LightningTalks Howto - Revision history

Tslagle at 15:16, 5 April 2012

2012-04-05T15:16:26Z

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	** While you're right that lightning talks are limited in scope due to time constraints, that's the point. The brevity serves two main purposes. First, the audience doesn't have a chance to lose interest - a good lightning talks generates more questions than it provides answers, much like good art. Second, speakers have limited pressure because they are only responsible for entertaining or educating the audience for 5 minutes, and lightning talks are supposed to be low-pressure and inclusive. Hopefully now you understand why 5 minutes is an ideal length for a lightning talk. Questions can be asked during QA for more details and talk slides are posted to the wiki after the event.		** While you're right that lightning talks are limited in scope due to time constraints, that's the point. The brevity serves two main purposes. First, the audience doesn't have a chance to lose interest - a good lightning talks generates more questions than it provides answers, much like good art. Second, speakers have limited pressure because they are only responsible for entertaining or educating the audience for 5 minutes, and lightning talks are supposed to be low-pressure and inclusive. Hopefully now you understand why 5 minutes is an ideal length for a lightning talk. Questions can be asked during QA for more details and talk slides are posted to the wiki after the event.

	[[Category:~~Events]]~~		[[Category:Event Planning]]
	~~[[Category:Useful_Info~~]]

Tslagle at 15:09, 5 April 2012

2012-04-05T15:09:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:09, 5 April 2012
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	** While you're right that lightning talks are limited in scope due to time constraints, that's the point. The brevity serves two main purposes. First, the audience doesn't have a chance to lose interest - a good lightning talks generates more questions than it provides answers, much like good art. Second, speakers have limited pressure because they are only responsible for entertaining or educating the audience for 5 minutes, and lightning talks are supposed to be low-pressure and inclusive. Hopefully now you understand why 5 minutes is an ideal length for a lightning talk. Questions can be asked during QA for more details and talk slides are posted to the wiki after the event.		** While you're right that lightning talks are limited in scope due to time constraints, that's the point. The brevity serves two main purposes. First, the audience doesn't have a chance to lose interest - a good lightning talks generates more questions than it provides answers, much like good art. Second, speakers have limited pressure because they are only responsible for entertaining or educating the audience for 5 minutes, and lightning talks are supposed to be low-pressure and inclusive. Hopefully now you understand why 5 minutes is an ideal length for a lightning talk. Questions can be asked during QA for more details and talk slides are posted to the wiki after the event.

	[[Category:~~Event Planning~~]]		[[Category:Events]]
			[[Category:Useful_Info]]

Katie at 15:00, 21 November 2010

2010-11-21T15:00:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 21 November 2010
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	* Why are lighting talks 5 minutes long instead of 10 or 15 minutes? Too short!		* Why are lighting talks 5 minutes long instead of 10 or 15 minutes? Too short!
	** While you're right that lightning talks are limited in scope due to time constraints, that's the point. The brevity serves two main purposes. First, the audience doesn't have a chance to lose interest - a good lightning talks generates more questions than it provides answers, much like good art. Second, speakers have limited pressure because they are only responsible for entertaining or educating the audience for 5 minutes, and lightning talks are supposed to be low-pressure and inclusive. Hopefully now you understand why 5 minutes is an ideal length for a lightning talk. Questions can be asked during QA for more details and talk slides are posted to the wiki after the event.		** While you're right that lightning talks are limited in scope due to time constraints, that's the point. The brevity serves two main purposes. First, the audience doesn't have a chance to lose interest - a good lightning talks generates more questions than it provides answers, much like good art. Second, speakers have limited pressure because they are only responsible for entertaining or educating the audience for 5 minutes, and lightning talks are supposed to be low-pressure and inclusive. Hopefully now you understand why 5 minutes is an ideal length for a lightning talk. Questions can be asked during QA for more details and talk slides are posted to the wiki after the event.

			[[Category:Event Planning]]

71.183.188.64: /* MC'ING */

2010-11-21T07:12:28Z

MC'ING

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	* Try to arrange the order of the talks so that there is a good heterogeneous mixture of serious/technical and light/nontechnical throughout the talks to break things up. Knowing the speaking style of the folks helps, but generally try to mix it up and keep people guessing. Feel free to save a zinger for the end. :)		* Try to arrange the order of the talks so that there is a good heterogeneous mixture of serious/technical and light/nontechnical throughout the talks to break things up. Knowing the speaking style of the folks helps, but generally try to mix it up and keep people guessing. Feel free to save a zinger for the end. :)

			* Try to announce the talk order when the event starts, but generally let people know when they're coming up to speak as soon as you can. I've sometimes told people while someone was speaking that they were next, which has worked out surprisingly well, but somehow doesn't seem ideal.

	== TECHNICAL/INFRASTRUCTURE ==		== TECHNICAL/INFRASTRUCTURE ==

71.183.188.64: /* MC'ING */

2010-11-21T07:10:03Z

MC'ING

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:10, 21 November 2010
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	* Announce speaker's name and talk title before they come up in a clear voice.		* Announce speaker's name and talk title before they come up in a clear voice.

			* Try to arrange the order of the talks so that there is a good heterogeneous mixture of serious/technical and light/nontechnical throughout the talks to break things up. Knowing the speaking style of the folks helps, but generally try to mix it up and keep people guessing. Feel free to save a zinger for the end. :)

	== TECHNICAL/INFRASTRUCTURE ==		== TECHNICAL/INFRASTRUCTURE ==

71.183.188.64: /* FAQ */

2010-11-21T07:06:10Z

FAQ

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	* What is a lightning talk?		* What is a lightning talk?

	** Lightning talks are serial 5 minute presentations. The mode of the presentation is arbitrary but most often takes on the traditional form of slides and progressive explanation. The topic is more or less arbitrary within bounds of reason and should appeal to the sensibilities of the intended audience.		** Lightning talks are serial 5 minute presentations. The mode of the presentation is arbitrary but most often takes on the traditional form of slides and progressive explanation. The topic is more or less arbitrary within bounds of reason and should appeal to the sensibilities of the intended audience.

	* Who can give a lightning talk?		* Who can give a lightning talk?

	** Anyone can give a lightning talk on any topic and no standard of expertise is officially required, though a well researched talk is always preferred.		** Anyone can give a lightning talk on any topic and no standard of expertise is officially required, though a well researched talk is always preferred.

	* How long is a lightning talks event?		* How long is a lightning talks event?

	** Lightning talks are typically about one hour long, with 10-14 speakers.		** Lightning talks are typically about one hour long, with 10-14 speakers.

	* Can I ask questions?		* Can I ask questions?

	** Yes, if the speaker invites them, but otherwise wait until after the speakers are done for a QA session.		** Yes, if the speaker invites them, but otherwise wait until after the speakers are done for a QA session.

	* How do I become a speaker?		* How do I become a speaker?

	** Get your a talk title and description to the organizer or MC right away. Your contribution is welcomed.		** Get your a talk title and description to the organizer or MC right away. Your contribution is welcomed.

	* Why are lighting talks 5 minutes long instead of 10 or 15 minutes? Too short!		* Why are lighting talks 5 minutes long instead of 10 or 15 minutes? Too short!

	** While you're right that lightning talks are limited in scope due to time constraints, that's the point. The brevity serves two main purposes. First, the audience doesn't have a chance to lose interest - a good lightning talks generates more questions than it provides answers, much like good art. Second, speakers have limited pressure because they are only responsible for entertaining or educating the audience for 5 minutes, and lightning talks are supposed to be low-pressure and inclusive. Hopefully now you understand why 5 minutes is an ideal length for a lightning talk. Questions can be asked during QA for more details and talk slides are posted to the wiki after the event.		** While you're right that lightning talks are limited in scope due to time constraints, that's the point. The brevity serves two main purposes. First, the audience doesn't have a chance to lose interest - a good lightning talks generates more questions than it provides answers, much like good art. Second, speakers have limited pressure because they are only responsible for entertaining or educating the audience for 5 minutes, and lightning talks are supposed to be low-pressure and inclusive. Hopefully now you understand why 5 minutes is an ideal length for a lightning talk. Questions can be asked during QA for more details and talk slides are posted to the wiki after the event.

71.183.188.64 at 07:05, 21 November 2010

2010-11-21T07:05:21Z

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 * At the very least, make sure someone takes decent photos of the crowd and at least one speaker for the website. Once I forgot to do this and I felt really crappy. Pics or it didn't happen, as they say.
 == SPEAKING ==
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 * The MC will tell you when you have 1 minute remaining. If you're falling behind, summarize and bring the talk to an end as gracefully as possible. Don't leave the audience in the middle of your talk.

71.183.188.64: /* how not to run lightning talks! */

2010-11-21T06:47:47Z

how not to run lightning talks!

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	Since I'm no longer a DC denizen, and since my buddy William Gibb has been asking about taking over the Lightning Talks, I decided to commit my hard earned <s>wisdom</s> scars to the annals of HacDC. Since a wiki document is alive, it's likely that by the time you read this it may not be the document I originally created, but a much better one. Bullet points are in no particular order and are sloppily organized -- I'm sorry. Happy lightning talking.		Since I'm no longer a DC denizen, and since my buddy William Gibb has been asking about taking over the Lightning Talks, I decided to commit my hard earned <s>wisdom</s> scars to the annals of HacDC. Since a wiki document is alive, it's likely that by the time you read this it may not be the document I originally created, but a much better one. Bullet points are in no particular order and are sloppily organized -- I'm sorry. Happy lightning talking.

			HacDC Lightning Talks entry: [[LightningTalks]]

	== ORGANIZING ==		== ORGANIZING ==

71.183.188.64: /* ORGANIZING */

2010-11-21T06:43:44Z

ORGANIZING

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	* It takes weeks to collect a dozen speakers, so send email blasts to every listserv you can 2 months before the event, 1 month before the event, and 2 weeks before the event.		* It takes weeks to collect a dozen speakers, so send email blasts to every listserv you can 2 months before the event, 1 month before the event, and 2 weeks before the event.

			* IRC channels like #hacdc are also a surprisingly effective way to snag cool speakers. Speculation on the social implications of this observation have been removed by the author's better judgement.

	* Specify that speakers MUST send you their talk title and a description when they contact you. You want to screen out anything really wacky (religious, total crackpot, etc).		* Specify that speakers MUST send you their talk title and a description when they contact you. You want to screen out anything really wacky (religious, total crackpot, etc).

71.183.188.64: /* how not to run lightning talks! */

2010-11-21T06:29:39Z

how not to run lightning talks!

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:29, 21 November 2010
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	by [[user:obscurite]] 11/21/2010		by [[user:obscurite]] 11/21/2010

	Since I'm no longer a DC denizen, and since my buddy William Gibb has been asking about taking over the Lightning Talks, I decided to commit my hard earned <s>wisdom</s> scars to the annals of HacDC. Since a wiki document is alive, it's likely that by the time you read this it may not be the document I originally created, but a much better one. Happy lightning talking.		Since I'm no longer a DC denizen, and since my buddy William Gibb has been asking about taking over the Lightning Talks, I decided to commit my hard earned <s>wisdom</s> scars to the annals of HacDC. Since a wiki document is alive, it's likely that by the time you read this it may not be the document I originally created, but a much better one. Bullet points are in no particular order and are sloppily organized -- I'm sorry. Happy lightning talking.

	== ORGANIZING ==		== ORGANIZING ==