Writing and Presenting

Home Office, Streaming, Writing and Presenting

In my recent post about how I use OBS for training classes & webcasts, I mentioned that to keep things lively, you wanna have a variety of scenes that you can switch between to keep the viewer engaged. Imagine a TV show or sporting event that only used one camera angle and screen layout for…

Brent Ozar presenting at SQL Saturday Israel 2019

Tips for Better Presentations

Last Updated June 3, 2019

Today’s post is for those of you who give presentations to user groups and conferences. Upload your resources before the session starts. When you say “I’ll upload the resources later,” the attendee hears you saying, “I’m winging this, I barely finished this deck 15 minutes ago, and I didn’t even have the time to upload…

This Year is Your Best Chance to Speak at the PASS Summit.

Last Updated May 22, 2017

Me presenting, photo by John Martin The call for speakers at the PASS Summit is open now. As of this writing, there are less than 120 sessions submitted. To put that in perspective, in 2016, there were 758 sessions submitted overall, and about ~175 general session spots. Your chances have never been better. Get in…

Wanna speak at the PASS Summit? Here’s how.

Last Updated April 16, 2017

The PASS Summit is the biggest SQL Server community event, and a lot of us speakers have “present at PASS” on their bucket list. Getting in is legendarily difficult because competition is fierce. Many sessions are submitted for each one that’s accepted, and you have to work hard to stand out from the pack. This year’s Call…

Preparation, Is It In You?

Last Updated May 26, 2016

Richie Rump

#SQLPass, SQL Server, Writing and Presenting

Backups aren’t just for databases. Are you ready for the BitLocker of Doom? Back in 2012, I started on a journey of sharing my technical knowledge by giving technical presentations. Now this might scare the living jeepers out of most people, but I found it exciting and fulfilling. Since then, I try to speak at…

We Are Ready For Risk-Taking Presenters

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Doug Lane

June 2, 2011. I woke up around 5:00 AM, got dressed, left my cruise ship cabin and went downstairs to find a place to write about the dream I’d just had: A database murdered. Suspects isolated together on a ship. Technical sleuthing. I knew immediately this was a presentation I needed to give. It would be a…

Teaching Tips: Help Your Audience Be Active Learners

Last Updated August 29, 2014

Kendra Little

Brent uses handouts to get his audience to optimize queries as part of his presentation We teach a lot of courses. In addition to our online training, free webcasts and sessions at major conferences, we also teach mult-day events. It’s incredibly valuable to keep your audience active. Even when you’re working in a lecture format,…

#SQLPASS Speakers: Here’s How to Improve Your Session

Last Updated February 12, 2017

This year there’s a couple of special challenges you need to keep in mind for projecting your beautiful knowledge out to the audience. Fixing the Contrast Levels PASS distributes a custom PowerPoint template – looks great this year – but the contrast level is extremely light. The template uses light blue and light gray text…

Alaska has a SQL Server User Group!

Last Updated February 13, 2014

Doug Lane

Alaska is on the PASS map! I’m really stoked to share the news: Alaska (my home state) finally has a PASS Chapter of its own! The group just got started last December, and officially welcomed into the PASS organization at the end of January. While they don’t have a Facebook or Twitter account yet, they…

51 Questions About Your Conference Session Submission

Last Updated November 25, 2021

Jeremiah and I presenting in Atlanta Whether you’re just getting started writing a presentation abstract, or whether you want to double-check it, or whether you want to understand why your abstract wasn’t picked, it’s always the right time to step back and ask some big picture questions about your conference submission. The blessing and the…

Write a Note and Shoot Yourself Today

Last Updated May 2, 2013

SQL Server, Writing and Presenting

When I’m writing a presentation or blog post, I often start here: 2004 Brent It’s a photo of me in my office in Dallas, Texas in 2004. When I look at that picture, I remember everything like it was yesterday. I can talk at length about everything on the bookshelf, on my desk, in my…

Choosing a Presentation Tool

Last Updated March 29, 2013

If your New Year’s resolution is to start presenting at user groups and conferences, congratulations! You’re about to embark on a fulfilling journey that will enrich the lives of thousands of people. It’s a blast. Now let’s put some thought into the tool you’re going to use. You’re going to be working on these same…

How We Write

Last Updated March 27, 2014

The four of us were talking about the writing tricks we use, and we thought you might enjoy hearing our styles. How Brent Writes I use RememberTheMilk.com to track my blog post ideas. I can use it from anywhere via a web browser, phone app, whatever. I can tell when I’m in the mood to…

Our PASS Summit 2012 Schedule

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Jes Schultz

Next week, the Brent Ozar Unlimited® crew will be attending PASS Summit in Seattle, WA. It’s a busy week, full of networking, learning, and teaching. Here are a few of our highlights. Want to add our sessions to your schedule, and view more information at your fingertips? PASS Summit has gone mobile with Guidebook! It’s…

Conference Speakers – Check Your Room Size

Last Updated April 21, 2013

#SQLPass, SQL Server, Writing and Presenting

When you’re speaking at a conference, try to get the room schedules long before the event day. Right now, the PASS Summit conference schedule is available, and each speaker’s room is listed. Then, check out the building’s floorplan – in this case, the Washington State Convention Center’s floorplans page. Check out the seating capacity for…

You Can Give A Technical Presentation (Video)

Last Updated October 5, 2012

Jes Schultz

Professional Development, Writing and Presenting

In your dream, you’re standing in front of a room full of dozens of people, presentation mouse in hand, about to present to them on (insert SQL Server feature here). You wake up in a cold sweat. You’re either terrified, or excited and terrified. Are you ready to start presenting? Join Jes as she shares…

Become a Presenter, Change Your Life

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Kendra Little

I began presenting on SQL Server two years ago. At the time I was a Senior Database Administrator. My workdays were spent getting ahead of the next big performance problem in an environment where software changes rolled into production like gangbusters. I was under a lot of pressure to be super-technical, stay on top of…

How to Pick a SQL Server Conference

Last Updated February 12, 2017

As a consultant and speaker, I’m lucky enough to go to a crazy number of SQL Server conferences. Here’s what I think of each mainstream conference out there – who they’re for, and who they’re not for. PASS Summit Length: 3 days Pre-Cons Available: Yes, many Videos Available Online: Yes, but only for paid attendees…

The Presenter’s Bill of Rights

Last Updated December 1, 2012