Tell the speakers that you liked their talks(ohhelloana.blog)
312 points by whisper2020 28 days ago | 88 comments
tl;dr: Conference speakers often receive little to no feedback after their talks, especially since Twitter's decline removed a common feedback channel, leaving them wondering how their presentations landed. The author, drawing from experience as both speaker and MC, encourages attendees to overcome shyness and simply tell speakers they enjoyed their talks—even a brief compliment matters. She also urges herself and others to actively facilitate conversations between speakers and attendees at events.
HN Discussion:
  • ↑Speakers share personal experiences of anxiety and emotional overwhelm, validating the need for feedback
  • ↑Advice to give specific, detailed compliments rather than generic praise to speakers and creators
  • ~Audiences often appear stone-faced even when engaged, so speakers shouldn't read too much into it
  • ↑This advice extends beyond speakers to any non-famous creator whose work you appreciate
  • ↑Confirms the awkward dynamic where speakers want approaches but attendees feel intimidated