Notes for Speakers

1.  Show up ten minutes early and learn how to operate the projector before the session starts. That way you won't spend two minutes fiddling with the thing before summoning the AV tech from the back of the hall to come down and do it for you, thus throwing away your first three minutes and guaranteeing that you will run late. This fumbling also makes your audience feel embarassed on your behalf, which I assume is not your goal.


2. Know what your first sentence will be. That way the first thing out of your mouth won't be "UMMMM," which is was for two of the four speakers in the session I just sat through.


3. Don't repeat yourself. If you find yourself saying, "Again. . . ." just stop. You only have 20 minutes and you, at least, seem to think you have a lot to tell us. After all, this session of four 20-minute papers went 33 minutes over.