6 March 2015
I’m the opening speaker at Offset, a high-profile design conference in Dublin. | I hardly slept last night, up until three doing run-throughs to settle my nerves, but this has had the adverse affect and made me even hate the sound of my own voice. I’m something of a veteran of the stage having gigged so many times in recent years, but a change of context is tricky to deal with – and now I’m on the bill as a ‘professional’ and I feel anything but prepared. I arrive at the venue early and technicians are still rushing round trying to connect laptops to screen and sound, and it’s not working. Oddly their slight panic helps to settle my nerves. Eventually 11.00am comes and I stand on stage behind the podium, with my laptop and paper printouts of a loose script. Everything looks different now with the lights dimmed but I can feel the auditorium is full.

I hit the space bar. 

To the amplified sound of someone typing, I shuffle paper as if reviewing my notes, occasionally feigning to tap the keys. As I glance around I can see the organiser and technicians looking anxious – there is no image on screen and I am saying nothing, and they reasonably suspect the projector is not working. Nervous glances. The audience are becoming palpably uncomfortable and I can hear shuffling and mumbling – this sequence with only the sound of typing, is a full 90 seconds!^{23 23.} Silvermilk @Silvermilk__ @weloveoffset ‘At Peter Maybury’s talk wondering if there’s some technical difficulties? Very interesting guy non the less [sic].’ Available at: https://twitter.com/Silvermilk__/status/573814642092425216?t=zPn0ZN-HUYjrfYvCtHUrew&s=03 [Accessed 28 March 2025]  Abruptly the sound stops: The title: ‘Make Ready’ flashes on screen, cutting almost violently to black and white footage and the immense sound of a printing press in operation. Subliminal flashes of the book cover are inserted into the video sequence as it shows a close up of sheets feeding through the press. The video sequence ends. It’s 3 minutes and 13 seconds before I finally speak.^{24 24.} ‘OFFSET @weloveoffset Peter Maybury dusts off cobwebs with lots of sound effects. Whistles, typewriters, classical music & engines. We’re wide awake! #OFFSET2015’ Available at: https://www.iloveoffset.com/news/offset2015/ [ Accessed 28 March 2025]

^{Fig. 10 The Existing Communicative Order
Peter Maybury, opening speaker, main stage, OFFSET conference, Dublin, March 2015.}