Presentations Roundtable 2008-05-17T21:41:44Z http://talk.presentationsroundtable.com/atom.aspx Quick Blog Busy busy busy... tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-05-09:db0c24d1-ed7a-4462-9e74-04d72785b6c4 Richard Bretschneider 2008-05-09T08:59:18Z 2008-05-09T08:35:00Z
Hi, we've been busy. You too?  Guess it's going around.

Someday I hope I can tell you about all the cool stuff I'm doing right now in my "day job."  But that day isn't today.  I can tell you it's been busy, and very exciting.

So, this is just a short message to let you know that:
  • The Roundtable is still active
  • We've still got big plans ahead, some exciting conversations to come
  • We appreciate your patience!
Also, if you've got any feedback so far, like do more of this, less of this, talk to these people, talk to me... please let us know! 

In the meantime, vacation time is upon us and we'll be away from the mic for about a bit longer, but we're anticipating a new episode not too long after we return.

 
 
  Almost done, just a second...


In the meantime, we got this in the mail recently.  It's made the rounds before, but is still very funny, and actually kind of helpful in getting you to think about your slide graphics.  Hope you enjoy it.

]]> Picture Perfect Presentations tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-04-13:add72c8e-854e-42fa-bf52-c97110eee8d9 Richard Bretschneider 2008-04-14T10:20:35Z 2008-04-13T14:20:00Z If you've read any recent book on improving your presentations, you're probably already thinking that you need to get more photographs into your slides. Photos can add to your presentation's message, connecting directly with your audience without having to wade through yet another slide of bullet points.

It's compelling, and yet for so many presentation authors, a scary proposition.  Make no mistake, just inserting photographs in your slides is not a sure-fire cure for your presentation blues. And whether you're creating or buying, eventually using photos as slide content is an art. 

However, it's not an art out of reach.

This episode we invite professional photographer and computer graphics expert Mark Jaremko to the mics for a roundtable conversation about the pitfalls of using photographs in presentations, and advice about how you can avoid them.  And as a bonus, we're joined by Howard Cooperstein, another talented graphics professional and good friend who you may recall from our first episode! 

 
Clockwise from left:
Ric Bretschneider and Howard Cooperstein at the mics, and Mark Jaremko enjoying our pre-podcast dinner.
 
Photo of Mark Jaremko by Ric Bretschneider.
(Which is why it's not as good as the other photos which are by Mark Jaremko.)

It's great to sit down at the mics with a couple of friends, and we had a terrific time putting together one of the best roundtable recordings yet. 
Hope you enjoy this episode.  -Ric

Listen Now (click below) or Subscribe!




Links mentioned:
 Mark Jaremko Photographic
    http://www.markjaremkophoto.com
 MSN Mobile
    http://mobile.msn.com
 Photoshop Disasters 
   http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com
 Presentation Zen
   http://www.presentationzen.com
 iStock Photo
   http://istockphoto.com
 Photo Spin
  http://www.photospin.com/
 Vanity Fair
   http://www.vanityfair.com/


And for those who've been paying attention, the outtakes for this episode start at 56:30. 
]]> Picture Perfect tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-04-06:aa7d3544-778f-4d60-9b90-cc9a0f487130 Richard Bretschneider 2008-04-06T13:49:58Z 2008-04-06T12:56:00Z Photographs lend much to any presentation. Watch the room relax as the presenter moves from their fifth bulleted list in a row to a full screen photographic metaphor. Most any presentation expert will comment on how people learn and respond more positively to illustrations, especially photographs.

Great, so you're convinced.  You've decided to jump into using photographs as a substantial part of your presentation content.  So how do you avoid creating a presentation reminiscent of the neighbor who tortured your parents with those carousel rings full of vacation slides from Indiana? (No offense intended to our Hoosier friends.)

Well, next episode we invite professional photographer and computer graphics expert Mark Jaremko to the mics for a roundtable conversation about the pitfalls of using photographs in presentations, and advice about how you can avoid them.  We'll be joined by... well, that's a surprise.  This episode features the return engagement by a Presentations Roundtable favorite contributor. 

Join us in a few days for this Picture Perfect Podcast.



Mark Jaremko shooting off Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay
Photograph by Ric Bretschneider
]]> World Wide Makeover... or Why You, Too, Should Kiss Your Frog! tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-03-23:24c06e51-653c-4b06-ba84-2eb2d82697f3 Richard Bretschneider 2008-03-23T17:51:05Z 2008-03-23T16:50:00Z This episode is the promised published version of the "live show" we did earlier this month with Geetesh Bajaj and Echo Swinford, authors of The Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit.

Yes, that makes two shows in a row about new books, and I really don't intend for the podcast to focus on book reviews.  I think we'll be looking at a change of pace for the next episode.

More on that in a few days...


  

Listen Now (click below) or Subscribe!



Links from this episode:
Indezine
Echo's Voice
Que Publishing
Julie Terberg, Terberg Design
Slideshare
Ethos3
PhotoSpin
Safari Books Online
  

]]> Call in Tonight - Live Presentations Roundtable Broadcast tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-03-09:bd00ce60-4e4d-403b-bdf7-f450f4f00edd Richard Bretschneider 2008-03-09T16:13:37Z 2008-03-09T15:40:00Z
 Tonight, Monday March 10th, is the big experiment. 

We'll be hosting an interview with Echo Swinford and Geetesh Bajaj about their book Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit over the Talk Shoe network.

Talk Shoe is a free conferencing system, and we invite you to call in and contribute with your comments and questions. Besides being accomplished authors, Geetesh and Echo are presentation specialists, Microsoft MVPs who specialize in solving user problems.

So join us.  The Talk Shoe address for the show is http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/14426

You can download the Talk Shoe client software and join via your computer, or simply call in from your land-line or cell phone.  See the links above for more information.

This is a real late-night talk show, starting at 8:30PM Pacific, 11:30 Eastern, and 9AM in Mumbai (that's Tuesday March 11th in India!)  Why are we pointing out the time in India?  More on that during the show!

Hope to see you there.
]]> Who Writes "Advanced" Books? tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-03-08:81397ed2-94fc-4d46-b644-8a2c85f38d25 Richard Bretschneider 2008-03-08T23:04:20Z 2008-03-08T16:27:00Z
In our first podcast, Design and Dead Trees, we hosted a lively discussion that included viewpoints on the role of print books in the world of electronic document creation.

Well, in the next two episodes we will examine two unique new books that hope to help you be better presentation creators in two very different ways.

Today we sit down with Wayne Kao and Jeff Huang, authors of the new Que books publication Advanced Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 join us at the roundtable to discuss the origins of their book, and why they're uniquely qualified to write an Advanced book on presenting with PowerPoint. 

Photo: Wayne Kao (left) and Jeff Huang (right)

 


Listen Now (click below) or Subscribe!


 Links from this episode:
Que Books
Wayne Kao's PowerPoint Blog
Mr. Excel
Kathy Jacobs
Microsoft PowerPoint 2007


]]> What Makes You Advanced? tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-03-02:077a0c2a-4cfe-4f41-8d14-3ac3f11128f2 Richard Bretschneider 2008-03-04T13:53:35Z 2008-03-02T20:09:00Z   What makes an advanced user?  We think it mostly has to do with confidence and training, a thoughtful approach to the subject. 

What makes an "advanced" book?  Hopefully much of the same.

This week we'll be posting our conversation with Wayne Kao and Jeff Huang, authors of the new book Advanced PowerPoint 2007.  We had hoped to post tonight, but unfortunately that's been delayed by a day or so.

But Jeff and Wayne are worth waiting for.  They're uniquely qualified among PowerPoint book authors to write an "advanced" book, and you'll learn why in this entertaining conversation.

Also, watch this week for details on our first LIVE call-in show.  It's truly a global event, and we're looking forward to hearing you participate!  Sorry to tease, but we're still finalizing details - we'll get them out to you as soon as we know!

And finally, why am I using the "Royal We" style all of a sudden? 

-Ric

]]> And the winner is... tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-02-24:0d7f9005-69b2-43b1-b38b-c920e17b6c28 Richard Bretschneider 2008-03-04T14:43:26Z 2008-02-24T11:02:00Z Title seemed somewhat fitting on Oscar night.

Thanks for all the entries in the contest.  The winner by drawing is Dan Mandle! 

Dan I'll contacting you for your address so I can send you your copy of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds.

And keep watching as I love running contests. I'm sure there will be another one along soon, for another fabulous and useful prize.

-Ric

]]> Reminder... Presentation Zen Contest Deadline this Saturday! tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-02-21:da29321d-147e-4a4b-8ddb-9772289e7383 Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-21T18:02:47Z 2008-02-21T17:10:00Z        Just a quick reminder that the contest for a free copy of Garr Reynolds' book Presentation Zen ends on Saturday. 

To put a fine point on it, we'll call the deadline Midnight, Pacific Standard time.  I'll announce the winner in a post next week.

Remember, to enter all you have to do is add a comment to an existing blog entry: click the title of the entry, then scroll down to the comments section.   

Good luck!]]> Three Keynotes: PowerPoint Live 2007 tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-02-17:31c9c577-05e9-487c-8b2b-d5e2806ba1ec Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-17T19:51:40Z 2008-02-17T15:22:00Z Who are those people who speak first at confernces?  Those keynote speakers?  And why do they go first?

Could it be they know what they're doing when it comes to crafting a message and talking to an audience?

Jim Endicott, Nancy Duarte, Julie Terberg and host Ric Bretschneider discuss the process and construction of superior presentations in the last of a series of podcasts recorded at PowerPoint Live in October 2007. You may have missed this fifth conference on presenting and presentation design, but you can at least listen in on the keynote speakers and learn a little bit about what sets their presentations apart from the norm.


Pictured above (inserts, from left): Nancy Duarte, Jim Endicott, and Julie Terberg.

This is the third of three podcasts recorded in October 2007 at PowerPoint Live.  The first is here. The second is here.

Listen Now (click below) or Subscribe!



Links from this episode:
Jim Endicot, Distinction Services
Nancy Duarte, Duarte Design
Julie Terberg, Terberg Design
PowerPoint Live
]]> Soon... New Orleans Part Three... tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-02-14:45917e40-e08a-4c7b-b08e-714d81e88a3e Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-14T21:26:23Z 2008-02-14T21:03:00Z Yes, it's been delayed long enough. The final segment of the New Orleans trilogy will be posted shortly.  Just have to paste things together and post.  I'm currently lining up a new series of speakers that I'm particularly excited about... but more about that later.  Right now, a little peek into the final segment...


From left to right: Nancy Duarte, Julie Terberg, Ric Bretschneider and Jim Endicott.
]]> Creating the Hurricane: PowerPoint Live 2007 tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-01-25:8c1653f9-b21f-42f1-b154-ae12537afc27 Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-11T23:01:53Z 2008-01-25T23:50:00Z Why would you go to a presentation conference?

More importantly, who thinks about putting on a conference about presentations?

Rick Altman, Shela McGurin, and Steve Rindsberg join us at the Roundtable in New Orleans to discuss what the PowerPoint Live conference has become over five years of successful shows. What goes on at a PowerPoint conference, and why is everyone there smiling? Who goes, who presents, and why you might want to look them up in 2008!

   
Panelists Rick Altman, Shelia McGurin, Steve Rindsberg and Ric Bretschneider - Photos by Rikk Flohr.


This is the second of three podcasts recorded in October 2007 at PowerPoint Live.  The first is here.

Listen Now (click below) or Subscribe!



Links from this episode:

]]> Minor Snag, Growing Pains tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-01-25:4d2867db-100f-4cfd-94d4-ef71664fb56c Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-11T23:01:36Z 2008-01-25T23:20:00Z
And a second set of apologies to anyone trying to access the podcast from January 18th, Presentation Party Invitation: PowerPoint Live 2007.  An unfortunate ramification of the first error caused this podcast to be temporarily unavailable.  It too will be back up shortly.

Thank you for your patience,
-Ric


]]> A Presentation Party Invitation: PowerPoint Live 2007 tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-01-25:ee80f78b-5852-4c0c-84e2-13b8722b0431 Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-11T23:01:15Z 2008-01-25T23:05:00Z When does a party turn into a conference?

How does a conference retain that party feel, but still provide terrific value?

After five successful yearly gatherings, some of the PowerPoint MVPs responsible for the idea behind the PowerPoint Live gather to recall it's origins and reflect on why it gets rave reviews from attendees.  With panelists Echo Swinford, Glen Miller, Steve Rindsberg and host Ric Bretschneider, this is the first of three recordings from October of 2007.

Echo Swinford Glen Millar Steve Rinsberg Ric Bretschneider
Panelists Echo Swinford, Glen Miller, Steve Rindsberg and Ric Bretschneider - Photos by Rikk Flohr.


This is the first of three podcasts recorded in October 2007 at PowerPoint Live. 

Listen Now (click below) or Subscribe!



Links mentioned in this show:
    
]]> Hard to Talk About Yourself... tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-01-23:16206677-3fd7-41a7-9f43-7f6c3f4abf84 Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-11T23:01:01Z 2008-01-23T07:51:00Z
Indezine is an online magazine and store for the works of Geetesh Bajaj, one of the most sincere and caring individuals I've had the pleasure to come across in this business.  He's tremendously productive, producing both presentation aids and articles in high quality and volume. 

This week Geetesh asked me to participate in an interview.  Talking about myself is hard, it's not the point of this site, it's not the point of most of my work. If you've looked at the unfinished domain landing page, you can tell that - I'm much more interested in putting out the blog and podcast than filling you in on my background.  I'll get around to it, it's just not a priority.

But if you're interested then I guess Geetesh has done us both a favor.  You can read the interview here.

In the meantime, I'll be publishing part two of the NOLA trilogy in the next couple of days.  If you haven't subscribed to the podcast or general blog, please do!

-Ric
]]> Another Garr Reynolds Podcast... tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-01-14:aac8f698-cf5e-45a8-890c-f0f3fe29e210 Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-11T23:00:40Z 2008-01-14T08:39:00Z
PeachPit press publisher Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel, publisher of Peachpit and their New Riders series of books recorded a phone conversation with Garr which is now available at their site. 

You can find more information and links at Garr's post: PZ-related podcasts.
]]> The New Orleans Presentations Trilogy tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-01-13:ada88810-09bf-451e-96a8-4ce358137a40 Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-11T23:00:26Z 2008-01-13T17:12:00Z
OK, I'm close to publishing the first of three podcasts recorded during PowerPoint Live 2007. 

Why is that interesting?  Well, we had a ton of talented presentation professionals all under one roof.  I hauled the "portable podcast studio" to New Orleans and talked folks into sitting down at the mics.  The result are a trio of podcasts that cover how the conference got started, what it accomplishes, and then focuses on some of the star speakers from this past year's event.

If you've never heard of PowerPoint Live, I invite you to visit the web site: PowerPoint Live  If you're planning your training and conventions budget for this year, this is one you'll want to consider attending.
 
Want more proof? Stay tuned!




Listen to Episode One: Presentation Party Invitation: PowerPoint Live 2007





]]> Presentations Roundtable - Episode 1: Design and Dead Trees tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-01-01:3548d049-e113-4e41-aafa-c8cc6a97818f Richard Bretschneider 2008-03-30T09:16:06Z 2008-01-01T18:26:00Z Presentation Zen's Garr Reynolds, Nancy Duarte of Duarte Design, Howard Cooperstein of Microsoft, and your host Ric Bretschneider.  You are invited to listen in as we discuss the role of books in learning good design, preview both Garr and Nancy's efforts in this area, and drop some easy to follow hints on creating excellence in your own presentations.

Listen now!


Mentioned in this episode:
Presentation Zen - The Blog
Presentation Zen - The Book
Duarte Design
Elements of Design: Rowena Reed Kostellow and the Structure of Visual Relationships by Gail G. Hannah
Thinking with Type: A Critical Guide for Designers, Writers, Editors, & Students by Ellen Lupton
]]> Preview of First Podcast on Presentation Zen tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2008-01-01:ccbc61b6-dd9f-4b51-93f0-029c29828d75 Richard Bretschneider 2008-03-30T09:16:44Z 2008-01-01T17:20:00Z Presentations Roundtable.  This takes a little more effort than the subsequent episodes will, as there are some musical interstitials to be composed, introductions to be recorded, templates to modify etc.  

I'm also working with a new set of hosting software instead of manually editing the RSS feed as I've done for other podcasts. We'll see about that, but for now I want to work on content instead of putting my hands into the guts of the feed every time I release.  (Ouch, nice imagery.)

Anyway, I should have Episode 1: Design and Dead Trees up shortly.

In the meantime I'm adding a link to a post Garr Reynolds' blog Presentation Zen, where he wrote a bit about the night we recorded the podcast.  We're mentioned about half-way through the article.


Clockwise from left: Garr Reynolds, Nancy Duarte, Ric Bretschneider, and Howard Cooperstein
]]> Some signs of life... tag:talk.presentationsroundtable.com,2007-12-30:2cf9c9b4-28ab-4e49-b99b-657fe17c2df6 Richard Bretschneider 2008-02-11T22:59:21Z 2007-12-30T16:39:00Z
-Ric]]>