I've had a few people volunteer to do talks at Interesting. Which is good! They're all interesting ideas and they're all lovely people. Very lovely.
But all the people are from a very similar demographic. You can imagine.
I'm working hard to 'reach out' to a broader range of people but I'd like some help please.
I think that one of the good things about Interesting is that the audience, you lot, are incredibly supportive and welcoming. That's a good start.
Also the talks are short. Could be just 5 minutes. You don't need to worry about a beginning, a middle and an end. You just start and then it's over.
And, we're not looking for anything 'thought leading' or 'disruptive', Interesting works because it's people talking about stuff they're actually interested in. The best talks, the ones that have stuck with me, have been about horses, hoovers, teaching, sunsets and toilets. Equally it doesn't have to just be everyday stuff. I'd love to have talks about death or illness. It's the range of talks that makes for a good evening. And it's the fact that speaker is interested that makes for a good talk.
So, it seems to me, that Interesting would be a good place to practise presenting. Maybe not for your first time *ever*, but for your first time in that size a venue.
So, I want to encourage people who are maybe a bit nervous about all this to volunteer to talk.
I have one idea for doing this, which is to offer people mentors and or trainers who will help them prepare for their talk. Would anyone like to volunteer to be a trainer? Please let me know.
And does anyone have any other ideas for how we make Interesting more welcoming? Please let me know that too.
(I am already planning on a code of conduct and, hopefully, some kind of childcare.)