GULP... I have to present a seminar on Thursday. TIPS, PLEASE!!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

My job normally is a deskbound one, but this Thursday night I have to present a small, short seminar. It's quite an informal setting (upstairs in a restaurant), but the guests will have paid to attend and so I don't want to disappoint them.

I'm crapping myself.

I'm trying to write my speeches (I have to give two, each 25 minutes long) but I don't really know how to write a "speech". I've only written features and books! I'm finding what looks/sounds good written down actually sounds shit when said out loud!

Plus, I want it to be informal - lots of Q&A - but does that slow things down to the point I'll have to hurry people along so I can make my next point..?

I'm so inexperienced with this, I don't even know what questions to ask you all. So if you've ever had to do this and can impart ANY ADVICE AT ALL, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Good luck - you've done so much preparation you will be fab!

Great advice here folks - we're just going to move this to another topic so all these handy tips don't get lost.

Good luck WhatsGoingOnEh!

Thanks! I'd hate all this advice to be lost.

So....

How did it go?!

Oh you're lovely!

I... Don't know?! I prepared my arse off, got there early, met and talked to all the guests as they arrived. Gave two speeches, made everyone laugh a lot and they all took notes.

But the woman who organised the event gave me no feedback at ALL. (You know how people you work for usually say, "thanks, that was great"? She said NOTHING.) she said she'd ring me today and didn't. I sent her a brief email at lunchtime thanking her for all her help, saying how much I'd enjoyed it and how well organised it'd been. And asking for feedback as it was the first one I'd done. And NOTHING, no reply at all.

She might just be really busy today with other stuff but I feel like I just had a first date and now I'm waiting for a call! You know how you start going back over the evening and wondering, "was that wrong?" Or "did I mess that bit up..?"

I had a great time, though. Several women came up to thank me afterwards. I just wish I had some official seal of approval.

I really enjoyed it. I loved interacting with the audience. I got them all to ask questions (which slowed things down a bit, actually; time just vanished and I was having to race through stuff at the end).

It was about dating and finding men. (I write about that as my day job.) They were all single. I caught a woman on the front row in the middle of a HUGE yawn at one point and I said, "Really? Yawning? Do you do that on dates? That's the kind of rude behaviour that's brought you here!" and she was in stitches. It was all really fun and friendly.

I had research and stats for every question they threw at me. I hope it helped them! I just wish I had proper confirmation that it went well.

Sounds like it went really well - well done!

Sounds like it went really well - well done!

Ooops....

Ha ha! Thank you. :-)

Has anyone mentioned having a bottle of water close to hand.

It's amazing how dry your mouth can get, especially if you are nervous.

Oops! A bit late now I see.

Glad it went well for you. I bet you got a real high out of it at the end knowing you had them in the palm of your hand.

Well done!

Thank you!!!!

I was told on a presentation course that you should

1. Tell them what you're going to tell them
2. Tell them
3. Tell them what you told them