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Speaker Central

elane johnson at 2017 flash session, pointing off frame toward screen; other panelists are smiling

Our speaker-attendees are the heart of HippoCamp! We’re so excited for this year’s line-up.

In addition to sending out regular speaker communication, we’ve created this page so you can find all the information you need in one place. We’ll update this as we get closer to the event or as new ideas/info become available.

On this page, you’ll find:

 


General info:

  • Join our conference Facebook group if you have not already
  • Be sure to book your room early
  • If you’re traveling to Lancaster with someone who isn’t attending the conference, we offer guest/spouse meal plans so they can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and/or the main keynote with you. (Available in April)


Here are a few upcoming dates to be aware of:

April 16 – book sale sign-up opens (more details forthcoming; $10 one book, $15 two books)

May 2 – speaker conference call (link will be provided by email) – possible reschedule

May 15 – early-bird rate ends (just an FYI so you can inform others who may be interested!)

May 15 – scholarship deadline (just an FYI in case you’d like to share this opp with others)

July 1 – deadline for tech needs/speaker survey (link coming in May)

July 22 – room block closes (but may be sold out by this time as well)

July 23 – deadline to register for conference (use your speaker code)

Aug. 1 – deadline to sign up for book sale

Aug. 22 – flash session speaker slides due

PROMO TOOL KIT

Full promo tool-kit folder (work in progress) – link opens to Google Drive folder where you can download whichever ones you need!

Speaker graphics – one for each of you! (link opens to Google Drive folder where you can download whichever ones you need!)

Coming soon — a link to some digital materials, including pre-written tweets, you may use to help spread the word.

Available now — We do have a limited amount of HippoCamp 2019 postcards we could send you in case you’d like to have them to hand out at events. Request a 10-pack at conference@hippocampusmagazine.com.


SPEAKER FRIEND CODES
Based on interest in years past, for HippoCamp 2019 we’re once again offering each speaker two custom coupon codes to share with a friend/colleague/writing partner, etc. These are good for $50 off registration, either early-bird or regular. If you’re interested in sharing one or two with writers in your network you feel would benefit from HippoCamp, let us know and we will create, activate, and send you a code made exclusively for your use. Email conference@hippocampusmagazine.com to request one. (Please note that we’d prefer these aren’t shared far and wide, but rather with writers you know over private channels or offline.)


OTHER PROMO OPPS & IDEAS

Word of mouth is the number one way people find out about HippoCamp! Here are some ideas on how you can share the news of your involvement in HippoCamp 2019:

  • Participate in our speaker Q&A for the conference blog
  • Include an announcement/notification in your email newsletters
  • Write a preview blog post or two about your session/topic
  • Interview a fellow speaker about their topic for your blog or another website
  • Reshare our official social media posts with your network
  • Share posts about your session (or other sessions that interest you) on your social accounts
  • Use the hashtag #hippocamp19 on Twitter and Instagram
  • Pitch a craft article on your topic to a blog or magazine, which can softly promote your talk — and you as a subject matter expert
  • Add it to your online event calendar if you have one
  • Write a recap post for your blog or website
  • Include a badge on your website or social accounts; see below


BADGES

This is a fun way to promote your involvement with HippoCamp on your website. You may copy and paste the code below to place either of these “badges” on your website; by using the code directly, it will make the image link right to the HippoCamp 2019 website as well as include the alt-tag for accessibility – you can modify the size within the code.

As an alternative, if you are using this for social profiles, you can simply right-click and download as you’d normally save a photo from the interwebs. Finally, if you’re handy with HTML (the <IMG source”imagefile.jpg><a href=”link”></a>) you can just add the link yourself.

Share this Image On Your Site (square)

I'm speaking at HippoCamp badge - aug 23-25 lancaster nonfiction conference

 

Share this Image On Your Site: Facebook Cover Size

i'm speaking at hippocamp banner


Coming soon


Speaker Suggestions: In General

kelly caldwell talking to an attendee

Your conference badge will feature a “speaker” ribbon; this will identify you and your role to other attendees. This is often a conversation starter as an attendee may ask, “What are you speaking about?” Take advantage of this to promote your session and, in general, get to know other attendees!

If you have a book available, consider reserving a spot at our book sale table (opens 4/16). While we allow all attendees to reserve space at the table, we find that speakers’ titles tend to get more attention, especially after their talk. Bring a Sharpie or your special pen to sign copies!

More suggestions coming soon.

 

Speaker Quick Tips: Your Session


SET-UP/TRANSITION

  • Arrive to your room 10 minutes early to set up and take a few relaxing breaths.
  • Arriving early will also give you time to ask for tech help if you experience an issue.
  • End on time to ensure smooth transitions. Room host will give cues. Please pay attention to them.
  • Allow the next speaker ample time and space to set up; if an attendee approaches you after your session, please take conversation to the side.


Q&A TIPS

  • When someone asks a question, please, please repeat the question before you answer. Since attendees are not mic’d, not everyone will hear their question; repeating it gives everyone in the room the context they need when you answer. (Ex: “OK, the question was…”)
  • We HIGHLY suggest holding questions until the end so you don’t inadvertently get sidetracked by a snowball effect, and also suggest taking too technical/irrelevant/too personal questions offline. (ex: “Hey, that’s a great question, it’ll take me a bit to explain that, so let’s talk after….”)


MISC. — Smile and be your awesome self.


Handouts/Presentations to Share

If you wish to make your handouts or presentations publicly available after the conference (either as a recap for those who attended your session, or for attendees who were in a different room), you may upload them to a to-be-provided Google Drive link. With a week of the conference, we’ll make links available to your resources from the HippoCamp website’s Recap page, as well as your session page.


Survey Results

Within about two to three weeks following the conference, we’ll send you a copy of the survey results (if applicable). We share this data to help our speakers grow.

More details to come!


We’re resharing this information from our call for submissions, just as a recap:

We’re looking to produce a smooth conference and that goes beyond amazing presentations – there are nuts and bolts-type things too we expect of our team of brilliant presenters.  (This may seem like a lot, but these are questions we’re often asked, or issues we’ve encountered in the past, so we’re sharing these details ahead of time!)

In our submission form, we ask you to check that you’ve read our speaker expectations form; please take this seriously; in past years, from questions we received, it was evident the guidelines we provide were not read or retained.

  • Presenters MUST be registered attendees of the conference and must officially register before conference program goes to print; breakout/flash session speakers are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and (discounted) registration.
  • Submitting a proposal does not mean you are committing to attend or to present at HippoCamp; if we accept your session idea, we’ll confirm that you are definitely able to attend, and you can make your final decision then. So please submit even if you’re unsure today if you can make it in August. You have time to figure it all out!
  • Presenters MUST agree to read and respond in a timely manner to speaker communication emails/requests for information to help with day-of logistics/meet deadlines for technology requests, etc.
  • Day-of/last-minute requests will NOT be honored or tolerated; we give speakers more than six months to prepare and think about your presentation needs. We will take past experiences/interactions into consideration when reviewing proposals this year.
  • Presenters must agree to a group or individual phone call about a month before the conference for a brief speaker orientation, which includes covering the expectations outlined here, and will provide some tips on how to stick to a time limit, prepare technology, and how to think quickly on your feet if you hit a snag.
  • Presenters must agree to have their session photographed for future use and for marketing and archival purposes.
  • Presenters are encouraged to share slides and/or presentation materials (if applicable) for use for post-conference promotion; this is not required.
  • Should we decide to record sessions, presenters are encouraged to allow us to record (audio) presentation for archival purposes/attendee access.
  • Presenters are responsible for bringing their own handouts (if applicable).
  • Presenters must respect time limits (no doing so adversely affects their peer presenters); this means you’ll take your presentation preparation seriously and practice.
  • There is a maximum of two presenters for break-out sessions and one presenter for flash sessions.
  • On the administrative side, we trust that speakers will read/reply to speaker correspondence and provide requested information in a timely manner. We cannot emphasize this enough; if a speaker is unprepared, it reflects on the conference as well. If speakers change/submit tech needs at last minute, it causes strain on all.
  • Also on the administrative/logistical side – we are looking for speakers who will adhere to a time limit, who can think quick on their feet if they hit a snag (either a tech snafu or getting sidetracked by a question and needing to get back on track).
  • We encourage attendees to be completely comfortable with any technology they choose to use. For instance, if you are not familiar with PowerPoint or Prezi, please do not opt to “try it out” for the first time during a professional presentation. We LOVE multimedia presentations, but only use this option to enhance your presentation and IF you are experienced in the platform you choose. A few of the highest-rated workshops and sessions in past years were all analog!
  • Finally, on the day of the conference, we trust that speakers will show up to their rooms with ample time to discover and address any technical issues; and to make this work, previous speaker must also end and pack up on time.


 

 

[If you’re not a speaker and stumbled across this page randomly, hello! Please explore the rest of our site for more conference information pertaining to attendees!]