SpeakerOps

SpeakerOps

What is SpeakerOps?

SpeakerOps is a role within the Content Team which helps to smooth delivery the talks at the event. In summary as a SpeakerOps volunteer your role is taking care of our speakers - the rest of this page elaborates on these words.

The talks and speakers at EMFCamp are a core part of the event. EMF Speakers will be speaking on many fascinating subjects and sharing their experience and insights to educate and entertain us. The SpeakerOps team liaises with speakers to help make sure everything goes smoothly for speakers in the delivery of the talks.

What does it involve?

Volunteers sign up for typically two or three shifts across the event and for the duration of that shift they are responsible in supporting the speakers presenting at one of the stages before, during and after their talks. Don't be put off if you can only attend one shift! We will happily take your gift of time and energy.

While on shift your responsibilities may include:

- Meeting speakers in the Green Room prior to their talks, and making sure they have all they need and know where to go. Escorting them to the stage if appropriate.

- Helping to make sure that mics are working, laptops are projecting (with the tech team) in an on-stage pre talk setup.

- Making announcements if necessary.

- Introducing the speaker and their talk to the audience when it is time to start.

- Being attentive during the talk and on hand in case any assistance needed.

- Keeping time by giving the speaker a time remaining warning (if necessary).

- If the speaker is happy to take questions, and there is time, moving around the space with a cordless mic to the raised hands to allow audience members to ask their questions of the speaker.

- Thanking the speaker, leading the applause, and helping the speaker pack up/preparing the stage area ready for the next speaker.

Should I volunteer for SpeakerOps?

Absolutely :-) SpeakerOps is good fun, a good friendly team and great experience. If you are already confident on stage or looking for first or more experience then this is a great role to volunteer for.

In looking at the schedule you also have the ability to choose your shifts to co-incide with the talks that you are most interested in and the speakers you'd like to meet in the process. This is done on a first come first served basis for shifts across the talk schedule where possible. We've found in the past that even if you are not super interested in all the talks in your shift, often serendipity will introduce you to some very interesting topics that you way not previously have been drawn to.

Beyond the above, you can also avail of the volunteer perk of the food tent, where you can enjoy a good meal (the chefs make healthy, hearty and tasty food) and meet & mix with other volunteers.

If you've never walked on stage before, then don't be put off. In fact many of us would identify as introverts. Personal growth is all about pushing yourself to do things that might be at the edge of your comfort zone so do challenge yourself and we'll help make sure you are comfortable in the team and role.

What support and training is available?

We'll have a briefing at the beginning of the event where we make sure that everyone in the SpeakerOps team knows where to go and what to do & answer any questions etc. We can also practice some speaker introductions and prompts for questions. If you are new to the role then we can also buddy you up with a more experienced team member who you could shadow or who can shadow you to support while you grow your confidence. The EMF audience is relatively easy and co-operative (they are all people of inquisitive mind and attending talks they are interested in).

Some training documentation is available here: SpeakerOps Training

More Detailed notes on SpeakerOps:

Shift Scheduling:

We need to cover all the talks across all the stages to make sure that the talks run smoothly and in a timely fashion. Thus we organise shifts covering a number of talks on one stage with a shift start time to shift end time (ending after the last talk within or starting in shift ends). This normally means that one shift equates to three or four talks on one of the stages.

What is the Green Room?

The 'Green Room' is the SpeakerOps tent, where we co-ordinate and where speakers report before their talks.

Preparation:

Before a SpeakerOps shift, if possible look up the talks on the shift and the speakers so that you have some insight as to what the talks cover and about the speaker's background - enough to allow for a brief introduction for the talk.

Come and introduce yourself at the Green Room to the SpeakerOps team. There should be someone in charge there most of the time. If not, ask at the Volunteer Desk or Information Desk and they may be able to ping the person in charge.