Have you ever had that dream where you are standing on a stage feeling very unprepared (or naked) with an expectant audience in front of you? Well, at Business of Software we can make your dreams come true ! Unless your dreams involve nakedness – you’re on your own there.
Lightning Talks are always one of the highlights of BoS Conference and they are open for public application now.
If you want an opportunity to talk at BoS about a topic that interests you, make us an application. Lightning Talks follow a simple format – every speaker gets 15 slides and 30 seconds per slide to talk about a subject of their choice. The slides advance automatically. Warning, they are a challenge! But one worth taking: Lightning Talkers have a special place in the hearts of the BoS audience, not to mention a free pass to BoS, and many people have made the jump to more speaking gigs at BoS and other events.
In short, Lighting Talk Competition entrants receive a free pass to the Business of Software Conference where they will speak, the chance to share an idea they care about with a live audience of 400 (as well as the 3,000 or so viewers of the Business of Software livestream), and the respect of their peers. Don’t underestimate the last one.
If you would like to submit a Lightning Talk, here is what to do before Midnight PST, Saturday July 19th:
Send an email to Hermione and enclose:
- Your name
- The title and description of the talk you propose
- A link to a video of you speaking – ideally about what you want to do a Lightning Talk about.
We will review all of the submissions, and pick what we feel will be the most appropriate ones, to talk live at BoS 2014.
Remember to submit by July 19th.
(Please note submissions from third parties including marketing departments, speaking agents etc will be ignored – we don’t have the time – please see below).We only want submissions from people that care enough to do their own stuff. This is a chance to stand up in front of a bunch of people and share an idea you love.
To get your creative juices flowing, here are some previous winners:
- Business of Software 2013
- Des Traynor, Product development is about saying, ‘No’.
- Dom Read, ‘The second most disturbing thing I have ever had in my hand and other stories.
- All of the Business of Software Lightning Talks from 2012.
- Business of Software 2011. Justin Goeres, ‘Getting to Nowhere‘ (You can also see all last year’s talks here too).
- Business of Software 2010. Patrick McKenzie, ‘Hello Ladies’
- Business of Software 2009. Mark Stephens, ‘Are you a large lizard or small and furry?’
- Business of Software 2008. Alex Ohanian, ‘Keeping it Real’
Even if you don’t submit an idea, why not think about what you would talk about in 7.5 minutes? Strange as this might sound, lots of our attendees do, even if they have no interest in standing on stage. Thinking about the essence of what you are passionate about can be a very good way of helping you work out what is important to you.
Remember to submit your application to Hermione by 19th July:
- Your name
- The title and description of the talk you propose
- A link to a video of you speaking – ideally about what you want to do a Lightning Talk about.
Good luck!