"marvelous" presentation @ the ADC

presentation slide (just the visuals)

presentation at the art director club starts. "i hate presenting alone so i've brought in krissy to be my assistant. everyone say 'hi krissy.'" hi krissy! [always helps opening a presentation with an audience participation bit that works. calms the nerves and grounds you and connects you in a snap.]

and the powerpoint krissy holds the 3 parts of the presentation. flashback, advertising, words of wisdom. i proceed with the presentation. bringing everyone back to 10 years ago and thousands of miles away. philippines, jason in high school to be able to situate myself into where most of the junior high kid audience are. they're hooked and interested. quite disarming having a microphone infront of a room filled of people actually listening and watching you intently. flashback ends with me showing a slide of NYU graduation. advertising. i give an overview on the industry. i show some works. ipot ad is a hit. and spreek je too. and stealing from some great ad campaigns, i end the presentation with some words of wisdom (not that i claim to be a wise man). "remember, think different and just do it. and if you hate something, change it." applause, applause.

once the lights turn back on, david mayer, the most senior in the audience in his 80s (or maybe 70s) approaches me, "marvelous presentation." olivia, one of the other volunteers, approaches me and says, "very good presentation." buoyong and alex, a couple of creative directors, thank me for the "very fun presentation." susan, the program head gives the best review of all, "that was very good and relevant, you connected well with the students. i really liked how it was personal and very meaningful. i liked how you integrated philosophy with advertising. your modesty is disarming... would you be interested in running a full workshop next time?"

of course. of course, id be very glad to. there's something special about being able to connect with people of varying ages, and ethnic backgrounds. i knew it, krissy was going to be a hit.

maybe, i'll bring mabel our office pug next time.

[seriously though, it feels good having done well at the art directors club. actually, having been able to give a talk there is a great honor already in itself. never thought id even be part of it, much less give a presentation.]