Google NY Speaker Series: Vint Cerf — just awesome. – this is how to do it.

Tonight I had the opportunity to visit Google NY HQ for their NY Speaker Series. This evening the speaker was Google's Head of Internet Evangelism, Vint Cerf. My buddy Corsin tells me that Vint invented the Internet.

Unfortunately Google basically demanded that we not take any photos nor blog about the specifics of the event. I have an email into Google PR to ask if I can blog about the event, but for now, I will comply and not discuss the specifics of the event. So you might ask, Allen, why are you even wasting my time with a post! Good question Darshan.

I want to discuss why Vint's presentation absolutely rocked and why every one of the presenters in the FOOA today and in most other conferences I attend could learn something from Vint.

Vint wears a 3 pc suit (for you youngens, thats a vest as the 3rd piece). I have never been to one of his presentations so looking at him, I was a bit worried. But with 800+ people in attendance, on two floors of Google's office, I figured it had to be good.

Now, can you think of a more boring subject than protocols (not Jack Bauer's protocols) and how the Internet works? Anyway, the presentation was awesome. Why? Because it was entertaining along with rich in content value. This combination is the key. Some presentations need to be dead serious, yes. But most presentations need a bit of entertainment to keep the audience engaged. I have not laughed so much in a presentation in years. And I walked away learning a lot as well.

So unless I get approval from Google to write about the content of the presentation, this is where the post must end. I am adding Tip #11 to my Top 10 tips for presenters… that is.. add some entertainment to your presentation. Just a bit here and a bit there, and your attendees will thank you.

Now since I can't share any photos or data, I thought I would share some fun photos from the Chelsea Market across the street from Google HQ. If you ever are in NYC head over to 16th street and 9th avenue for one of the best local markets around. About 50 local vendors (mostly bread and sweets) offer up their goods in a very calm environment. So tonight the cupcake house had some Sesame Street cupcakes on display. Here are some pics and who I think each cake represents (humor factor only!). Please add your own characterizations in the comments :)

Jason Calacanis (l) and Guy Kawasaki (r)

me (l) and Loren Feldman (r)

Ask a Ninja (l) and Michael Arrington (r)