Beethoven Didn't Use PowerPoint

Lots of people think songs without singing is not a song. Tell Beethoven that and he'll kick your @ss. -- Eddie Van Halen

I have seen a lot of technical presentations over the years. I have given some, but not recently. I've been thinking that it is time for another, to broaden my horizons.

I have a fantasy to try and pull off a technical presentation without any slides or demos.

I suspect that "lots of people think presentations without slides or demos is not a presentation" (see quote above)....

Is it possible -- no slides? no demos? Consider:

• A truly good speaker just needs a stage and a chalkboard. After all, professors have communicated sophisticated ideas for centuries without PowerPoint.
• I have blogged before that the best takeaways from a presentation are not bullet items nor code snippets. Give me ideas.
• Though I'm no expert, I have taken some acting classes and improv classes. One might say I'm a thespian trapped inside a man's body. The improvisation class in particular was an object lesson for the argument "less is more". A stage and 2 people: go! Hijinx ensues.

Admittedly, there are lots of good reasons for slides, and especially demos, but I'm intrigued. Especially since the SD West 2001 conference in San Jose, where I saw a master at work.

Cliff Stoll gave a keynote address that was fantastic. One part Einstein and one part Robin Williams, he ran around the stage frenetically, talking at 90 MPH, with his arms folded over his head. He ran into the audience, with his disheveled hair bouncing all over the place. He waved his arms; he yelled. He showed a home-built radar detector and ran towards it. A lot of running.... And a lot of very interesting points, often punctuated by a pause: the point would be brought home in a quiet voice, with a direct, knowing look into the audience. The subtext was often: "No, I'm not crazy. I'm dynamic." He spoke for 90 minutes, and received a standing ovation. It was truly spectacular.

Now, it is indeed true that the presentation was about abstract ideas, and not, say, the Java 3D API or Guice annotations.

Plus, it was a high-end keynote: I don't see myself building a radar dectector for a local Java SIG meeting, and running around in front of puzzled Java fans as though I'm in a play, talking crazily to unseen characters offstage.

But, still...... Beethoven didn't use PowerPoint.

The Zen of Code Virtuosity

(To repeat readers: if you read the initial Ether/DI post, check it out as it has been edited/clarified. I screwed up.)

As many know, this blog draws a parallel between software development and composing music, particularly with respect to the spectrum from "master" or "virtuoso" to "apprentice".

In my experience, I have learned that the masters say curious things sometimes. Here are a few key phrases. I think the masters say these more often than the apprentices.

"I was wrong"

My unofficial definition of intellectual honesty is an effort to prioritize truth over one's own ego. It's not easy: everyone falters at times. But the masters seem to have enough confidence and passion for excellence that they can keep their egos in check.

Also, they aren't afraid of failure. Beethoven's original manuscripts were marked up tremendously as he continually refined his ideas (for months, years), polishing them and making them right.

"I don't know (yet)"

This phrase echoes intellectual honesty too, but also curiosity. The masters are often intrigued by new, cutting edge ideas that are outside of their comfort zone. They're thinkers, philosophers.
If there is something we aren't sure about, as developers, then we probably aren't pushing our boundaries enough. Or we are boorish goons.

"You have five fingers on each hand just as healthy as mine."

It might be apocryphal, but legend has it that old man JS Bach said this to a student. The point is his modesty. He was Bach for freak's sake, and yet felt that it was sheer hard work that separated him from the rest. That's ego management.

I have heard similar tales about some fantastic modern guitar players. One favorite is Joe Satriani. He can blow you off the stage, pal, and yet is a regular "Joe" and a zen-like teacher in his own right.

The Upshot

I'm not a master, but I'm going to try these phrases in my next meeting. If they don't seem to fit the situation, then let's go with this Zen dandy:

I'm listening to the sound of one file merging.