Proof that "Even a Nerd Can be Heard"

These are my thoughts after listening to all of the great speakers at the ShipCompliant DIRECT conference today.  There was not a single bad presenter in the group.  Whenever I attend a conference, I spend half my time listening to their ideas and the other half evaluating their speaking style.  

Here's what I learned from today's presenters (including the MC's and Moderators): 

• Wear whatever makes you comfortable. (Even  if it is a Camp Bacon t-shirt.)
  
• Speak conversationally. 
  
• Move freely. 
  
• Ask for audience feedback. Often. 
  
• Learn about your audience and your local area. Tie that to your talk. 
  
• Share your failings. Everyone has them. People will feel your pain. 
• Go easy on your successes. We already know you are great and probably rich and famous. After all, you are on the main stage. Make us feel great too. 
• Have energy in your voice and vary the intensity. 
• Even compliance can be interesting. Yes, you heard me. 
• Comedy, when done properly, really helps sell ideas. And what a great way to end the day @Willdurst. 
• You don't need slides to make an impact. But if you have them, make them big, bold, and easy to read. 
• When you have passion about whatever nerdy thing you do, people will be excited too. 

If wine industry compliance isn't a nerdy subject, I don't know what is. But these presenters managed to make this company and their product interesting.