Tech demos can make or break a presentation, and sometimes even a company. When they're on a large stage and compressed into a handful of minutes, getting them right is harder than it looks. Especially when the features are coming in hot.
In this talk, I'll share what I've learned building dozens of demos for Microsoft and GitHub keynotes, large product launches, and even a TED talk.
We’ll look at how to turn a feature-parade into a coherent narrative, when and how to use smoke and mirrors without losing trust, and how to make a demo land with very different audiences. We'll also cover how to fit a surprising amount into a short window, how to stay flexible when things change at the last minute, and how to balance risk and impact when failure isn't an option.
Building tech demos that effectively show off features while remaining realistic and compelling is a skill I’ve learned over several years. Sometimes through failure, sometimes through success. I’ve built and (not always personally) delivered keynotes to tens of thousands of people and videos for feature releases viewed by hundreds of thousands.
The best demos aren’t simply a tour through new features. They can tell a story and evoke amazement (and drive sales) if done correctly.
This talk is based on years of building high-pressure, high-risk demos to show off features and products that are fresh off the assembly line. Sometimes they’re still on the assembly line. That means last minute changes, partly-working software, and mitigating an array of expected and unexpected failures. The tips in this talk can apply to demos for 10 people or 10 million people.
Damian is a Staff Developer Advocate at GitHub and loves all things DevOps and developer experience.
Formerly a Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, and a developer at Octopus Deploy, Damian has a 25+ year background in devrel, software engineering and consulting in a broad range of industries.
Damian regularly speaks at conferences, meetups, and other events online and around the world.
