Speaker Pack Submitting BIOs, Sessions and other useful information
Why have a Speaker Pack? As SQLBits events get bigger, the SQLBits Committee are looking to automate the generation of the event collateral including the brochure and banners to save time. By following the guidelines in the speaker pack, you will be helping us to organize events more efficiently while still giving you the control over your biographies and session abstracts. When filling out you biographies and session abstracts, some field are deliberately limited, others or not. There are also tips enclosed within this pack for preparing for a SQLBits session before and after the conference, as well as contact details should you have any issues. We hope that you find this speaker pack helpful Regards The SQLBits Committee
SQLBits Mission SQL Bits was started by a group of individuals that are passionate about the SQL Server product suite. There is a breadth of knowledge in the SQL Community that will benefit everyone. With your help, we want to spread that knowledge. As a speaker, there is the opportunity to speak at Europe's largest SQL Server Conference that is growing in reputation globally. For your time you get free accommodation the night before each day that you speak and complimentary access to the Friday Deep Dives event. As well as the conference itself, we pride ourselves in recording every single SQLBits session and making it available to the community for free. If you present at SQLBits an important aspect of this is ensuring that you laptop is correctly configured so that it can be recorded in the best resolution. Any questions from the audience should be repeated so that it can be heard on the recording. SQLBits started as a free community day running on a Saturday and the sessions are selected using a public vote as a guide to selection for the Saturday. We still maintain this approach today. However, demand has led to the creation of a Deep Dive day on Friday. This is charged to attendees and the sessions are selected by the committee. We thank you for taking interest in SQLBits and wish you luck in your submission SQLBits Committee
Biography Submission Guidelines The BIO is your opportunity to promote yourself as a speaker, but must not include any advertising of services. There are additional fields for your blog/website and any feed. The long description for the Biography is unlimited and will be used on the SQLBits website Limit the Short description for the Biography to 250 character including spaces, this will be used on the SQLBits Banners Session Submission Guidelines Ensure the session abstract accurately matches the content that will be delivered If more than one person is performing the session, contact contactus@sqlbits.com and let us know When submitting a session: Limit the session title to 60 characters. Use the short description, this will be used within the SQL Bits brochure and is limited to 250 characters. Use the medium description, this will be used for the SQL Bits banners and is limited to 650 characters. Use the Long description, this will be used within the SQL Bits website and is limited to 1000 characters.
Pre Conference Checks Ensure your hotel room is confirmed? If there are problems turning up? Please let us know as soon as you can. Are the PowerPoint slides legible to the audience? Make sure all images used are not under copyright. PowerPoint decks completed and emailed one week before the conference starts Ensure you know the date and time you are speaking. Any special requirements e.g. Wi-Fi, HDMI connector, 8 way socket, additional projector. Let us know There will be a speaker room if you need somewhere quiet. There is a SQLBits PowerPoint template available if you require one. Laptop configuration for videos The following are recommended setting for laptops. The resolution should be 1024x768 Fonts should be at least 14pt in all software demonstrated (ensure all tools notepad, VS, SSMS are configured) Change the highlighting of text to say black text on yellow background for software Test your colours on a projector. Some colours change dramatically when projected Ensure colours have sufficient contrast.
On the Day Test the laptop either at the start of the day or at the earliest opportunity. Turn up 10 minutes before your session starts to test your laptop/projector works Check the people recording the session are happy with the sound and video feed. During the session, repeat any questions for the benefit of the recording. Do not use a session as a sales pitch for a company. If time is running out, consider answering questions outside the room when your session is complete, so that the next speaker can get set up Enjoy your session, it is your time. Ensure that the final slide contains the name of the next session in the room and the URL link to the survey Post Conference Try to respond to delegates email request should they leave you a contact email in a timely manner. Remember to respond professionally to all email contact from SQLBits attendees Speaker feedback will be sent to speakers a month after the feedback closes
Contact Details Any question please get in touch at the following email address Speakers@SQLBits.com Speaker Checklist Has the Biography long and short description field been filled out Does your session abstract accurately match the session you will deliver Ensure that the Session Title is less the 60 characters Ensure the session short description, is limited to 250 characters. Ensure the session medium description is limited to 650 characters. Ensure the Long description is limited to 1000 characters. Ensure that your laptop is suitably configured for video recording If there are multiple speakers or you need special kit then let us know Ensure any images used in your PowerPoint presentation is not under copyright Ensure your PowerPoint slides are legible to the audience Email PowerPoint slides and code samples to SQLBits one week before the event Ensure that you know the date and time that you are presenting Check that your hotel room is confirmed On the day of the event arrive 10 minutes before your session and test your laptop Test your laptop and projector on the day of the session Check the people recording the session are happy with the sound and video feed Remember to respond professionally to all email contact from SQLBits attendees