Saturday, March 20, 2010

Fifteen Minutes of Fame - Time for a Q&A

As many people have been asking about Fifteen Minutes of Fame, it seemed about time to put all the questions on paper and provide the most wanted answers.

Q: Fifteen Minutes of Fame, what is this about?
A: The Fifteen Minute of Fame weekend is about inspiration. We invite friends and friends of friends to spend a weekend together in the dutch countryside. You have fifteen minutes to share something with the rest of us.
You could for example:
  • present something to the audience
  • host a debate on a topic you like talking about
  • introduce your favorite game and make us play it
  • give a beginners course about your hobby
  • share experiences from your life
  • tell stories unique to your culture
  • or anything else, really, as long as it's something you want to share with friends
Q: What should I expect?
A: You can expect a lot of fun and stories you've never heard before. The weekend will start with a nice dinner and some time to get to know each other better. In the midst of good breakfasts, lunch and dinner, and a stroll on the beach, everyone gets to spend fifteen minutes the way they want to. Get ready to be amazed!

Q: When is it?
A: The 15 minutes of fame weekend will be from Friday evening April 23rd to Sunday afternoon, April 25th.

Q: Where is it?
A: The next Fifteen Minutes of Fame weekend will be held at Bungalowpark Carpe Diem in Bergen, The Netherlands. It is about an hour away from Amsterdam and near the beach.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: The weekend costs 90 euro, excluding transportation to and from the venue. All meals and drinks, accommodation in two bungalows for 8 people and lots of fun are thus included.

Q: Can I bring a friend?
A: Yes, of course, you can bring a friend! If you know anyone that you think would like to joining. Please do tell us in advance, because we have limited space.

Q: What are things I could talk about?
A: Anything you feel like talking about will do. Topics from last year included farm life, presentation skills, imagination in software, mission statements and urban acupuncture.

If you need some further inspiration on how to give a presentation and especiallly about what topic, watch this video. Scott Berkun explains how you can talk about what you love, what you hate, what you're good at, a meta-subject (the meaning of life) or how your process of choosing a subject went. Even though the format is different (we have 15 instead of 5 minutes), it may be a helpful source of inspiration.

Q: I want to talk, but I'm too scared. Should I come?
A: One thing you do not have to worry about is the audience. You have already won them over. Not only do the other people come to the weekend to hear about you and learn about what it is to be you, they themselves will also have their own fifteen minutes to fill. Plus, you choose how exposed you want to be (see next question).

Q: I don't like to be in the spotlights. Should I come?
A: You choose how exposed you want to be. It's the thing you love, your topic that will be in the spotlights. And even if talking in front of a bunch of friends is not for you, you don't have to do it. You could just show something you made, play a short movie and have us talk about it, or just choose a topic and have us discuss it. Heck, you could even just make us play a game you like!

Q: That's all fine, but I don't have anything to talk about. Should I come?
A: Of course there is something you can talk about! There is hardly a subject that is beyond the scope of this weekend. Tell us about why you cannot do without your coffee in the morning, or why you love to walk the dog each day.

Q: That really sounds like work! You guys don't just want to have fun?
A: You'll have the chance to talk about something you love to your friends and the friends of your friends. You're going to have fun, AND learn tons of stuff about your friends and their world. It's not going to be like work, I promise. Or, you have a very cool job!

Q: I don't know if I will be interested. What if I get bored?
A: If you get bored, the damage will be limited. It's only for 15 minutes and after that, we'll switch to a new topic!

Q: What will we do besides the fifteen minute presentations?
A: We'll be in a relaxed setting in the Dutch countryside. There is no specific agenda outside the fifteen minute presentations from everybody, so there will be some plenty of time for relaxation and discovering the surroundings. There will be bikes available for rent for those who are interested. If you know some good games you would like to play during the weekend, drop us a line!

Any other questions?
You can contact us on fifteenminutesofameworldwide at gmail dot com

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