Speaker FAQ

We are thrilled to have you as a speaker for an FITC event!
We’ve put together some info to help make your experience the best it can be.

General Notes

What is the room and A/V like?

• Presentations are theatre style seating.


FITC Toronto
(Web Unleashed is the same)
FITC Amsterdam 
(Room – GROTE ZAAL)
FITC Amsterdam
(Room – IJ ZAAL)
FITC Amsterdam
(Room – TV/STUDIO)

FITC Toronto
(The B-Side)
Web Unleashed
(The B-Side)
FITC Amsterdam
(The B-Side)

• Projector, screen, podium for your laptop
• Speakers and audio out for your laptop
• Wireless Lav Mic, and usually a podium mic as well

How long is the talk, and should I do Q&A?

Unless otherwise specified talks are 45 min, and most speakers do not do Q&A. We find that the questions asked are generally too specific to be of value to the entire audience, so we recommend you ask people to come find you after your talk or to tweet/email you questions. If you do take questions, please be sure to repeat the question back into the mic so that the audience can hear it, and that it’s captured if you are being taped.

Tickets – Can I get some for my team/friends?
As a speaker, you of course get a full access ticket.  We also offer discounts that you can share with friends and/or your team for additional tickets. Ask your coordinator for details.

The Top Presentation Tips

  • Ummmm
    If you find yourself saying ‘um’, try using a pause. It will help you gather your thoughts, but also allow the audience to digest what you just said. Treat periods as pauses, it helps.
  • Backup
    Have a back-up copy of your presentation on a USB key in case something tragic happens to your laptop.
  • Power and other adaptors
    Don’t forget your A/C adapter, batteries tend to die at the worst of times.     We will have video adapters to connect your laptop to the HDMI cable, but it can’t hurt to bring one if you have.
  • Internet
    We do provide Wifi but for the best results, assume you won’t have an internet connection: conference facilities are not reliable. Record screen videos of web content whenever possible. If you do need internet for something, be prepared to move on or come back to that content if things fail.     If you have websites to show, pre-load them in browser tabs.
  • Practice, practice, practice
    Practice your presentation and time yourself, adapt your presentation accordingly and know your style: some people talk double time in front of an audience.
  • Intro’s
    Keep intros about yourself brief or even for the end of the presentation, get right into the content. Grab the audience’s attention right away, captivate them and they’ll focus on you for the whole talk.
  • Try not to read the text on your slides out-loud. Common mistake.
  • Don’t turn your head and present to the screen, you should be facing the audience!

Further Tips

  • Read some tips or books on presenting, there are dozens of resources on making better slides and giving better presentations, take to heart at least one or two of these tips and you’ll already be miles ahead of others. 
  • Film yourself giving your presentation and then critique yourself.  It is the quickest way to see if you’re over using any words “um, like, ugghh” and if you’re physically doing something you’ve never noticed. 
  • Or read Scott Berkun’s “Confessions of a Public Speaker”.
  • Watch some TED videos to get an idea of what a great presentation is all about, find someone who’s style you like and try and emulate it.