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| Making a point during my Hamvention presentation |
As a result, I was very nervous and feel that I did not do a good job. On the other hand, the audience seemed to react positively to what I had to say and a handful of people said I did a good job, so maybe I am being too hard on myself.
Like last year, my presentation was videotaped, so when it gets posted on YouTube, I'll see for myself how I did.
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I saw about a half dozen Femulate readers at Hamvention this year (you know who you are). All were disguised as males, but it was great to see them nonetheless and I appreciate that they stopped by our booth to say, "Hello."
I also saw about a half dozen transwomen presenting as women. Some I know are post-op, the others, I dunno, but none stopped by our booth to say "Hello" to me. Although one post-op stopped by to see what our booth was all about. She spoke with me briefly, but there was no recognition on her part, so I assume she doesn't know me from Eve.
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As I mentioned before, going to Hamvention, I travel in boy mode in order to get on the road as soon as possible to avoid the commuter traffic in this neck of the woods. And as I did this year, I usually stay overnight in a Best Western on the Ohio border and depart for Dayton in girl mode the next morning. And on the way home in girl mode, I stop at the same hotel for the night and proceed home the next morning.
This year was the first time that the person at the front desk was the same coming and going.
When I showed up in girl mode Sunday evening, the front desk clerk did not seem to recognize me. At this hotel, I always request a room on the north side because the one time I stayed in a room on the south side, I was kept awake all night by tractor trailers downshifting on the exit ramp 200 feet away. So when I repeated the same request I had just made four days earlier, I thought she might recognize me, but she did not.
I asked, "I stayed here Wednesday night. Do you remember me?"
She replied, "No, I don't."
After I handed her my driver's license and she looked at it, she said, "Now I remember you."
And she added, "You look very nice."
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I overpacked again. (What else is new!)
I brought two pairs of shoes, a pair of jeans, a blazer, a shrug, a hoody, a jumpsuit, two belts and two wigs that I did not wear. I also brought some makeup, nail polish and jewelry that I did not wear.
Overpacking was not a big deal because I drove a car to Hamvention, but I plan to fly next year, so I have to improve my packing skills.
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| Wearing Boston Proper |
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| Model Veit Alex and his mother. |
Overpack Stana?
ReplyDeleteI was on a recent business trip where I drove and brought 5 pairs of shoes. I love high heels but now I am packing in my purse a pair of flats just like yours to give my feet a break after hanging out at the mall.
Many hotel staff can be too busy to pay attention and yes they can have CCTV cameras but if you act your age (or ten years less in your case), dress appropriate and act like a normal woman then you are ok. This is just common sense.
I am sure you did really well with your presentation and if the video has you walking down the aisle the sudden focus on the "hot chick" making your way up to the podium would be priceless.
I found that if I lose my confidence or falter in focussing on my femulating while out in the mall then I really start to worry I am being read and then get scared.
I walked up to the food court counter ordered a meal and found a empty table, sat down and ate while being hyper aware for a bit to see if anyone noticed me as different. By the time I finished eating I felt relaxed and confident that I would be fine. Yes, I did cross and uncross my legs and did notice some older men looking my way at times.
So I am sure at first you were worried about your audience which is normal and after a few minutes your inner voice would have said "your doing fine honey just be yourself".
So how did you find or enjoy the walk to the gate to the booth and did you venture out looking for $5 TNCs? Did you do any local shopping in small town Ohio?
Ciao
Brenda
We parked in the vendor parking lot behind the three big buildings, so I did not walk through the gate. I did venture out, did some shopping and visited just about every booth at the show. But I had no time for any local shopping in small town Ohio.
DeleteAs we all know (or should know), we're our own toughest critics.When I went to work for SDS, the first computer manufacturer I worked for, part of my job involved giving demos and presentations. I hadn't done it before, but it turned out I didn't freeze in front of a crowd. My first attempts were OK, but I was long on details and short on relating to my audience. I got good feedback and was a pretty fast study. By the time I was working for HP, I was training new hires, techies and sales reps, and was in demand for key customer pitches.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of my successes, I always had "butterflies" before starting and wondered if I did a good job after the presentation. I got to thinking that these "negatives" actually helped me do a good job. I passed this on to my "kiddos" while training them. It helps us stay focused, something that easily slips away if we go into a presentation "knowing it all". So don't change a thing, Shana, your feedback proved you did well.
Oh, let me add that my public speaking was done by Mike, not Mikki. That's an additional variable for you, Shana, but a look in your mirror before going to the dais has already proven you're a beautiful woman. So that variable is an asset and you're starting on the plus side.
Over the years, I have made about 50 presentations at Hamvention and other ham radio conventions and I always have butterflies! Once I get going, the butterflies disappear and I do a credible job. This year, things were a little more nerve-racking because I was scheduled for one forum and ended up presenting in a different forum, so my preparation for the original forum went out the window and I had to prep for the new forum on the fly.
DeleteI remember when I used to play trumpet, sometimes I felt like I did poorly in a performance even though audience members told me it was great. Then I'd hear the tape and find that yeah, it sounded fine. We can hear all sorts of little faults and glitches that never make it to those listening. I'll bet when you do see the video, you'll say, "wow...what was I worried about?"
Delete"If I had a dime for.....". Let's make this a no cliche' zone. The number of presentations I've given are in the TMTC range (Too Many To Count). And it came as no surprise when my pesky customers asked a question that often sent us into a totally different place.But that's all part of the adventure, part of why those butterflies were activated. My kiddos were taught to be uber-prepared -- and I gave them some pointers in the "Baffle 'em with BS" arts. That's the part of my work I really missed when I retired.
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