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Ignite talk 'Screwing on Colossus'

Laura

TS Member
Favourite Ride
blue fire Megacoaster
Okay, I wasn't sure whether to post this before I do it or after, but really - it would be best to get some input from the actual people I intend to talk about!

For those who don't know (I assume most if not all of you don't know!) Ignite is a networking event that seems to be 'the in thing' for small businesses and such, where individuals do five minute presentations to a small audience on a subject of their choice. You have 20 pre-timed powerpoint slides to accompany you (no videos or animations).

If you look at the lineup for Ignite 11 (Cardiff venue), you'll see it's all 'quirky Twitter queens' and 'Social networking digital media marketing solutions consultants' - basically people who really grind my gears. Their talks are about things like 'How Facebook is great!' and 'I love maths!' http://www.ignitecardiff.com/

As I post this, I'm not listed on there (my boss actually runs Ignite Cardiff so I know he'll probably never have time to update the site again before the event) but my talk is called 'Screwing on Colossus' and is going to be about us. The enthusiasts.

I've got a pretty good idea of what I am going to cover but if anyone has any suggestions or input I would be happy to hear it. If anyone has any amusing or appropriate photos/pictures that might go well with the topics below they would also be much appreciated.

My intentions are to give the audience an idea of how we feel about things they are probably ambivalent about, and how a trivial innocent comment 'OMG Stealth is SO HIGH!' can send us into a foamy rage 'Haven't you heard of Kingda Ka?!'

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My topics (in no particular order)

1. Our 'view' of parks/coasters
i) Technical specifications (inversions, type of inversions, construction)
ii) Theme, storytelling, immersion

2. Our reaction to 'The general public' and casual visitors
i. Marketing (e.g. missing limbs on The Swarm dummies)
ii. Facebook comments
iii. Queueline comments
iv. Friends/colleagues discussing rides (e.g. 'Apocalypse is the most intense ride ever!)

3. Heroes
John Wardley, Roland Mack, etc.

4. Issues we face
i. Costs
ii. Park disrepair
iii. Forum drama

5. Explanation of the talk title
Not explaining this yet but it really is to do with sex.

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So these are my topics. I only have five minutes to cover everything so I don't want to labor any points, just to give a brief overview.

While I would really like to do things like give a top 10 coasters or top theme park tips list, I think such things are too subjective and so would like to keep it fairly 'factual' and about a group of people rather than the parks themselves.

I AM however thinking of making a tumblr post/print out with some top tips/vocab for the uninitiated or those who want to take their park experiences 'to the next level of geekdom', but I will probably assemble this from info from other threads.

If the talk goes OK, I'll post a link to the video after the event....
 
Just put a photo of Wardley with the caption of god under it should cover him :p
 
'Normal' people don't know who he is. My colleagues were very confused when I showed them his autobiography. 'Is he famous?' 'So all I have to do is design a rollercoaster to be famous?' and so on.

I need to convey to people why this man is so important to many of us. The book is fascinating regardless but it won't be read by non-enthusiasts.

My colleagues don't understand why I get so worked up over theme parks and why I spend every lunchtime on the Smiler construction threads! And five minutes where everyone has to watch in silence and pretend to be interested seems a good place to start rectifying this.
 
A good way to do Wardley would be saying he was one of the founding fathers of the UK theme park scene tbh. Then say he designs rides give an example and move on.
 
Also his background in films, showing how the theatric experiences of coasters and films are alike.
 
Thanks guys, I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to say...even if just ONE person looks him up when they get home then I'll be happy.
 
Well my VERY condensed talk is tonight in Cardiff! Very basic theme park nerdery will be covered (had to cut out John entirely), nothing new but hopefully some people will listen... I'm a terrible presenter so will be reading from my script!

I'm also using an (anonymous) screenshot of someone's Ridecount page...you'll have to watch the video afterwards to see if you recognise it ;)

Feel free to tweet words of abuse and encouragement here: https://twitter.com/IgniteCardiff/
 
Update: Just got back from the event, I was totally bricking it! I was shaking the whole way through - not a great look. But everyone seemed to be listening even though I (apparently) was too far from the microphone (no one told me til afterwards).

The best slide had to be the Ridecount screenshot - had some gasps from the audience! So who recognises this?!
ridecount3.jpg

Don't worry, I didn't claim it as my own!

If the video is bearable I'll post a link once it's been put on Youtube. I'm also planning to put the script and slides up on my blog in the next few days.
 
Here's a link to the video...filmed at a really unflattering angle. Not helped by me being nervous and reading from the script for the whole thing. Anyway... Notice what the chap in the front row does after I mention Th13teen.

Edit: You need to fullscreen it in order to see the slides.

http://youtu.be/HGXsHLoY9WQ
 
I've just watched this!

It's probably one of the best introductions to the enthusiast community that I've seen. :)

Being an enthusiast is something that I find quite difficult to explain without reeling off into gushing descriptions of various rides (and I don't think I'm alone in that). To talk about it for more than five minutes and still have your audience interested takes a lot of work but you managed it well.
 
Thank you for the kind comments. I wish I could have ad libbed a little more, but then it's probably hard to find a nerd who is good at speaking in front of people!
 
Very nicely done! :)

Even though you were a bit nervous, I think things like this are really a great way to expand your presentation skills - and from that I think you did very well on the whole. :)
 
You did really well and that takes a lot of bottle! Well done!! :D

Also, I found it funny when you said Merlin choose themes of disrepair so as to not have to maintain them and keep us happy but I think it was a little subtle for the...GENERAL PUBLIC!! >:D

But that was informative and entertaining and I think you did a really good job of 'humanising' what is perhaps considered a very niche interest by niche interest standards. For something that has such a casual audience it is more difficult to be 'too' into it. At least with other interests you're either in or out but because theme parks are so popular it can sometimes feel extra nerdy to focus on them so much.

But you're right...it's about so much more than the ride! ;D
 
Thanks Nada :p
I wonder if any of them will think about what I said when they next visit a theme park?

I've coincidentally just uploaded the slides and the script to my tumblr for anyone who couldn't be bothered with the awkward video: http://no-rational-explanation.tumblr.com/post/57060278887/screwing-on-colossus

I think the bit about Merlin feedback is quite relevant now (except not in a positive way!), what with all the upset about their performance this year :(
 
I enjoyed that video, you did really well.

I did like the the following line over theming and the maintenance of it.

Thankfully Merlin .... take this into account, and themes their ride to fit with scenes of disrepair like alien attack or natural disasters

X Sector toilet signs, you did not comment on the theming ideas as some member had as they want to go to the loo in a theme environment. The thing is, the toilets at Alton Towers are theme, 1990 motorway service station :D :D
 
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