Presentation Tips

Things to do and not to do

Font, Fonts, Fonts

Can you read this?

(from back of 4 row classroom)

This is more like it

(from back of 500 person auditorium)

Font Suggestions

• 24 to 28 pt font for text

• 40 pt font for heading

• Use default light color schemes

• Increase font in all programs being used

• Higher the resolution, bigger the font

No option to change font?

Use ZoomIt

by SysInternals

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897434.aspx

Content is King

Bullet Points

• Avoid

• Excessive

• Bullet-Pointing

• Only

• Bullet

• Key

• Points

• Too

• Many

• Bullet-Points

• And

• Your

• Key

• Messages

• Will

• NOT

• Stand

• Out.

Don't Replace Bullets With...

• Keep bullet points to minimum

• Make bullets appear when you talk to them

• Consider using images to reinforce slide 

• Don't read slides word for word

• Use handouts for detailed information

• Don't be afraid to ditch the slides

Content Suggestions

Preparation

and

Practice

• Have the screen behind you

• Make movement purposeful

• Record yourself (audio & video)

• Get a slide advancer

Practice

Logitech R400

Be able to quickly reset demos to starting point

Magic Reset Button

• It is not a matter of if but when
   

• Have a completed working version you can pull up
   

• Never upgrade software before a demo

Demo Gods Hate Me

• Don't be one of those that says "I will post this later today"
   

• Post slides and demo code before the presentation
   

• On the "About me" and last slide, put the link

Make Material Available

Spelling Checker....

Day of / During

the Talk

• If possible, perform tech check before talk
   

• Before arriving start-up needed programs
   

• Turn off any editor extensions / unused programs
   

• Reset all themes back to default
   

• Be able to plug in to projector and go

Are you ready?

• You just finished your 60 minute presentation in 15 minutes.
   

• Just lay off the caffeine before your talk

Too Much Caffeine

Can't believe the guy in the front row fell asleep?

What now?

Am I boring you?

You have to just run with it but..

• Be excited about the topic
   

• Engage the audience 
   

• If you know the person, call them out
   

• But maybe your slides really are boring and you need a different approach

Keep the Audience Awake

• Use Code Snippets
   

• Your typing skills will become non-existent
   

• Don't mumble to yourself while typing
   

• Don't debug on stage

Live Coding

• Totally Acceptable

• However, only if:

  • You spoke at the right pace

  • You got your point across

Darn It I Finished Early

• What...my time is up?

• But I still got 20 more slides of material.

• Please bear with me as I cover all 20 in the next 30 seconds

• On your mark

• Get set

• Go.....

Times up

• Respect your audience, don't cover the rest
   

• Finish up current point
   

• Go to slide that has url to slides

Times up, now what?

Slides are available at:

http://slides.com/digitaldrummerj/

Thank you

Backup

Cmd Font Suggestions

Visual Studio Fonts

• Tools -> Options -> Fonts and Colors

• Change:

  • Environment

  • Editor

  • Output Window

  • Auto/Local/Watch

  • Package Manager Console (if using)