred camera
rule.
Leave time
for questions at the end of your presentation. I add a cute “Questions?” slide.
Throw in
words like “Good question” so people are comfortable about asking.
You learn good
ideas for adding to your presentation or even for a new presentation through
questions and comments.
If you don’t
know the answer, give a resource that might hold the answer, instead of giving
the answer itself. Or better yet, ask attendees if they know the answer.
Hang around
to enjoy people conversations and possibly treats! It’s a great gig – being with
people who enjoy talking about what you enjoy talking about!
