Earlier this year, one of our Refresh Detroit meetup members chatted with me after a meetup.
Deborah, I’ve been wanting to present a talk at Refresh Detroit for a few months now. But this would be my first talk. I’m a little nervous.
Plus I’m not sure people will be that interested in what I have to say. I don’t think I have enough to talk about for 30 minutes.
Any chance I might be able to speak?
Sure! That’s what lightning talks are all about!
I replied.
And why we’ve planned our June Refresh Detroit meetup on June 14, 2016 to be a series of lightning talks.
What are Lightning Talks?
Lightning talks are short presentations, anywhere from five to 10 minutes long, that focus on a specific topic.
The speaker might talk about:
- How they overcame a challenge
- A new productivity tool that makes their work easier
- Social conversation about a recent event
Or, it could be any topic the speaker is passionate about.
Since the talks are so short, the speaker needs to get to the point quickly.
Forget about long introductions, or multiple slides describing your background and experience.
Lightning talks are not formal presentations, with tons of preparation time.
The idea is to keep it simple, focus on your main point or action you want the audience to take.
Why I Like Lightning Talks
What makes lightning talks so interesting to me are:
- Chance to hear about new ideas
- Opportunity for speakers to present for the first time
- Sharing knowledge and information learned from our experiences
- Creating a community of people wanting to learn from each other
It’s one of the reasons I’ve attended all Ignite UX Michigan events, and why I’ve done social media for their events for the past couple years.
Refresh Detroit Lighting Talks
Interested in giving a web-focused lightning talk in a casual, friendly environment? Register for our June 2016 Refresh Detroit meetup on Wednesday, .
Comment in the meetup event description what your topic will be, along with a short description of your talk. Speakers attend for free.
Not ready to give your first lightning talk presentation? You can still join us (cost is $5.00) for an evening of fun, useful, and enlightening talks about the web.
We’re meeting on the third floor of Grand Circus in downtown Detroit (map and directions).
I’m thrilled that Randy Walker, one of our Refresh Detroit members, will be hosting the event. Should be a great evening of talks!
Hope to see you June 15th!
