Seasteading Conference Speaking Gig

This was my first time giving any sort of presentation in front of a crowd – at least since grade school. So, I was facing a fear of mine here.

I have been on national radio and TV a few times, but that is really just talking to two or at most three people;  one asking questions, one doing sound, and one holding a camera. There is something viscerally different about having an audience large enough that they could lynch you…

Anyway, I discovered the secret reciepe for public speaking – two shots of tequilla and a pear cider.

Judge for yourself how I did:

Sean Hastings – The Seasteading Institute Conference 2009 from The Seasteading Institute on Vimeo.

Categories: Seasteading
2 December 2009 at 02:17 - Comments
Sean Hastings
I noticed that my eyes were sometimes closed – also my hands moved around too much. Whomever cut this together did a good job editing the sound – playing with the volume from the room mic and the mic I was holding – to compensate somewhat for me not having the microphone in front of my face when I was busy talking with my hands.

Lessons learned for if I ever have to do this again:

1.) Eyes open.

2.) Don’t move hands – except for non mic hand – and then only for deliberate spokesmodeling style reference to something on the screen.

3.) Try it with one less drink so I might eventually ramp myself down to the point where I can do this sort of thing sober. (maybe there is a quitters alcohol patch system for this…)
28 December 09 at 02:26
devon
I thought you did a fine job, actually. I’ve been taking classes in speech/rhetoric, and you didn’t do any of the Horrible Things that we learned about. Everybody has “throat-clearing” moments from time to time in a speech, whether verbal or hand-motions. It’s cool. You kept the attention of the crowd by being a good speaker, so you won!
29 December 09 at 22:08