Calling all demo jocks

It’s written specifically for people doing demos at DEMO, but the tips here are good for anyone giving and software demo:
Presenting at DEMO: 12 Do’s. 5 Don’ts. « FoundRead

I spent the first 3 years of my ‘career’ out of school as a demo jock, first for boundary element acoustic prediction software and then later for mechanical test and measurement software (no web 2.0 widgets back then.)
I especially appreciate point number 9:

Practice hand gestures.

If you’re giving a “naked” presentation (with nothing in front of you like a table, etc.) then you need to be aware of what you’re doing with your hands. And your feet. So think about your hand gestures and how they relate to what you’re saying. If you plan to move around, pace in sync with your words. I’ve been practicing this for a few days with great success. The hand gestures and where I’m walking are triggers cuing what I should be saying.

I can’t tell you how many times I saw demos screwed up (by others of course) by demo jocks with ‘dead hands’.  If you’re really in to what you’re showing (even if it’s boundary element acoustic prediction software), you’re body will show it.