Presenting at a Meetup or Conference page

Why you should speak

Speaking at conferences is a great way to:

1. Build your network
2. Develop communication skills
3. Become an expert
4. Help Bitovi’s open source efforts
5. Make contacts for new client projects (QSLs and sales incentive bonus!)

Policies

We strongly encourage people to speak. Bitovi can assist with things like:

• Time off to develop content and present
• Design resources to style content
• Bitovi swag to take and hand out
• Travel and accommodation expenses*

How much Bitovi will assist you is determined on a case-by-case basis and depends on things like:

• The cost of travel and accommodation*
• The prestige and attendance of the conference
• The topic (the more it helps Bitovi directly the better)
• How much time off is required to prepare and attend

∗ most good conferences cover travel expenses

Developers

You’re automatically approved for talks where the event covers speaker costs and you are talking about Bitovi’s open source or delivery efforts. Bitovi will also provide at least one paid day to develop content as well as paid days for the conference and travel time.

For events that don’t cover speaker costs:

• Full Day Training Events
  • In the US: Full Reimbursement
  • Outside the US: 1/2 reimbursement
• Meetup or Conference Talk
  • In the US: 1/2 reimbursement
  • Outside the US: 1/4 reimbursement

Designers

Conferences, topics, and situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please ask. We want to help you get out there.

Bitcentive

Topics that benefit our OS tools will be pointed and added to Bitcentive.

Choosing a topic

The presentations list is our exhaustive index of materials for conference and meetup talks. It includes both talks that are already prepared as well as presentation ideas that we’d like to flesh out. These are the easiest presentations to give.

You’re not limited to the topics we’ve already started working on. If you have a new idea, brainstorm it with Justin and we’ll work with you to develop a good description and presentation.

Finding Conferences and Meetups

Conferences

• Search Lanyrd
• Bitovi’s #interest-conf-props room
• Bitovi’s list

Meetups

• Meetup.com’s local search

Getting Accepted

Meetups

1. Join the meetup group.
2. Send a Meetup Talk Request email to the organizers using the "Contact the Organizer" button on the meetup’s page.
3. Figure out a date that works.
4. Ask them for their personal email so you can send them an Abstract and Bio. In the email, ask them to let you know when it’s posted so you can promote it too. Make sure you change the name and links to your information.
5. Once your meetup is posted, let the Developer Evangelist know about it. You should discuss:
   • The date, time and topic of the meetup.
   • If you need any swag.
6. If you are giving swag, add this to the meetup comments. Example

The Open Source Evangelist should:

1. Add the event in the DoneJS Calendar.
2. Promote on social media.
3. Have Kathrine or Paula order or ship the necessary swag.

Writing a presentation

1. Identify what you want to say:
   • What is the key take away?
   • How will your presentation make them feel that way?
   • Get a review.
2. Create an outline
   • Don’t start with slides.
   • Write a blog post.
   • Add a story.
   • Record a conversation with yourself.
   • Explain your subject to someone who knows nothing about it.
   • Get a review.
3. Finalize
   • Get it designed.
   • No black background.
   • Practice practice practice!

Promoting your presentation

Two weeks before the meetup

• Make sure you have been sent the swag you need for the meetup.
• If you are giving swag, and haven’t already, add this to the meetup comments. Example

Day before the meetup

Open Source Evangelist should:

• Make sure to promote the event on our social media platforms: twitter, facebook, gitter and forums.

Day of the meetup

• Practice your talk.
• Make sure your presentation introduces yourself
• Make sure your presentation has a Continued Engagement final slide.
• Pack swag, laptop.
• Bring business cards.
• Hand out swag at the start of the meetup. (Gets people more excited).

Presenting

• Thank the host.
• Breath through your stomach, not your chest
• Make eye contact
• Speak in a clear voice
• At the end, make sure to let people know how to keep the conversation going and what sorts of conversations you’d like to have.

After Presenting

• In the meetup comments, thank everyone, post links to your talk and links on where they get more information. Example
• Look for social media on your talk. Save those.
• Make a video (get that valuable content out)
• Write a blog post (get that valuable content out)

Examples

Abstract

An abstract for a talk is used to get people excited. It will usually include a:

• title
• description
• bio

Example description (for High performance apps with DoneJS): https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8wssyNpvaFEODNwbk05TXVMLTQ/view

Bio

Bio: Jen Macky (@jenmakcy) is senior consultant for Bitovi, a JavaScript consulting company known for making apps for Walmart and other high profile companies she can’t talk about. If you’d like to keep learning from Jen, check out Bitovi’s JavaScript Training page for more details.

Meetup Talk Request

A meetup talk request is a short note to the organizers letting them know you are interested in speaking and a brief idea about the topic.

See the examples below.

CanJS example

Hello {{ORGANIZER NAME}},

I am part of the team that builds and maintains CanJS[1]. It’s a collection of libraries that make it easy to build real-time web applications. Would you be interested in a talk where I walk people through one of its getting started guides[2] and build an example chat application? If so, I’d love to give one.

Thanks, {{YOUR NAME}}

[1] https://canjs.com/ [2] https://canjs.com/doc/guides/chat.html

DoneJS example

Hello {{ORGANIZER NAME}},

I am part of the team that builds and maintains DoneJS[1]. It’s a framework that makes it easy to build real-time web, mobile, and desktop applications. Would you be interested in a talk where I walk people through its quick start guide[2] and build an example chat application? If so, I’d love to give one.

Thanks, {{YOUR NAME}}

[1] https://donejs.com/ [2] https://donejs.com/Guide.html

Contact co-organizer

If the main organizer doesn’t respond, you might want to contact one of the co-organizers.

Hello {{ORGANIZER NAME}},

I am part of the team that builds and maintains DoneJS[1]. It’s a framework that makes it easy to build real-time web, mobile, and desktop applications.

I tried to contact your co-organizer through the group page but hadn’t heard a response, so I thought I’d shoot you a message. If you’re interested in a talk where I walk people through the DoneJS quick start guide[2] and build an example chat application, I’d love to give one.

Thanks for your consideration, {{YOUR NAME}}

[1] https://donejs.com/ [2] https://donejs.com/Guide.html

Follow up (nothing upcoming in the group’s calendar)

When you haven’t heard back from an organizer and you want to send them another message:

Hello,

It looks like you don’t have anything upcoming on the calendar right now. Would you be interested in setting something up soon?

Best, {{YOUR NAME}}

Follow up (group looks inactive)

When you haven’t heard back from an organizer and you want to send them another message:

Hello,

I know your group hasn’t met in a while but I was wondering if you’d be up for an event sometime soon. Let me know if you’re interested and we’ll set something up!

Best, {{YOUR NAME}}