SpeedGeek Facilitator Instructions

Overview

At a SpeedGeek session, 7-8 participants (presenters) each set up at separate tables around the edge of the main room to give 4 minute presentation about a project or topic they care about and want to share or advertise. The 4-minute presentation will be repeat 7-8 times to a different small group in the space of 45 minutes.

The rest of the participants break into small groups and migrate in a circle around the room to hear each of these high-speed talks.

What do SpeedGeek Presenters need to do?

The main event facilitator give each SpeekGeek Presenter the Speedgeeking Presenter Instructions

Overall SpeedGeeking Facilitation Process

One person needs to serve as Main SpeedGeeking Facilitator (aka "Manager of Mayhem"), tracking the time periods and blowing a whistle or ringing a bell to rotate listeners to the next station. The facilitator takes the following steps:

Before the event

• Make sure each SpeedGeeking presenter reads and understands the Speedgeeking Presenter Instructions.

Before the SpeedGeeking session

• Know how many demos ("N") will run in parallel.

• Get the N small tables set up around the room.
  • Set it up so that those viewing the demos can move in something resembling a circular path as they go from station to station
  • Ideally each table will be next to a power outlet or power strip
  • Each table should have water for the presenter

• Number the SpeekGeek tables from 1 to N, for use in assigning groups later
  • It is recommended that numbering be done clockwise, so as to make it easy to find a specific table number

• Place the SpeedGeek presenters at the tables.
  • Each presenter should get set up, as described in the instructions.
  • Remind presenters not to count on internet access during the session
  • Remind presenters when you say "rotate", they need to help you move folks along.

• Verify that all SpeedGeekers are ready to go before starting the session.

At the start of the session

• Explain the process:
  • The goal is for participants to encounter N great projects in a small amount of time
  • Thank everyone for the cooperation in the chaotic setting
  • Explain that:
    • There are N tables around the room, each ready to present. Do not introduce the projects.
    • Participants will have 4 minutes at each table
    • At the end of 4 minutes, you will make a noise and will yell "ROTATE" and everyone must move clockwise *immediately* to the next table, stopping conversations in mid-sentence
    • Apologize in advance, and thank people for letting you interrupt their conversations. Point out that there will be a break afterward so they can go back and speak further with their favorite project.

• Divide the non-presenters up into small groups by "counting off" 1..N, 1..N until everyone has a number
  • For 56 people to see 7 SpeedGeek presentations, you would create 7 groups of 8 people.
  • For setting up 7 groups to go to the 7 tables, have participants count off in cycles 1..7, 1..7.
  • Everyone who is "number 1" is in "group 1", all the number 2's are in "group 2", and so on

• Assign each small group to a starting table:
  • Send group #1 to table #1
  • Send group #2 to table #2, etc.
  • This has nice randomizing effect on groups as well

• Blow the whistle / ring the bell to start the demo

• Track time.
  • Use a stopwatch from a smart phone or other device.
  • Let the first round go 1 minute extra (5 total) as people get the hang of the process.
  • Shout out a "1 minute warning" after 4 minutes, and then count down the final 10 seconds loudly, as if you were narrating a rocket launch.
  • When the time is up, blow the whistle / ring the bell and actively force participants to move to the next station. Interrupt conversations, move folks along, get the next set of demos started
  • Repeat until each small group has viewed each demo station

At the end of the session

• Shout "IT'S OVER!" very loudly and ask everyone to thank all the presenters with applause
• Tell everyone they are taking a 15 minute break
• Encourage them to go back and talk to their favorite presenters