Doing a prop/maker/builder panel at a con? Great! Here's some tips:
- Have a planned outline that sticks to your topic. People are there to learn, so make sure you structure your lesson accordingly
- Provide visuals. Talking in front of a mic for an hour is boring, difficult to understand, and you'll lose your audience's interest.
- Provide visuals. Talking in front of a mic for an hour is boring, difficult to understand, and you'll lose your audience's interest.
- Don't brag. You're up there because of some notoriety or talent, but a 60 minute ego stroke is a snooze. Understand that your audience is there to learn from your skill, not bask in it
- Define terms. Lots of maker talk is peppered with words like "infill" and "Platinum Cure" and a lot of people won't know what that means. Explain terminology first before using it (visuals help!)
- Plan for QnA, but don't make the whole panel an ask fest. That format works well for celebrity panels but your audience is there to learn. An open QnA will go off the rails when one person inevitably takes the opportunity to commandeer your room for their specific project
- Understand limitations. If you print everything on a $200k polyjet, don't suggest that's the only option. Hobbyists exist and want solutions for themselves too.
- Stand up if you're able bodied. Sitting at a desk makes people bored. Be animated, lead the room. Let the people in the back see you!
- Stay in topic. It's easy to get lost in an anecdote, but don't stray too far. Keep you outline near and always return to it.
- Practice at least once. You're going to have a lesson plan that needs to fit into an allotted time. Make sure you test it out first.
- Practice at least once. You're going to have a lesson plan that needs to fit into an allotted time. Make sure you test it out first.
