This is a podcast from last year’s Podcast And Portable Media Expo. Every week or so, one of the presentations is made available via this feed.
I have to say a lot of it is awful. People standing up and shouting “KNOW WHAT? NOW, YOU ARE THE RADIO STATION!”.
Useless.
This presentation from Ben Williams is the worst I have heard so far. I have tried to listen to it several times but I find it too awkward, too uncomfortable to stick with for too long.
It seems to have no structure. It is peppered with things like “and another thing I like to do is” but it seems more self-indulgent than helpful.
I was at the first Expo in 2005 and many of the presentations were like that. Speakers didn’t really seem to think they needed to be that professional and I am afraid this is how Ben comes across.
For balance, I also gave up on Paul Colligan and Leesa Barnes (who I think is the worst one yet) but the talk given by David Lawrence is superb. He is one person I do admire because he gets on with it and then shares his success stories.
In addition, several of the presentations are no more than adverts, particularly the one with 3 Podtech staffers on the panel. I would have walked out.
I have a ticket for this year’s Expo but it is likely that I won’t be able to make it (so I need to find a way of selling my precious room at the Ontario Airport Marriott).
June 6th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Thanks for your thoughts. I think in a new “industry” as people become better at what they do, the speakers improve as well. I bring in speakers a bit differently than most conferences in that I find people that are passionate about the subject and then ask them to speak - which means that they are not always great speakers. But hopefully you’ll see an improvement each year.
Sorry to hear you might not be able to make it this year - I hope your schedule changes and you can join us.
All the best,
Tim Bourquin, Founder
Podcast and New Media Expo
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:19 pm
Hello Andrew, I am bendrix (ben williams) the person you speak of and I totally appreciate your thoughts. To be honest, I too think its a dreadfully awful presentation as well, and yes I am quite embarrassed by it. Actually my analysis is a tad more critical than yours LOL.
I do firmly stand by the information that I tried to present at the Portable Media Expo because it’s useful and relevant; it just was very poorly delivered by (me) the orator. When Tim Burquin gave me the opportunity to speak, it was because of my larger than life personality and my ability to communicate with people. Plus I was truly doing some innovative work; it is just unfortunate that the same (bendrix) person did not show up at the Portable Media Expo presentation that day. Lets just say that I was distracted and at a career altering moment in my life that very day.
At first I was ashamed to be featured on the site and I am still contemplating if I should ask for it to be removed, but I also see this as a character building experience. In a day and age of corporate and personal transparency you just can’t hide your flaws you just have to take the blows and learn to buffer them. I am a pioneer in the potable media space and I am proud and passionate about what I do. I will continue to get published and speak across the country and I will continue to get critiqued. I think you were fair in your assessment and only hope that someday you will get the chance to meet me or watch a bendrix produced video clip or hear me speak. All ego aside i guarantee it would be a memorable experience. Again thank you for your thoughts, feel free to contact me anytime.
- regards bendrix
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Bendrix
Founder | Portable Media Strategist
Codedsignal, Inc.
http://codedsignal.com
http://del.icio.us/bendrix
ben@codedsignal.com
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:35 pm
oh one more quick thing… I’ve gotten much better since then and yes David Lawrence is totally the man he is a true inspiration
Four speakers off the top of my head you should check out
Andrew Barron (Rocketboom)
Tim Street (French maid TV)
Michael Geoghegan (reel reviews - grape radio)
Jason Van Orden (author How to market your podcast)