How to Host an Instructables Show and Tell

Step 6 Run through the projects; have fun

Keep things moving and have fun.

The host should start the presentations by welcoming everyone, describing how the evening will run, and presenting his own project. The host should then run through the list giving everyone a couple of minutes, or until the audience gets bored, or the questions get too technical. Since I have everyone's name and project already on the board, I introduce them to keep things moving briskly. If the presenter I've just introduced has a laptop and doesn't have it connected and ready to go, I move on to the next presenter immediately, and come back to the laptop presentation when it's actually ready. The way you do it will vary by number of people and location.

Watch the audience carefully to ensure they're still engaged. If they aren't, use the gong liberally. If the presenter keeps talking about "quantum mini-golf" use the gong again. When they try to give quantum mini-golf's URL, carefully spelling it out and repeating each letter, keep using the gong until they get the message. Remember, you'll dealing with nerds, and sometime they need some "tough love."

Same deal goes for highly specific and technical questions. The audience members really interested in a project will have time to talk with the presenter one-on-one in the third half of the evening.

PS - http://quantumminigolf.sourceforge.net/