How People Respond to My Keynotes & Workshops
I just started collecting reactions to my talks. I hope this helps you see if I’m a match for your event.
I’m an Event Organizer
I’ve organized five big Stanford events over the past few years. This experience makes me a better speaker because I can view an event from an organizer’s perspective. I know that keynotes should be blockbusters, injecting new ideas and enthusiasm into the gathering. People start judging the event during the first keynote. Attendees blog and twitter their reactions. The keynote speakers need to be amazing. And that’s my goal.
I Can Adapt
I’ve also learned how to react when things go wrong. At a recent keynote, the tech team could not get the projector to work. I had over 150 slides to share -- and no way to show them. The room filled up with people for my talk, and it was time to start. So what did I do? I started speaking. Most of the audience never knew we had a problem. Of course, I had to improvise. But for me the situation wasn’t scary; it was exciting. During my many years of teaching new topics in new ways, I’ve learned to adapt to most any problem. The bottom line: Don’t complain; don’t freak out. Just make it work!
What event organizers have said about my work . . .
“You were AMAZING. Word on the street is that you were the best speaker in the history of the conference.” -Conference Chair from New York Event
“I repeatedly heard presenters referring to your concepts throughout the remainder of the day...a sure indication that you connected successfully with the audience. You are a class act!” -Conference Organizer from Oregon
“You are just wonderful. I am so glad that we found you.” -Conference Organizer from Dallas Event
Anticipation from Attendees
“I can't wait to see BJ Fogg. His general session sounds awesome.” -- sroberts on twitter
“Getting excited to hear BJ Fogg, the Stanford social media guru give the opening comments” -- twittered
Reactions from Attendees
“packed house for @bjfogg” -- twittered
“Wall to wall people” -- twittered
“BJ Fogg's session is fantastic -- and his dog, Millie, and monkey, Bongo, are adorable.” -- Rich
“Prof B J Fogg from Stanford was excellent. Standing room only in his presenation on Design, Behaviour and Change” -- posted online
“Dr BJ Fogg just ROCKS! What an honour to learn from him.” -- Twittered
“BJ Fogg’s presentation . . . was awesome. His insights into to how design can make people act, for me, was worth the price of the entire conference.” -- blogged
“An excellent session from Dr Fogg this morning. Concepts apply outside of technology also which is very useful to people not so involved on the tech innovation side.” --Adrian
“I found your speech and slides/videos very fascinating.” --Alex
“BJ Fogg was great” --jracklye on Twitter
“BJ Fogg improv with audience members very funny.” --timernst on Twitter
“Professor BJ Fogg was excellent. . . . Great stuff.” --blogged
“Prof BJ Fogg from Stanford is providing true wisdom on social networking.” --NACSonline on Twitter
“Loved the BJ Fogg session” --amplifyguests on Twitter
“Mass interpersonal persuasion and BJ Fogg rocks” --gavinbright on Twitter
“I enjoyed -- and learned immensely from -- your session. Thank you for an excellent, and, for me, inspiring, presentation.” --Rich
“I just saw you at the Conference in SF this week. You were my favorite!” --Melanie
“BJ Fogg session was really incredible.” --jefftrexel on Twitter
