SXSW PanelPicker Success: Your Video

The Forrest Four-Cast: July 6, 2017

Last week, SXSW posted this video to help users better understand the 2018 PanelPicker entry process, which closes at the end of the day on Friday, July 21. If you haven’t spent a few minutes watching this video, then please do.

However, in terms of PanelPicker success, the video that we have produced is less important than the one that you should do. On Page 4 of the application, you will be invited to provide visual resources for your speaking proposal. This can be a website or some kind of slide deck. But, we highly recommend that the resource you include for this portion of the application be a video.

Why is a video so important? Because this will give us a much better understanding of your speaking style. Said another way, its good to be able to craft a speaking proposal that tackles a forward-thinking topic. But its even better to be able to deliver your knowledge with the kind of energy and enthusiasm that will capture the SXSW community. To this end, its best if your video covers the same topic as your speaking PanelPicker proposal. But a video that shows your speaking style at some other event is also acceptable.

Your video does not need to be long (two or three minutes is perfect), nor does it need to be professionally produced. Just please make sure that the lighting is and that the audio is clear (so that PanelPicker voters, the Advisory Board and staff judgers can see you and hear you).

Click here for more PanelPicker tips here. Also, visit this page to learn about other ways you can participate in SXSW (beyond a speaking idea). Finally, mark your calendar for August 1, the day that 2018 badge sales begin.

Hugh Forrest tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often (but not always) cover technology-related trends. When not attempting to wordsmith or meditating, he serves as Chief Programming Officer at SXSW in Austin.