DSF MayDay 2024
MC Guide
The goal of the Data Science Festival is Data Science for all. We are a community-driven organisation and as we grow our community, we rely on volunteers like you to help us. We are very passionate about what we do and we hope you are too.
Please note if you are unable to make your volunteer shift let us know immediately.
Contact for the day: Lizzie Hunt
Contact email: lizzie@createcommunities.com
Emergency contact number: 07852804440 (Lizzie Hunt, Event Manager)
Please download Slack on your phone so Lizzie can contact you when you are in the conference room.
Date: Saturday 18th May 2024
Time: 8:15 AM – 18:00 PM (sessions run from 9:00 AM – 16:45 PM)
Venue: CodeNode, 10 South Pl, London, EC2M 7EB, United Kingdom
Venue Contact Number: +44 (0) 207 183 9040
Important information for the day
– Please go to registration on the main floor to collect your badge at 8:00 AM. We will also have a briefing and questions at this time (we can cover anything on this list that is unclear at this point).
– The dress code is smart casual. There will be a DSF t-shirt to wear ready at the venue for you.
– Your ticket has a QR code. Please have this scanned for entry into the building. Once you have checked in, please grab your badge from the registration desk and wear this for the duration of the event.
– You will be in charge of your allocated room for either a full or half day depending on your shift.
– In each conference room, there will be a podium for the speaker and a lapel/handheld mic ready.
– Could you please assist with seating attendees near the front of the room and filling any empty seats.
– In each conference room, there will be MC introduction sheets and count-down signs for 10, 5, and 2 minutes and Stop. These are for you to hold up to countdown the speakers to stop on time, keeping them on schedule.
– If you need any help, please ask one of the volunteers in a DSF shirt to help you at any time.
– When recording inside the rooms, please be mindful of the cameras and avoid standing in front of them. This will ensure that the footage is clear and unobstructed.
– As the video team walks around outside the rooms, it would be wonderful if you could smile, wave, and interact with the cameras to create a lively and welcoming environment.
What to cover on the day
Before the session starts:
– Greet the speaker when they come to the room.
– If you are missing a speaker, please let Lizzie know, she will call them.
– Check that they are happy with what you are about to announce for them.
– Take the speaker to the AV team who will give them a mic.
Once the session begins:
– Welcome everyone using the handheld mic on the podium.
– Introduce yourself.
– Introduce your speaker – name, title and company.
– Read out the bio or part of the bio. (You will receive this the week before the event and it will also be printed in the room for you).
– Ask the audience to welcome them on stage.
– While the talk is happening, the next speaker should arrive to start the process again.
– You can check with Shannon if they have collected their badge and are in the building.
– Keep track of time and show the speaker the 10, 5, 2 minutes and Stop signs at the end of the session. Each talk session is 40 mins long with 5 mins for a handover to the next speaker.
– If they take questions, you can use the handheld mic to pass to the audience for the questions so that everyone can hear.
At the end of the session:
– Thank the speaker at the end and take off the speaker’s lapel mic.
– Move to the next speaker or break as needed.
– Announce the lunch or any breaks as listed.
Key times
Saturday 18th May 2024
7:30 AM – Set up
8:00 – 9:00 AM – Registration
9:00 – 10:30 AM – Speaker sessions
10:30 – 11:00 AM – Coffee break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Speaker sessions
12:00 – 12:30 PM – Lunch for sponsors
12.30 – 13:15 PM – Lunch for attendees
13:15 – 14:45 PM – Speaker sessions
14:45 – 15:15 PM – Coffee break
15:15 – 16:45 PM – Speaker sessions
16:00 – 18:00 PM – Breaking down
MC FAQ
Where do I check in?
Please check in at the registration desk on the top floor. Find a member of the DSF team to check you in and provide you with a volunteer t-shirt. Please change into your T-shirt.
Is there a staff room?
There is a Staff Room labelled as ‘BACKSTAGE’ on the floor plan, this is on the ground floor behind the CTRL stage, where you can store your bags and coats. Please do not leave valuables in this room as it will be accessed by all the volunteers and staff. As this room is behind the stage, please note that this will be a silent area. Please note this is a different room than previous years.
Will lunch be provided?
Lunch will be provided, and you can use the staff room to eat.
Water is free and available at all times in the main networking area and in every session room. There will also be two coffee breaks, where free tea and coffee will be provided.
If you have any dietary requirements please let us know ahead of time so we can reserve you any speciality meals. Email this to maddie@createcommunities.com.
Is there WiFi?
Yes, there is free WiFi available.
Network: CodeNode
Password: EnterSpace
How do I get to the venue?
Via tube/train: The nearest underground stations are Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations. Both stations are on the Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines. Moorgate is also on the Northern Line, and Liverpool Street on the Central Line.
In addition, Liverpool Street Station is a major overland train station connecting CodeNode directly with the outer London regions and the rest of the UK.
To reach CodeNode from Moorgate Station, exit Moorgate Station, turn right onto Moorgate, and turn right again onto South Place. Walk down on South Place until you reach number 10 on your right.
Via bicycle: For cyclists, there is a Santander Cycles Hire docking station just outside our venue on South Place.
Via car: If you want to commute by car to CodeNode, NCP Finsbury Square offers an ideal parking spot. Located beneath the lawn bowls green, you’re only a short walk from CodeNode, Moorgate and Old Street. CodeNode is also serviced by a large loading bay, should you require deliveries or unloading. You can also check out Parkopedia for details of nearby parking.
What hotels are nearby?
Is there disability access at the venue?
The entrance to the venue is on ground level and there is a lift inside to access the lower ground floor. There are disabled toilets within the venue. We also reserve a couple of seats on the front row in each speaker room for anyone requiring this. The venue also allows guide dogs at the event.
Code of Conduct
All staff, attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at our festivals or online events are required to agree with the following code of conduct. Organisers will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
Our events, webinars and conferences are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, seniority, cultural, socioeconomically, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment of participants in any form. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for any festival venue, including talks, workshops, parties, social media and other online media. Festival or online participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the festival/webinar at the discretion of the Festival organisers.
Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, seniority, culturally, socioeconomically, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately.
Sponsors are also subject to the anti-harassment policy. In particular, sponsors should not use sexualised images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualised clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualised environment.
If a participant engages in harassing behaviour, the festival organisers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the festival or webinar.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the festival staff immediately. Festival staff can be identified as they’ll be wearing branded clothing and/or badges with DSF Crew on them. You can also email info@datasciencefestival.com.
For our in-person events, festival staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the Festival. We value your attendance.
We expect participants to follow these rules at festivals and workshop venues, webinars where appropriate, and festival-related social events.
Please do not conduct any personal recordings. Once we have a speaker’s permission and the presentation is edited, we will then release content to our festival website and YouTube.
For our in-person events, please put mobile phones on silent during all talks.
No excessive photography.
For our in-person events, in consideration of fellow attendees, no food is allowed in the session rooms.
If you have any questions, comments, special needs, disabilities, wish to report an incident or dietary restrictions that we can address to make your participation more enjoyable, please contact:
Jessica Willis
Director
info@datasciencefestival.com