Page 53 - Summer 2024 EDM Today

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Without a better answer, he simply shrugged his shoul-
(I’ll not complain, considering Tolstoy’s, “War and Peace”
of over 1,200 pages was written longhand, without “click
ders in resignation and said, “It’s a matter of routine.”
and drag,” or “copy and paste” editing ability.)
“Really?,” I absorbed aloud as I collected my copies of
the Navy Pier Security and Chicago PD reports and the
RESISTANCE
Navy Pier insurance forms and zipped them into my new,
but now-empty computer bag. After receiving no reply to
my last question, I politely suggested, “Perhaps you guys
to me choosing a Mac laptop and a docking station, after
should change your routine,” and stepped out of the door,
installation, they were amazed to look over my shoulder
surprised by the night’s cool darkness as I searched for a
to see that within a Mac/PC software program and a
taxi stand and the way back to my hotel. Despite my company’s IT Department’s strong resistance
mouse click, I could see, run and switch between both
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operating systems at the same time and operate all of
BUD, WHERE WAS YOUR BACKUP?
their existing Windows programs, their email and even
access their ancient mainframe, AS-400 system. The IT
Yes, of course, I had a complete back-up disk of all my
lady was reluctantly impressed and even admired my
hard work. Who wouldn’t have prepared so? Unfortunate-
predicted compatibility with all of their systems.
ly, it was in the drive of the stolen computer where I had
carelessly left it after burning it, instead of removing it and
“TIME OUT”
storing it separately.
With me back home and with my
computer being replaced by insurance,
should easily conclude this “Tales of
a Road Warrior.” Instead, if my Editor
will allow it, I will break away from
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my main topic to explain something
pertinent within this story that I have
experienced personally many times in my speaking career
and is something that every “wanna-be,” or inexperienced
speaker should know.
Whether you have never spoken and would like to, or have
spoken before and need some reinforcement, I encourage
Groan. (It serves me right for being such a bonehead.)
you why. It’s because you almost always automatically
As expected, my laptop was never recovered, probably
have your audience’s empathy and what I call...
“smuggled out days later in a backpack,” exactly how I
had been told, as this kind of theft was “a matter of you to try to speak and continue to try to do so and I’ll tell
routine” as had been explained to me.
uncomfortable for the speaker. EDM Today Magazine
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“SPEAKER SYMPATHY”
Fortunately, I never experienced this kind of adversity
As promised earlier, we must discuss “Speaker Sympa-
again. Of course not...after that, I prevented it. Having
thy.” Unless one is espousing politics or a divisive subject,

learned this lesson firsthand, thereafter my computer
an educational seminar is a shared learning experience,
and presentation never left my possession.
met largely with eager speaker receptivity and compas-
sion. This is to say that everyone came to learn and hopes
(“Ok, Laptop...where shall we go for lunch?”)
the speakers are successful in their educational presen-
tations. No one in the audience welcomes or enjoys a
THE SILVER LINING
situation, the audience is naturally sympathetic and feels
On what one might describe this as a “Cloudy Day,” the
“Silver Lining” to this story is that my company’s insur- misspeak, an A/V breakdown or obvious mistake. In this
ance allowed me to replace my stolen PC laptop with
In my own situation at Navy Pier and with almost the
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multiple choices.
entire audience aware of my unfair handicap, no matter
how bad or lacking my fallback presentation might have
It must also be noted that Melissa Kline (now Melissa
been, I automatically had the audience’s sympathy vote
Kline Skavlim) of Modern Machine Shop magazine and
for my “The Show Must Go On” attitude and spirit.
the Conference Chairperson called me with her apologies
and assurances of replacement. I felt this was both kind
Encouraged by my audience’s unneeded sympathy vote,
I completed my afternoon presentation without a glitch.
and generous, especially since I felt this was beyond their
responsibility and they bore no fault.
I was rewarded by many people coming up to me after-
wards to thank me, ask questions and was genuinely
Fortunately, MMS’s assistance was not needed as my
company’s own insurance policy allowed me to select a

sign my book for the first of many times. (Sign my book?
much more reliable Macintosh platform (my first choice,
Wow, this is new. Very new. A “book signing,” really? Uh...
as I’ve always had personal Mac computers). embarrassed when a line had formed and I was asked to
how do you spell “Bud?” C’mon...I’m just a grunt out of a
machine shop; how did I come to be asked to sign hun-
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Note: The “The EDM Handbook” was produced on an
dreds of EDM books written by me?)
ancient and slow, Mac Plus and long before the Internet
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EDM Today, Summer 2024 Issue