tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36621277159765312962024-03-13T08:20:46.253-05:00A Great BlogThe Strategic Event Design BlogLive Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-33539430894903713902024-02-09T12:36:00.000-06:002024-02-09T12:36:36.293-06:00Industrial Strength Broadway: The Secret Music of Corporate Events Still Exists Today.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF632QvuBRSoxCGbVKfk5MwZYo5GU2rdtCuLNayyNCshyphenhypheny39w7S76dLRFxfTZJQambB_eRVUY5WHa_NAN-W0Kh5WrzCmLIPmaHcyIpa2igpAboZNtwXqDsy0gLGXWB0y6OX3NZpsOaPV4syikXgl-ySMmbuXhyphenhyphenrkEBEgrJZfolyKMFK451o6nORX2oF9yb/s600/Industrial%20Strength%20Broadway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF632QvuBRSoxCGbVKfk5MwZYo5GU2rdtCuLNayyNCshyphenhypheny39w7S76dLRFxfTZJQambB_eRVUY5WHa_NAN-W0Kh5WrzCmLIPmaHcyIpa2igpAboZNtwXqDsy0gLGXWB0y6OX3NZpsOaPV4syikXgl-ySMmbuXhyphenhyphenrkEBEgrJZfolyKMFK451o6nORX2oF9yb/s320/Industrial%20Strength%20Broadway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last night, part of the Live Spark crew went to see "Industrial Strength Broadway": a musical honoring the musicals written for corporate events in the 1950s-80s by Steve Young--the star of "Bathtubs Over Broadway" (same topic). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're not talking about jingles here--nothing that the population at large has seen. We're talking about "here are the benefits of our line of disposable paper medical supplies vs other supplies or competitors."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The conceit--along with highlighting the absurdity and the kitsch of musical numbers set to tractor benefits (paper cups, diesel engines, silicones, bathroom fixtures, etc.) and sales successes--was that this was both a peek into a secret world that was never meant to be seen by the general populous, and that it was a relic of a different era. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes to the first point--who even knew that parody songs (or original compositions) written to be performed at sales meetings even existed? (Well, apart from those of us in the industry. To wit: see point two...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No to the second point--because "industrial" musical numbers never quite went away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As we were watching the show I turned to my colleague during a particularly detail-heavy number about the uses of silicones (not silicone--never SILICONE) and whispered, "This feels...slightly traumatic." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Why?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Because this is still my life!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My assertion was a joke, of course, but the days of listening to product managers, sales VPs, marketing luminaries, etc., espouse the details of their product and having to synthesize a song encapsulating all those features and benefits in a very specific (not always fitting the meter of your song) way are not yet past us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've done several "Time Life Music Collection" parodies for companies highlighting their equipment in various ways (features, benefits, purpose, etc.), we just wrote a parody highlighting a three step sales process that a company wanted everyone to learn (and how better to get the order of the steps correct than to set them to a musical reminder?). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There may not be Ziegfeld-Follies-level dance numbers to accompany the music anymore, but the music still exists. In addition to highlighting product features and benefits, we'll write songs to close an event--encapsulating the attendee experience for the entire meeting in just a few verse highlights. We'll introduce incentive trip destinations or next year's show through song. We'll even open a show and give the high points of what to expect for the next x days with an opening number (an Oscar number on an Oscar Meyer budget). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All these songs endure because music engages us emotionally. It's a fun way to get information, it helps content stick, and it provides a point of storytelling and interaction that just cannot be matched by spoken presentation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's a reason why people unrelated to any industrial/corporate world packed a theater to see the inner-workings of the corporate industrial musical--these private, funny, weird, secret songs still have the ability to engage and move us. </div></div><p></p>Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-22822057771375815472020-06-02T22:36:00.001-05:002020-06-02T22:36:08.414-05:00Social Learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like a lot of parents since COVID-19 became a global pandemic, I've been doing "distance learning" with my child. What my peer group and I have noticed, universally, is that a lot of kids who were great in school classrooms...are not doing well when removed from the classroom environment.<br />
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This isn't just due to one factor, of course, but significant elements that are missing--that are creating a learning gap for kids--are also creating training and working gaps for businesses and employees. Some of these elements can be looked at to make more robust, effective in-person events (when they happen again).<br />
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<u>Learning concierge</u><br />
In the classroom:<br />
Children need a teacher figure or, at the very least, a non-distracted person who is dedicated to their learning; who is there to answer questions, give support, and who proactively reaches out.<br />
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Event application:<br />
Having event organizers and trainers onsite who are not only available for questions, but who actively reach out and network with attendees to ensure that they're grasping key concepts (not just "having a good time").<br />
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<u>Peer Groups</u><br />
In the classroom:<br />
Children learn better in peer groups. Solo learning can be intense and studious, but focus can come from the accountability of being in a group of peers. You owe it to your other students to pay attention, settle down, be active so everyone can hear and learn.<br />
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Event application:<br />
Having people together, physically, in the same room creates an environment where success or failure can be won as a team. We often team up attendees for this reason; it's easy for one person to be lost in a crowd, but it's hard to escape accountability in a group of 10 WITHIN a much larger meeting.<br />
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<u>Distribution of Responsibility</u><br />
In the classroom:<br />
Children work together on projects, boosting the collective knowledge of the group by bringing in shared experiences, objections, additions, and brainstorming.<br />
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Event application:<br />
Interactive tasks, extra-general session work, etc., can be assigned or completed if given as a team project. Participants are able to do more and interact in a more dynamic way--producing FOR the event--if they're interacting together.<br />
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<u>Changing up the Format</u><br />
In the classroom:<br />
Kids have multimedia, print, lecture, etc.; the typical day is broken up by a variety of sources giving information, connection to the outside world, self-directed research, and different topics that stretch their brains. They can ask questions, guide discussion, etc. It's a vastly different environment than an overburdened Zoom call or infrequently touching base with a teacher.<br />
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Event application:<br />
No one is having fun being on 8 hours of Zoom calls a day to talk to their teams. Virtual events are still placing people in one environment; the computer screen. Just like most live events still place their attendees in one format; the PowerPoint presentation. Events would do well to change the physical environment and the variety of ways that information is presented and how people interact with that information.<br />
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While kids may or may not go back to school in-person in the fall, and adults may or may not return to in-person events, it's clear that they provide value that contributes to the success and learning of their attendees in ways that virtual environments cannot.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-73714719936695249802020-04-21T13:17:00.003-05:002020-04-21T13:17:55.298-05:00Virtual Team Building<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that lots of offices are working remotely, co-workers are struggling to connect with each other (both because of all the other pressures in the home--kids, pets, stress, etc. but also because it's just not the same to have a water cooler conversation when the water cooler is your kitchen tap and you might not be wearing proper pants).<br />
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Strange times lead to a dearth of connection, and team building is a great boost to office morale--but how do you team build when everyone is in a different space? Here are a few ideas:<br />
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<u>Online Competition</u>: Many companies have dipped their toes in virtual competitions already. (Intel, for instance, does a widespread competition for retail salespeople.) Divide offices into teams and host online quizzes, competitions, scavenger hunts, etc. with weekly leaderboard results.<br />
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<u>Virtual Trivia</u>: Speaking of online quizzes; having a virtual trivia break at the end of a week is a great way to both review what has been happening that week--getting everyone on the same page even if they've been working remotely--and lighten the mood. Prizes may or may not be involved, but everyone plays along using virtual keypads (see <a href="http://www.learningware.com/">www.learningware.com</a>) for a great virtual (and classroom) game show resource.<br />
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<u>Show your Talent</u>: Virtual meetings are giving co-workers tiny glimpses into the personal lives of their peers. Capitalize on that by doing a bit of a talent show. Can someone play the guitar? Can they make up a parody song about virtual work? Do they have a cat that can meow on command? Time to find out!<br />
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<u>Video Presentations:</u> Co-workers (or management) can prepare short, entertaining videos, showcasing what's going on with their projects. One of our clients is sending out messages from their AniMated mascot--featured at their face-to-face events--to keep everyone updated in a fun, lighthearted way.<br />
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<u>Hangout Happy Hour</u>: My husband's company enacted a virtual happy hour--and combined this with a trivia/icebreaker game. It was a designated time to unwind a bit in a high-stress climate. Cocktails are optional, of course.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-10297219092992835712020-04-01T12:16:00.000-05:002020-04-01T12:16:02.290-05:00Virtual Events: Making Do at a Distance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Virtual events have one big drawback: you are meeting in a space where people are inherently distracted. In these times, especially, audience members are faced with more distraction than usual (for instance, I'm writing this while my 16 month old takes a nap and I'm plying my 5 year old with her 50th viewing of Wizard of Oz while I'm supposed to be homeschooling her. That's her beside me busting in on a Zoom call I had earlier.)<br />
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You won't necessarily be able to control wandering children, but how do you make the best of some of the other challenges of meeting in a virtual space?<br />
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What do you do when virtual events are not ideal, but are a necessity? You make the best of it.<br />
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<b><u>Challenge:</u></b> Attention span in the online space drops from 5-7 minutes to 2-5 minutes.<br />
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<b><u>Solution:</u></b> Add interactive elements.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In a face-to-face presentation you lose the audiences' attention in 5-7 minutes if you don't change the way you're presenting. You can do this by adding video, telling a story, adding interaction, etc. In the virtual space, this time frame is even less generous, and changing the way you present is more challenging. The audience NEEDS to interact instead of being passive watchers, or they'll disengage faster than you can say "new browser tab".</blockquote>
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<b><u>Challenge:</u></b> A lack of experiential "wow" or impact.<br />
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<b><u>Solution:</u></b> Provide an event experience.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Consider having a virtual event EXPERIENCE instead of slapping presentations together and hoping for the best. Consider having an emcee. Interject humor and connect your event elements together. Consider your environment--music, media, other elements. Break up presentations with networking questions. Make attendees part of their own learning experience by engaging their emotion and active participation. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Consider turning your virtual event into a team building competition--put attendees on teams and ask game questions in between presentation points. </blockquote>
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<b><u>Challenge:</u> </b>Virtual presentations can feel canned and not suit the needs of your audience.<br />
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<b><u>Solution:</u></b> Pare down your presentation and add dynamic elements.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Don't just put a presentation online--create a virtual experience (i.e. play in the space you're in). Brevity has always been the soul of wit, and in the virtual event space time is attention. Focus in on what is absolutely need-to-know and strip out extras. It's even more important to consider what your audience will actually be able to SEE in your presentation, and what will be an eye-chart (or is just your talking points on a PPT slide). Every visual should be clean and have impact. </blockquote>
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<b><u>Challenge:</u></b> Lack of accountability.<br />
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<b><u>Solution:</u></b> Make attendees part of the experience.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Videoconferencing has upped the ante for the webinar (attendees can no longer, for instance, leave the room to go to the bathroom on the call), and some platforms like Zoom let presenters know when their attendees have shifted their attention to other windows. However, a better way to make attendees accountable is to make them part of the experience. Have them craft pieces of a presentation, incorporate training techniques like roleplays, etc., within the event. You can also have quizzes/game questions throughout the virtual event that ensure that attendees are paying attention and accountable for knowing the content. </blockquote>
Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-46937301646218670732020-03-31T16:06:00.001-05:002020-03-31T16:06:38.657-05:00Events in the time of COVID-19: Revisiting the Virtual Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In 2008-2010, the events industry went through a heck of a downturn (along with the rest of the country). Companies simply weren't hosting events anymore--whether their business was ailing, they needed to be economically shrewd, or they simply needed to maintain the appearance of austerity.<br />
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We discovered that the stopgap measure of virtual or hybrid events was better than nothing--but that no one was ready to give up large face-to-face events. As soon as the economy rebounded, people were meeting again (and more than ever).<br />
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There were a few reasons for this:<br />
Face-to-face events provided superior engagement and networking experiences.<br />
Video and virtual events didn't replace human connection.<br />
In-person and destination events were highly motivating and produced a significant return on their investment.<br />
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But. Virtual events were better than nothing.<br />
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Now we find ourselves unable to physically get together to quell the spread of a pandemic. None of us really know how long or short-lived it will be, or when companies will go back to hosting face-to-face events again. (And it isn't an IF, it's a WHEN.)<br />
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In the meantime, we revisit virtual events. Videoconferencing. Virtual tradeshows.<br />
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The good thing is: we've learned a few things about best-practices for virtual engagement from the 2008-2010 years. In the next few blog posts we'll cover some of the problems you're likely to come across in the virtual event space--and some of the ways you can mitigate those problems.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-50153127359385515722019-10-15T10:14:00.000-05:002019-10-15T10:14:07.315-05:00Your Presentation is the Ugly Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's an old Seinfeld episode where Jerry and Elaine struggle with their friends' baby being ugly. Their friends, you see, think their baby is adorable. Of course they do. It's their BABY. They viewed it with bias and love and affection (and I'm sure it had many redeeming qualities), but it was objectively unattractive.<br />
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The author William Faulkner once said: "In writing, you must kill your darlings." Which was not in reference to characters or themes, but rather in sometimes having to cut a particular turn of phrase or paragraph that you are particularly in love with.<br />
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What do these two anecdotes have in common? Perspective. When one is too close to something--when it's their life, their livelihood, their expertise--it is hard to view it objectively. It's tough to see that your presentation baby is ugly and you might need to kill that darling section.<br />
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The audience, an overwhelming majority of the time, will come at your presentation with a different view--being on the outside of it--than you have on the inside.<br />
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Here are things to consider when crafting your presentation to kill your own darlings, make sure your baby isn't ugly, and keep the audience in mind:<br />
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<b><u>The audience doesn't share your perspective:</u></b><br />
Where you may see the beautiful poetry of the R&D story of your product, your audience may see unnecessary background that won't help them sell.<br />
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When you are convinced that everyone absolutely must know the last 20 years of sales data for your niche silo, your audience may struggle with seeing the relevance (but succeed at seeing the inside of their eyelids).<br />
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Consider your audience first and then think about how you fit into their needs.<br />
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<b><u>Filter what's "nice to know" versus what they "need to know": </u></b><br />
You have limited real estate in your audiences' brains. Use it wisely. Your audience will not be able to take in your 10-point-plan-for-success. They will maaaaaybe remember 3-5 points. But are those 3 points going to be the most important?<br />
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How do you make sure the most critical things are remembered? Hone your message down to the truly important--the need-to-know--and include ways the audience can find additional information and detail as their curiosity dictates. (You may even want to play a game to get them familiar with resources they may need to find the nice-to-know stuff.)<br />
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<b><u>Unlimited slides, limited words:</u></b><br />
Everyone is familiar with "Death by Powerpoint" as an expression--so we've had clients try to limit their presenter's slides...only to find that their presenters will add more information to each individual slide (we once had a company whose standard practice became a "quad"--4 slides on one--because they limited the slide number but not the content).<br />
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We never put a limit on the number of slides, but each slide should be clean, clear, and minimalistic.<br />
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<b><u>The audience must be able to see your information.</u></b><br />
To that end; Slides shouldn't be fancy. They should be uncluttered, message-supporting (as opposed to message-conveying), and should NOT be speaker notes. Numbers should be easily seen and uninterpreted data charts should be minimized.<br />
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It doesn't matter how important your number charts are (and they are!), if the audience can't see them and easily interpret them--they're a distraction.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-88047488280923157762019-10-08T12:49:00.000-05:002019-10-08T12:49:13.720-05:00From the Nursery to the National Sales Meeting: when did we move from nurture to torture?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When my daughter was 4 months old I <a href="https://live-spark.blogspot.com/2015/06/everything-i-need-to-know-about.html" target="_blank">wrote a blog post</a> about how everything you needed to know about an audience and their needs could be observed through the lens of interacting with a 4 month old baby. <br />
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My daughter is now in preschool and I’m once again fascinated by the striking difference in how we prime children to learn and how we inflict learning upon the adults in our organizations. (And, hey, it shouldn’t be that way!) <br />
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I was looking at her daily classroom schedule and noting how often they changed up the format. Noting the activities they do. Noting how VERY best-practice-brain-friendly their methods were. Now, the child’s brain is more plastic than the adult brain, MORE primed to learn. But somehow along the way, between nursery school and national adult audiences…we moved from nurturing learning to torturing the learners. <br />
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And, spoiler? Adults need just as much from their presentations as kids do. It’s just more obvious when kids tune you out—so we think that everything is fine if we’re boring the snot out of adults because they tend not to wiggle around and act out so much. <br />
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<i>We’ve learned control—not a different way to learn. </i><br />
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So. Here’s what I observed from the preschool classroom and ways to apply these principles of learning to your event: <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Peripherals.</span><br /> </u></b>Everywhere in my kid’s classroom there are bright, striking visuals reminding the students of what they’re learning. Colors. Numbers. The alphabet. What word rhymes with which animal. They are always there…being passively absorbed and as a reminder if the kids need a reference.<br />
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At an event, peripherals can accomplish the same thing. Lining the room with key message points, graphics, and ideas provides an environment that nurtures information absorption. Attendees can ADD to these graphics by writing down their own learning. We once had an event where attendees lined the walkway going into the room with their personal takeaways and quotes.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Frequent changes.</span><br /> </u></b>At first I was shocked that preschoolers changed lessons every 15-30 minutes. It didn’t seem like enough time to really dig into a topic. BUT, even in a hands-on classroom environment you’re operating within the limitations of the working memory. You simply can’t go heavy into a topic for an hour and expect individuals to take away all the detail you’d cram into that time.<br />
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At an event it’s the same story. The limit of an ADULT attention span for a single presentation style is 5-7 minutes (barring novelty and a shift in style). Having a 90 minute presentation, if not meticulously crafted with the adult learner in mind, is a brain-killer.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Stories. Morals. Lessons.</span><br /> </u></b> Children learn through stories, morals, fables, lessons. We tell kids stories because it engages their emotion and imagination. Emotion and memory are so strongly linked that to fail to engage emotion is to fail to invest in your information.<br />
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Adults are no different. We learn through the story. We remember a story around a piece of information much more easily than we remember a discrete fact. Anything CAN be a story with the right framing; your marketing plan for the year was developed through a story of research and insight. Telling a story also changes up the presentation style—so weaving a story into your data can reset and expand that 5-7 minute attention window.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Interaction and hands-on learning. </span><br /> </u></b>Somewhere in high school we start lecturing kids. Less so, now that we know better, but there’s still a fair amount of presentation=retention thinking. This is not the case in preschool; kids must try something themselves. They must interact, sing, ask questions, participate in the topic in multiple—sometimes tactile—ways.<br />
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Your audience craves interaction. Presentation does NOT, indeed, equal retention. To synthesize information your audience needs to work with it in some way. This can be discussing it, writing down key points (prompted, not just giving them notepads and hoping for the best), asking questions, playing games (yes, games), etc.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Curiosity-driven.</span><br /> </u></b>While the curriculum is set, kids are always given specific time to explore their own interests where they are then guided and built upon in a more intentional way.<br />
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Giving your attendees space and time to explore what they want to seek out is a great way to make the event personal and highly relevant. Ask attendees what THEIR goals are for the event. What problems they would like to solve. Who they would like to meet. Build in networking time and experimentation time. </blockquote>
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Elementary learning isn’t elementary. It’s studied, guided, practiced. It is an intentional process built to engage the brain at fundamental levels. And those fundamentals don’t just go away with time. We may fail to engage the adult brain in the same way, but that’s not because the adult brain doesn’t need engaging. <br />
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Oh, and recess? Not optional. Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-40665137490857577342019-09-30T14:45:00.000-05:002019-09-30T14:45:20.284-05:00Featured at SPINCon: "I'll Take Learning for 500: Using Gamification to Engage, Motivate & Train"Dan Yaman will be speaking at this year's <a href="https://spinplanners.com/Attend-Learn/SPINCon">SPINCon 2019</a>, November 3-5th in Monterey, CA. Dan's session will be on November 4th, and you don't want to miss it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xxFcehs7sE/XZJaFXr2TYI/AAAAAAAAAys/0GJQzsipnfEb2wIk3OuVN3YuS85DuToGACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSC09204.2.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xxFcehs7sE/XZJaFXr2TYI/AAAAAAAAAys/0GJQzsipnfEb2wIk3OuVN3YuS85DuToGACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/DSC09204.2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://spinplanners.com/Attend-Learn/SPINCon/Speakers">I'll Take Learning for 500: Using Gamification to Engage, Motivate & Train</a></div>
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<b>Dan Yaman - Live Spark</b></div>
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During this fun and engaging presentation, Dan will show how embedding gamification throughout an event dramatically increases audience engagement, enjoyment, and emotional impact resulting in a higher content retention and ROI.</div>
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Dan will outline several different strategies: Large-scale game shows, audience-response technologies and team competition. More importantly, the session will take the form of a game so the audience can understand why they are an effective solution to any event.<br /><br />BONUS: Each participants will receive a copy of the training industry's best selling book on game shows: "I'll Take Learning for 500" as well as a 6-month license to Gameshow Pro Go which lets meeting planners create their own Jeopardy or Family Feud game on their computer.<br /><br />Learning Objectives:<br /><ul>
<li>The 5 essential ingredients to gaming success.</li>
<li>Brain research on why games work and how to increase their impact.</li>
<li>Types of games that can be tailored to any event and budget.</li>
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Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-53121410075929221182019-09-24T10:13:00.004-05:002019-09-24T10:13:43.818-05:00Event Gamification Bootcamp: Build a Better Game Show Question<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RowT4e9f7A/XYBFeT-ck_I/AAAAAAAAAyU/JTLbwkErnekXTguFfxK3J2aipeotTqueQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_6221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RowT4e9f7A/XYBFeT-ck_I/AAAAAAAAAyU/JTLbwkErnekXTguFfxK3J2aipeotTqueQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_6221.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So you're using a game show at your event. Great idea.<br />
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You want to increase content retention, boost engagement, have a highly interactive experience and make the event energy soar...right?<br />
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But you want to make sure your game show doesn't fall flat. One of the key components to a game show is also one of the basics: The questions.<br />
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Event game shows can be made or broken on the strength of their questions. Here's why:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>The audience needs to feel the experience was worthwhile.</b> If questions are too easy and everyone is getting 100% all the time--what's the point of the game? It's not competitive. It doesn't keep peoples' attention or inspire them to cheer on their team, after a while.</li>
</ul>
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<li><b>The audience needs to feel success.</b> If questions are too difficult it's likewise discouraging. Game play will drag. The audience needs to experience enough success to remain engaged.</li>
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<li><b>The audience needs to stay in the spirit of the game show. </b>The audience can't feel so far behind or helpless that they "check out" of the game show. Scores need to be relatively even.</li>
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<li><b>The audience needs a positive overall experience. </b>Questions shouldn't cause controversy (unless it's intentional).</li>
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To achieve these things, questions must achieve a balance of being challenging but with attainable answers.<br />
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<b><u>Your questions are too hard:</u></b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Trivia questions are obscure.</li>
<li>Content questions are irrelevant.</li>
<li>Questions are meant to stump or focus on tiny details. </li>
<li>The distractors are too close to the correct answer.</li>
<li>There is no *objectively* correct answer.</li>
<li>There are "trick" questions.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Your questions are too easy:</u></b><br />
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<ul>
<li>ANY of your questions contain "all of the above" as the correct answer. </li>
<li>The correct answer option is longer/more detailed than the distractors.</li>
<li>Distractors are too obvious/not close enough to the correct answer. </li>
<li>Difficulty is set way below the expertise of the audience.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Your questions are poorly constructed:</u></b><br />
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<ul>
<li>The answer segments are longer than the question and more complex.</li>
<li>Questions and answers don't make sense.</li>
<li>It's unclear what's being asked.</li>
<li>Multiple answers could apply where a single answer is needed. </li>
<li>"Trick" questions are used to confuse instead of challenge. </li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Watch out for...:</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>True/False questions are often too tricky or too easy by their very nature. </li>
<li>All of the above is almost always too easy unless it's very carefully constructed.</li>
<li>Give the audience enough time to read and digest more complex questions.</li>
<li>Run your questions by someone at the level of the audience--not just your team of experts. </li>
</ul>
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Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-14828976561414582792019-09-16T14:55:00.000-05:002019-09-16T14:55:05.250-05:00Disengagement Does Not Discriminate: Making Engaging Events for All Generations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-muogE56rtCk/XX_jTxPIOXI/AAAAAAAAAyI/yYWcK89ilzgXcfBTJUgg46UyPCHUf68xQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Disengagement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1254" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-muogE56rtCk/XX_jTxPIOXI/AAAAAAAAAyI/yYWcK89ilzgXcfBTJUgg46UyPCHUf68xQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Disengagement.jpg" width="545" /></a></div>
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Some time right around when the Millennial generation was first hitting the workforce we got calls from frantic event planners: "How do we engage this new generation who just want to be on their phones all the time, won't pay attention, etc."</div>
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We would ask a few questions: How were you engaging your audience before? </div>
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And in most cases the answer was: Well, we didn't have to. This is a whole new generation we're dealing with!</div>
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While it's true that there are some generational engagement differences (i.e. Millennials skewing toward favoring collaboration), the truth of the matter is: The audience always NEEDED to be engaged...but previous generations just didn't have as many outward signs of boredom. </div>
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Disengagement does not discriminate; audiences need to be actively engaged no matter their age, generation, gender, race, creed, or other. </div>
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Here are 4 ways to cross-generationally engage your audience:</div>
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<b>1. Competition and Collaboration</b>: Capitalize on the very human need to connect and compete by incorporating participation in the form of competition and collaboration. Divide the audience into collaborative teams that compete against each other throughout the event--not just during one big block of dedicated "teambuilding" time. <div>
<br /><b>2. Technology without Distraction</b>: Embrace technology, but put the phone away. Audiences are often reluctant to part with their phones--particularly when they know that an event isn't going to be compelling. It's an entertainment crutch that keeps them afloat when presentations are dull. BUT being an event luddite is also totally out of touch. </div>
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Balance the need for tech with proprietary hardware, dedicated engagement points, and plenty of face-to-face interaction. If you're polling or gamifying your event--do it on a system dedicated for that--not the attendees' phones. </div>
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<br /><b>3. Compelling Presentation:</b> People of all generations need to be re-engaged every 5-7 minutes. We use the example: "Are you ever in church listening to the sermon and you find yourself with a wandering mind wondering how they dust way up in the upper reaches of the ceiling?" It's an example that transcends through the generations. </div>
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All audiences need active engagement. Ways to do this within a presentation include: Telling stories, taking a poll, doing an activity, showing a clip, adding humor, and much, much more. </div>
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<br /><b>4. Meaningful Downtime:</b> Letting the audience into the great wild of the evening event with the idea that they'll have some sort of meaningful connection or networking is, well, aspirational. </div>
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Have directed and meaningful downtime with structured networking that revolves around activity and events instead of loose conversation.<br /><br />
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Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-58319869032210165882019-09-09T11:41:00.001-05:002019-09-11T13:58:21.227-05:00Persuade Perfect: Be better at convincing your audience at your event.We all have different styles of being persuaded. In other words: different personality types look for different types of evidence to determine the viability of a persuasive argument.<br />
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So, naturally, what persuades Donald Trump wouldn't do much for Mr. Rogers (and vice versa).<br />
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As with learning styles there are a number of personality and persuasion models. Fortunately these models pretty much agree on the cross-section of criteria needed to reach most of the personality profiles.<br />
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We use the personality profiles suggested by Dr. Tony Alessandra in his book <u>The Platinum Rule</u> when building persuasive presentations at an event. The profiles are as follows:
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<ul>
<li><b>The Director:</b> Challenge-oriented, decisive, propelled by the inner need to be in charge, overcoming obstacles and accomplishment. Think Walt Disney. </li>
<li><b>The Socializer: </b>Chatty, expressive, fun-loving optimist that likes the crest of ideas, causes or projects. Key for socializers are building a network of friends and admirers. Think Austin Powers. </li>
<li><b>The Relater:</b> Friendly and personable, they operate at a slow steady pace and seldom show emotional peaks or valleys. They like to progress slowly and methodically. Think Mr. Rogers.</li>
<li><b>The Thinker:</b> Cerebrally oriented, prefer tasks over people and are contemplative, cautious and thorough. They thrive on detail and discipline. Think Joe Friday. </li>
</ul>
The above profiles are extremes; people tend to be a blend of types (i.e. a Socializing Director).<br />
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You can see some of the implications of persuasion profiles here: </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omdsJq7tezg/XXZ-bp-dvwI/AAAAAAAAAx8/dac_VufLH8Qj2YgmcQBQgyU-tAW93s3hwCLcBGAs/s1600/Persuasion%2Btable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="555" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-omdsJq7tezg/XXZ-bp-dvwI/AAAAAAAAAx8/dac_VufLH8Qj2YgmcQBQgyU-tAW93s3hwCLcBGAs/s640/Persuasion%2Btable.jpg" width="571" /></a></div>
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How this manifests at an event:</div>
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Your audience is full of people who can have radically different persuasion styles from each other, or from the presenters. A room full of sales people is more likely to be aligned with each other and a sales manager presenter on persuasion style than an audience of mixed roles and professions, however, a room full of social workers is less likely to be aligned in persuasion style with a CFO presenter (for instance). </div>
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With this in mind, the trick is to craft your event and event presentations with subtle appeal to ALL FOUR persuasion styles. Even if you're not looking to overtly sell something or convince people to change--you are looking for buy-in on your information; a reason for people to listen. </div>
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<b><u>Four-point Persuasion Plan: </u></b></div>
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For every presentation, include the following 4 elements:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><b>Facts:</b> What something is, how it's going to work, and what you KNOW to be true about the effects. </li>
<li><b>Case Studies:</b> Success stories of how something has worked before with peers or in other organizations.</li>
<li><b>Plans:</b> Detail on how something will be implemented--from front to back. </li>
<li><b>Relevance:</b> How the implementation will make their life better/make them a star. What it will look like in the future when it's successful.</li>
</ol>
</div>
Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-67727274435028606742019-08-28T14:23:00.002-05:002019-08-28T14:23:57.532-05:00The 4 Stages of Learning that MUST take place at your eventIn order for anyone to learn anything--from riding a bike to building a rocket to learning a new sales process--they need to go through the four stages of learning: Preparation, Presentation, Practice, and Performance.<br />
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Most sales meetings focus on the Presentation stage exclusively... but without addressing the other 3 areas, your content will not be retained.
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See what happens when you account for some--and not ALL--of the 4 stages of learning at your event:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhvwGnq_2fI/XWbTyXp_3QI/AAAAAAAAAx0/UtP_1Y6qza41uTKd2iYMEnwSsu_Pc1SrACEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-08-28%2Bat%2B1.11.32%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="962" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rhvwGnq_2fI/XWbTyXp_3QI/AAAAAAAAAx0/UtP_1Y6qza41uTKd2iYMEnwSsu_Pc1SrACEwYBhgL/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-08-28%2Bat%2B1.11.32%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-35270809099492738452019-08-20T10:13:00.000-05:002019-08-20T10:13:07.182-05:007 Event Truths: #7: Audiences only care about themselves.Wrapping up our 7 Event Truths series with the final truth:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbGt9MY0gH4/XRTWxbhk2bI/AAAAAAAAAwo/dyHBeKAL-9k6qnKXoigzMGrs6A_VMh0aQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Truth%2B7%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbGt9MY0gH4/XRTWxbhk2bI/AAAAAAAAAwo/dyHBeKAL-9k6qnKXoigzMGrs6A_VMh0aQCEwYBhgL/s640/Truth%2B7%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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To mitigate this:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n74LX_wYT1E/XRTWtyk66BI/AAAAAAAAAwM/PiV1rWEznj4a_EfcbMPtWqEJi6iotC1ZgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Back%2B7%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n74LX_wYT1E/XRTWtyk66BI/AAAAAAAAAwM/PiV1rWEznj4a_EfcbMPtWqEJi6iotC1ZgCEwYBhgL/s640/Back%2B7%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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See all the <a href="http://www.live-spark.com/blog/index.phpsearch/label/7%20Truths" target="_blank">7 Event Truths here</a>.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-14820738533082856182019-08-13T10:11:00.000-05:002019-08-13T10:11:03.835-05:007 Event Truths: #6: Adults are kids in big bodies.Our next installment in our popular 7 Event Truths series:<br />
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And to mitigate this:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L-Txm-THepk/XRTWtU5mbqI/AAAAAAAAAwI/8thT0R51d_cu36FZdmF1EPPK1LAwqobcQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Back%2B6%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L-Txm-THepk/XRTWtU5mbqI/AAAAAAAAAwI/8thT0R51d_cu36FZdmF1EPPK1LAwqobcQCEwYBhgL/s640/Back%2B6%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Keep an eye out for more of the <a href="http://www.live-spark.com/blog/index.phpsearch/label/7%20Truths" target="_blank">7 Event Truths here</a>.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-83785459030806117762019-08-06T10:07:00.000-05:002019-08-06T10:07:00.665-05:007 Event Truths: #5: All events produce an outcome.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Next in the series of 7 event truths:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewgfz1E3Qyk/XRTWwizT9EI/AAAAAAAAAwg/i1ROwQ-B0moheZdcwsVY5Zif5r_OPRvrQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Truth%2B5%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ewgfz1E3Qyk/XRTWwizT9EI/AAAAAAAAAwg/i1ROwQ-B0moheZdcwsVY5Zif5r_OPRvrQCEwYBhgL/s640/Truth%2B5%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And to mitigate this:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxUWgQQk50I/XRTWtF84J7I/AAAAAAAAAwE/wunJCnLPfwMpRBZdOBYybA-_eDzs30wJACEwYBhgL/s1600/Back%2B5%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qxUWgQQk50I/XRTWtF84J7I/AAAAAAAAAwE/wunJCnLPfwMpRBZdOBYybA-_eDzs30wJACEwYBhgL/s640/Back%2B5%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Keep an eye out for more of the <a href="http://www.live-spark.com/blog/index.phpsearch/label/7%20Truths" target="_blank">7 Event Truths here</a>.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-16538124564317894322019-07-30T09:57:00.000-05:002019-07-30T13:59:51.315-05:007 Event Truths #4: Jan Brady was right.The fourth in our popular 7 Event Truths series:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VxQfLmPHn30/XRTWwDJ8kqI/AAAAAAAAAwc/n_b0X0gVxsc5dQ5zteHhuWqiPXdCrtI6wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Truth%2B4%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VxQfLmPHn30/XRTWwDJ8kqI/AAAAAAAAAwc/n_b0X0gVxsc5dQ5zteHhuWqiPXdCrtI6wCEwYBhgL/s640/Truth%2B4%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
To mitigate this:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s1kAk_eaNbY/XRTWtJ14ByI/AAAAAAAAAwA/z8slUtGfIsg5NuzoVl8zJ-vU9tXDJcALQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Back%2B4%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s1kAk_eaNbY/XRTWtJ14ByI/AAAAAAAAAwA/z8slUtGfIsg5NuzoVl8zJ-vU9tXDJcALQCEwYBhgL/s640/Back%2B4%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Keep an eye out for more of the <a href="http://www.live-spark.com/blog/index.phpsearch/label/7%20Truths" target="_blank">7 Event Truths here</a>.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-31510186941381948832019-07-11T09:55:00.000-05:002019-07-25T14:28:09.810-05:007 Event Truths: #3: Not everyone buys into your argument.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The third in our popular 7 Event Truths series:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hupCVEsrfI/XRTWvbfXi4I/AAAAAAAAAwY/TeWKXrbhsFYXh3_TdG3F9WQ9XlEJU16-QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Truth%2B3%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hupCVEsrfI/XRTWvbfXi4I/AAAAAAAAAwY/TeWKXrbhsFYXh3_TdG3F9WQ9XlEJU16-QCEwYBhgL/s640/Truth%2B3%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Here's how to mitigate this:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiTFZgPCiVU/XRTWsvHGPhI/AAAAAAAAAws/GEL4GBbC1C0x8RizxipwrhCuARcVwV3IQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Back%2B3%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiTFZgPCiVU/XRTWsvHGPhI/AAAAAAAAAws/GEL4GBbC1C0x8RizxipwrhCuARcVwV3IQCEwYBhgL/s640/Back%2B3%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Keep an eye out for more of the <a href="http://www.live-spark.com/blog/index.phpsearch/label/7%20Truths" target="_blank">7 Event Truths here</a>.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-74703124587661774532019-07-01T09:54:00.000-05:002019-07-25T14:28:00.487-05:007 Event Truths: #2: Wandering minds are not a form of exercise.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Over the next few weeks we'll be re-posting our popular 7 Event Truths series--now in postcard-form for easy sharing. Time for event truth #2: </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yevRB2WP2Dc/XRTWvLKLZVI/AAAAAAAAAwU/HB5Qynp26GIv0PvbIFH4BuHkdYuLOy-LACEwYBhgL/s1600/Truth%2B2%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yevRB2WP2Dc/XRTWvLKLZVI/AAAAAAAAAwU/HB5Qynp26GIv0PvbIFH4BuHkdYuLOy-LACEwYBhgL/s640/Truth%2B2%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's how to mitigate this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jEZmEO-5z-o/XRTWslu2cyI/AAAAAAAAAv4/YM3z_-Vz2mgvYL_PfNMQ808XJm2lERT9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/Back%2B2%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jEZmEO-5z-o/XRTWslu2cyI/AAAAAAAAAv4/YM3z_-Vz2mgvYL_PfNMQ808XJm2lERT9wCEwYBhgL/s640/Back%2B2%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Keep an eye out for more of the <a href="http://www.live-spark.com/blog/index.phpsearch/label/7%20Truths" target="_blank">7 Event Truths here</a>.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-33345784514120843782019-06-27T09:51:00.002-05:002019-07-25T14:27:50.370-05:007 Event Truths: #1: You had the best meeting they'll never remember.Years of experience producing brain-based events has led us to discover 7 uncomfortable event truths. For the next few weeks we'll be re-posting these 7 event truths--now in bite-size postcard form--plus strategies for how to mitigate some of these issues.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The first truth:<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gn8qhYTGIYA/XRTWuR_76ZI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/t0kNdPPgTIcU8KKKaytd606M_2MZixNNwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Truth%2B1%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="435" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gn8qhYTGIYA/XRTWuR_76ZI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/t0kNdPPgTIcU8KKKaytd606M_2MZixNNwCEwYBhgL/s640/Truth%2B1%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's how to mitigate this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AxivVnn5vqg/XRTWsqhuOPI/AAAAAAAAAv0/4ni_3vgS2t0325fFk9YFZ09vqzDzhsfGgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Back%2B1%2Bv4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1600" height="433" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AxivVnn5vqg/XRTWsqhuOPI/AAAAAAAAAv0/4ni_3vgS2t0325fFk9YFZ09vqzDzhsfGgCEwYBhgL/s640/Back%2B1%2Bv4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Keep an eye out for more of the <a href="http://www.live-spark.com/blog/index.phpsearch/label/7%20Truths" target="_blank">7 Event Truths here</a>. </div>
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Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-84909867110468401112019-06-20T11:03:00.001-05:002019-06-20T11:03:26.421-05:0095% of your content will be forgotten 24 hours later4 Brain-Based Event Facts (that you maybe didn't want to know):<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="469" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFh6Ce4QVL0/XQut_c6tDyI/AAAAAAAAAvY/uzOqa2dk-5siy8kfNJtatTpdlYLQ4_DdgCLcBGAs/s1600/4%2BBrain%2BBased%2BEvent%2BFacts.jpg" /></div>
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.live-spark.com/" target="_blank">www.live-spark.com</a><br />
<br />Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-31901262468836123512018-05-15T15:50:00.002-05:002018-05-15T15:50:55.247-05:00The Pineapple Effect: Increasing Event Engagement in an Unconventional Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1FDHUSgSZw/WvtEZTIMKYI/AAAAAAAAAts/6Mr11mjI9eM2n6vUhYDmIbR8AqUvGZrNwCLcBGAs/s1600/8c64e5a2-pineapple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J1FDHUSgSZw/WvtEZTIMKYI/AAAAAAAAAts/6Mr11mjI9eM2n6vUhYDmIbR8AqUvGZrNwCLcBGAs/s320/8c64e5a2-pineapple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This post isn't about some way that serving pineapple at your event can magically increase audience engagement. It'd be fantastic if a food could do that, but alas; we haven't discovered the "magic bullet"--tropical & tasty or otherwise--that replaces brain-friendly strategies for audience engagement.<br />
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Nay, this post is about a brilliant and competitive way that one division made it seem like they were having more fun at an event than the other division. The kicker? It actually helped increase their audiences' energy and engagement WITHOUT that being the intended effect.<br />
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What happened was this:<br />
<br />
Two divisions both alike in dignity--from the same company--held separate events in a fair hotel where we lay our scene. The rooms were separated within the hotel so each group of ~200+ had their own space.<br />
<br />
We were hired by one division to produce their event. We added in game shows, audience response activities, team activities, etc. These ran throughout the event, reinforced content, and kept the energy level going throughout the 3 days. However, at times the audience could get quite rowdy (cheering on teammates, celebrating successes, etc.). It was FUN. It was interactive. It was incredibly impactful.<br />
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The other division was overhearing our noise and becoming increasingly jealous. It wasn't disruptive, but it was noticeable. We were having fun and they weren't. What could we possibly be doing?<br />
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Then, on day 2, we started hearing cheering--at times--coming from the other room.<br />
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"Great!" we thought, "They are having an engaging event as well! I wonder what they're doing..."<br />
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The answer? Saying "pineapple".<br />
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Due to our fun, the other division made up a rule. Whenever a speaker would say "pineapple", everyone in the room would cheer--no matter what.<br />
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It seems sort of silly; they just wanted to show that they were having as much fun as we were, even though they weren't really doing anything to engage their audience.<br />
<br />
Except...they were. Inadvertently, they were creating a mini brain-break in presentations every time they uttered the word "pineapple". The energy may not have been sustained, but it was enough to refresh the audience temporarily, and to a certain degree, and to keep them listening for the code word.<br />
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Adding in consistent interaction throughout an event is better than a quick trick...but maybe if you're in a bind...try saying "pineapple".Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-11562423467874016882018-03-06T12:40:00.002-06:002018-03-06T12:40:27.780-06:005 Ways to Herd Your Sheep: Getting your audience where you want them, on time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tAoQS8jUxhk/WbqJSoiYCXI/AAAAAAAAAr4/aKvhECPAoXEN4KuIqCAeThGsRmNUHDWuACLcBGAs/s1600/Sheep_herding%252C_Arkansas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="521" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tAoQS8jUxhk/WbqJSoiYCXI/AAAAAAAAAr4/aKvhECPAoXEN4KuIqCAeThGsRmNUHDWuACLcBGAs/s320/Sheep_herding%252C_Arkansas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Are your event start times accurate, or merely aspirational?<br />
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We hear, often, that clients have consistent issues getting their events to start on time (or to start on time after a break, lunch, etc.). Many clients accept and account for this, building time into the agenda assuming that the event will start two or three or five or ten or fifteen minutes late. Many don't, and a late start throws off the whole schedule for the day.<br />
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Many have the best intentions, but simply don't want to start their Big Event Opening with half a room full of audience. Many have huge audiences and unwieldy logistics that make moving that volume of people in and out of a space difficult to do in a limited amount of time.<br />
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Once late start times begin, it's tough to get an audience back on track. So: How do you herd these sheep? Or, more delicately: How do you get your audience where you want them on time?<br />
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<h3>
<b><span style="color: orange;">1. Start on time NO MATTER WHAT</span></b></h3>
Audiences can be trained!<br />
And like any trainable entity, they can either be trained in a positive way or a negative way. If meandering in 5 minutes late is the accepted standard and they know they're not going to miss anything, they is little incentive to change that. They've been trained to do it, and the time frame will only continue to be more lax.<br />
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Starting on time--no matter what--may leave you with a partial audience the first time or two. However, audiences learn quickly. If the expectation is to start on time--and that expectation is clearly communicated--then a majority will be in their seats on time.<br />
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Note: Prepare to start on time yourself. This includes allowing enough time for proper rehearsal, run through, and technical troubleshooting. Stuff happens, but too often meetings are derailed because a speaker can't be found or a video wasn't checked or a presentation wasn't updated.<br />
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<h3>
<b><span style="color: orange;">2. Incentivize on-time behavior</span></b></h3>
When we put audiences onto teams (great for teambuilding, ongoing game shows within the event, team competitions, etc.) we will frequently give them points if their team is back on time. But ONLY if ALL team members are back on time. What happens is this:<br />
A. Team leaders or members make sure that everyone else is back on time.<br />
B. Peer pressure is strong: it only takes one person missing the points for their team one time and EVERYONE will be on time after that. (Opposing teams will also make sure that no one is slipping in.)<br />
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One of our methods of keeping team points is to hand out fake money. It makes a big impact to hold teams accountable for being on time by handing them a small stack of cash.<br />
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Note: You can also penalize lateness (i.e. if you're not in your seat when the event starts, you have to donate $5 to the company charity the first day, $10 the second day, $20 the third day, etc.). This also works, but we generally prefer carrot to stick--and peer pressure is something that's harder to write off than $5.<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<b><span style="color: orange;">3. Utilize on-screen timers, all the time</span></b></h3>
Have timers for every walk-in, every break, etc....for the whole time. Sometimes lateness isn't intentional--people lose track of time, they forgot what you said when you dismissed them (was that a 25 minute break or a 15 minute break?), and they don't necessarily have their watched calibrated to yours if you don't say "be back at 12:21".<br />
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A lot of the time you'll get a count-down timer at an arbitrary place during a break. However, if you have an accurate count-down timer whenever doors are open, people can better plan their break time. They know how much time they have. They know, if they peek back in the room, that they have to hustle back to their seats, and this consistency also trains them to watch the on-screen timers and anticipate the start of the event.<br />
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<h3>
<b><span style="color: orange;">4. Rely on rituals and cues</span></b></h3>
Doing the same thing, over and over, consistently will create rituals at your event that let your audience know what is expected of them--this includes coming in and sitting down on time.<br />
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There is a term in the industry for an opening video--it's called the "sit down, shut up" (or SDSU) video. When that video starts, the lights go down, and everyone KNOWS that the event is beginning. It also gives them a few moments to settle, but without continuing on conversations.<br />
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This doesn't have to be JUST for the opening--you can play the same video (or variations) after every break, returning from meals, and at the beginning of every day.<br />
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Music is also an extremely effective way to get your audience in their seats. Making conscious choices about music during breaks makes the absence of music very notable when it's time for the event to start. The lights dim/brighten, the music stops, the first presenter or emcee is announced, or the SDSU video plays. These are all cues that get your audiences back to their positions and ready to begin.<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><br /></span>
<h3>
<b><span style="color: orange;">5. Create a culture of on-time</span></b></h3>
Set the expectation at the beginning of the event that everyone will be in their seats on-time. Too often this is something that is assumed, and audiences will feel that it's flexible (especially if it has been in the past). The event is a mutual investment--the company is investing time and money, and the audience is also investing their time; to be respectful of everyone and to get the most out of the investment, there needs to be an on-time culture.<br />
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If you're concerned about this seeming patronizing, have the audience set their OWN rules for a successful event (and we promise, this will come up).<br />
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Give them 5 minutes at their tables or seats to brainstorm, as a group, a list of guidelines that everyone should abide by.<br />
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Common things that come up when we do this:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Turn off cell phones</li>
<li>Be back from breaks on time</li>
<li>Be open to new ideas</li>
<li>Utilize networking time</li>
<li>Etc.</li>
</ul>
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<br />
A peer-generated set of event guidelines that everyone makes a commitment to follow can be more powerful than rules handed down from on-high, but it makes a difference to (bare minimum) frame the expectations clearly.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-83528535521984916672017-08-23T10:03:00.000-05:002017-08-23T10:03:05.304-05:00Manipulating Multiple Choice Questions for Better Information Retention<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzbS6Ip48YA/WZ2Oav58SvI/AAAAAAAAArg/7UQYYXA3z_8Ihq2Mn6YQujuyQin-hDeewCLcBGAs/s1600/hardest-multiple-choice-question.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="550" height="186" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CzbS6Ip48YA/WZ2Oav58SvI/AAAAAAAAArg/7UQYYXA3z_8Ihq2Mn6YQujuyQin-hDeewCLcBGAs/s320/hardest-multiple-choice-question.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When making game show questions for a game show in a large event, many of our clients don't think much about the effect of the question in context. Questions--even multiple choice questions--can be utilized to manipulate the audiences' perception about a product or piece of information in interesting ways.<br />
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A few examples:<br />
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Let's say you have a new product introduction, and you want to design a question around the price of that new product. Which of the following questions makes it seem like that product is VALUE-priced?<br />
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<i>1. The price of our new XtremeWidget2000 is:</i><br />
<i>A. $2</i><br />
<i>B. $11</i><br />
<i>C. $15</i><br />
<i><b>D. $27</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>OR</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i>2. The price of our new XtremeWidget2000 is: </i><br />
<i><b>A. $27</b></i><br />
<i>B. $32</i><br />
<i>C. $48</i><br />
<i>D. $122</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Though these examples are exaggerated, the former makes it sound like the product is at a premium price and the latter makes it sound value-priced.<br />
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Other factors also affect the perception of the answers; having a huge gap between values can signal "we're priced way above/below what you'd expect". It can make a question much easier.<br />
<br />
<i>The price of our new XtremeWidget2000 is: </i><br />
<i>A. $2</i><br />
<i><b>B. $27</b></i><br />
<i>C. $76</i><br />
<i>D. $122</i><br />
<br />
The same perception manipulation can apply to chronology. By considering the distractor answers, one can make it seem like something is very fresh and new, or has happened a long(er) time ago.<br />
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<b>Should you put the values in order with questions like these? </b><br />
<br />
It depends.<br />
<br />
A question where answer options are totally randomized adds a level of difficulty--but it doesn't actually add information difficulty--the difficulty lies within the brain first having to order the options, then choosing.<br />
<br />
<i>The price of our new XtremeWidget2000 is: </i><br />
<i>A. $122</i><br />
<i>B. $32</i><br />
<i><b>C. $27</b></i><br />
<i>D. $48</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
It also removes some of the psychological impact of price perception. Taking it out of context also removes some of the stickiness of the information. So if you really want people to remember that your XtremeWidget2000 is $27--and that's a value price compared to ApatheticWidget1000--putting the answer options in order will help your audience retain that crucial piece of information.Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-63578218787571572072017-03-21T14:16:00.005-05:002017-03-21T14:16:57.690-05:00Producers vs. Presenters: Taming the Presentation Deadline Beast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6eW0ChluHM/VrNz75fqe5I/AAAAAAAAAn4/QhpYW4HHzJE/s1600/deadline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6eW0ChluHM/VrNz75fqe5I/AAAAAAAAAn4/QhpYW4HHzJE/s320/deadline.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There is an eternal struggle between the event production team and the presenters (internal and, less frequently, external) to get presentation content in the hands of the production team well before an event.<br />
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This needs to happen for several reasons.<br />
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<ul>
<li>All parties need to know the content of the presentations so that presenters do not overlap, contradict, or conflict with each other</li>
<li>Presentations need to be coherent and valuable for the audience</li>
<li>Timing needs to be taken into account for realistic agendas</li>
<li>Slides need to be checked for clarity/mistakes</li>
<li>Media needs to be tested and procured in advance</li>
<li>It helps ensure that the event goes smoothly</li>
</ul>
<br />
This doesn't happen for several reasons.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Presenters are busy</li>
<li>The event isn't a priority because they have more important/critical/time-sensitive things to do in their day-to-day jobs</li>
<li>Presenters have turned in presentations last-minute before and everything has worked out</li>
<li>Content changes may occur on time-sensitive presentations (i.e. first quarter results are announced, acquisitions happen, etc.)</li>
<li>Presenters are waiting for other co-presenters/key players to contribute</li>
<li>There is an established culture of "putting together the presentation on the plane", etc. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
In our minds, this will be an ongoing struggle, because the reasons for this needing to happen and the reasons why it doesn't happen are both pretty legitimate and need to be balanced in a diplomatic manner.<br />
<br />
However, based on our experiences working with clients and other production teams there are certain things you should NOT do.<br />
<br />
<h2>
DO NOT:</h2>
<br />
<u><b><span style="color: orange;">Create artificial deadlines:</span></b></u> Don't be the event producer who cries wolf. A presenter knows that it's unnecessary to have a finished presentation two months before an event occurs. We once worked with a presentation team that wanted locked-in teleprompter copy (with no changes on-site) MORE THAN ONE MONTH before the event. It was unrealistic and it made it easy for every single presenter to completely disregard the legitimacy of other (more crucial) deadlines.<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Ignore deadlines and hope for the best:</span></u></b> Presenters should have a good outline of when things are expected of them. Some production companies set the final deadline as "When the presentation is being presented on stage" with no other milestone/check-in points. Deadlines *do* need to be managed, and timetables help set everyone's expectations.<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Mismanage the presenters:</span> </u></b>Think of this like Goldilocks and the Three Event Producers: One micromanages too much, the other isn't attentive enough...and one is just right. Don't be the presentation task-master without a healthy dose of flexibility and diplomacy. We worked with an event producer who was incredibly harsh about presenters getting their stuff in by exact deadlines. Not only did the presenters resent the event producer, but they started to actively ignore their requests because they weren't presented in a reasonable way...and the presenters were the *client*.<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Cut off changes completely:</span> </u></b>You can say that changes at the last minute are not ideal, but to cut off changes completely at an event because presenters didn't meet the deadline is not going to benefit the event overall. Be prepared for changes to happen because events are a dynamic animal, subject to interjections from the world, from the audience, from the company, from the event itself. A presenter wanting to add in a slide in the morning because they heard a concern over and over again at the networking reception the night before is something that can and should happen.<br />
<br />
<h2>
DO: </h2>
<br />
Here are some things that have worked for us:<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Use peer pressure:</span></u></b> We worked with a client who used a peer-review session deadline; a week before the event, every presenter would get together in a room and present their content for the event to each other. They would then get presentation feedback. This forced presenters to get the content done--they didn't want to be the only one who hadn't done their part, or let down their other peers. Even having an updated list of who has/hasn't turned in their presentation can apply a bit of peer pressure to help move deadlines along.<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Utilize rehearsals:</span></u></b> The previous example not only utilized peer pressure, but it also included another component: rehearsals. Often times we like to do a "dry run" of an event a week before--even if it's over the phone. Scheduling ample rehearsal time on-site (and clearing a presenter's schedule of on-site obligations so they can attend) will also minimize VERY last minute changes.<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Provide Incentives:</span></u></b> In a particular company, presenters got $50 if they turned in their presentations on time. It's not that $50 was so much money, but it provided a tangible incentive to be on-time--and everyone in the procrastination-prone company turned everything in on time. One can also take the stick approach--meet deadlines or get time taken away--but the carrot is more diplomatic.<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Shape the event and give talking points: </span></u></b>Having a very concise theme (we're not talking "A year to win" or similar event themes, but rather a content throughline) and talking points that you'd like each presenter to hit can help them get a head start on their presentation. It gives them something to react to instead of having to generate a presentation from scratch (which can frequently hold up initial deadlines).<br />
<br />
An example of this might be (roughly):<br />
Theme: Everything about this event is geared toward helping the sales force get their "swagger" back after a tough few years.<br />
<br />
Direction for presenter: How will the marketing strategy for this year help the audience feel like they have swagger? What specific things are you doing to support them?<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="color: orange;">Frame the value:</span></u></b> Face to face events are a huge opportunity for a presenter to get in front of their audience. They are also a huge opportunity for a company to give the attendees a unified message. The importance and impact are so great that a last-minute presentation is most likely not going to cut it. Events are an investment. Framing the value of the event to presenters may seem like common sense or something that they already know (or should know), but often times no one frames it like this. Letting presenters know that this is their time to shine and step up, and communicating what it means to them and the company can help them to be more thoughtful about their presentation and attendant timelines.<br />
<br />
--<br />
<br />
Good event production teams are flexible and pros at making last-minute changes look effortless and flawless. That doesn't mean they *are* effortless.<br />
<br />
Good production teams may be able to get presenters to turn in their content well before an event, but they are also equipped to handle situations in which this does not happen. This may mean extra on-site staffing, people dedicated to working exclusively with particular presenters, etc. If a production team has worked with a company before and it's been an issue at previous events, building in extra staff in the contract and citing past experience is in the client's best interest and in the interest of the sanity of the production team as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662127715976531296.post-50573091625826071592017-02-28T10:37:00.000-06:002017-02-28T13:24:53.675-06:00"And the Oscar Goes to...": What we can learn from the 2017 Oscars big screw-up.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAPnn02LCuU/WLWbPYAzc_I/AAAAAAAAAqA/1jpSs4fKohc9Uj-WunUZjWVgxqdv_eDZQCLcB/s1600/170227034616-10-oscar-best-picture-winner-mistake-0227-restricted-super-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EAPnn02LCuU/WLWbPYAzc_I/AAAAAAAAAqA/1jpSs4fKohc9Uj-WunUZjWVgxqdv_eDZQCLcB/s320/170227034616-10-oscar-best-picture-winner-mistake-0227-restricted-super-169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It was a moment in which--I guarantee you--every event producer, or person working with live events, gasped and muttered some version of "oh NO."<br />
<br />
That moment when, at the 2017 Oscars, they figured out that they had announced the WRONG WINNER for Best Picture. To the average person at home it was a surprise or an amusement or a small shock--but to us it was our worst nightmare come to life in front of our eyes. My own sense of empathy was off the charts and I imagine the a/v crew, producers, handlers, etc., backstage scrambling; furious chatter over the com system trying to figure out how it could have happened.<br />
<br />
Sometimes when things go wrong at your event--they really go wrong. Most of the time it isn't quite as public as a huge televised award show watched by ~33 million people.<br />
<br />
But here are some things that we can learn from the Oscars screw-up that we can apply to our own events, should things ever go wrong.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Correct the issue in the moment.</h3>
It's embarrassing. No one involved quite knows what's going on. But correct an issue as soon as you realize it--even if it means interrupting your presenter on stage. (Obviously, this only applies to errors with a certain level of magnitude--little minor fact-checks don't need to happen in real-time.)<br />
<br />
<h3>
Mea Culpa.</h3>
You're not going to be able to hide when something goes seriously wrong. Own up to it. Apologize and continue. Most of the audience wants to see you succeed and will be feeling the pain of your mistake right along with you. Don't worry about *how* the mistake came to be right then and there--you can take time to mull it over and decide whether the explanation is important.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Go with the flow.</h3>
The host, Jimmy Kimmel, was really great at saying, "Hey, this is an awards show. It's live. Things happen," and going with the flow. Obviously everyone was flustered, but they reduced the awkwardness by keeping the ending short and saying they'd figure it out later. Sure, it didn't have the impact that it was supposed to have, but it kept it from delving into the minutia of mistakes.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Try to make it up to the impacted parties.</h3>
The Oscar mistake truly did steal the spotlight from the Best Picture award winner. Even though time was running short, they were given their due with their speeches, and are being given ample recognition the day after the event. If this happens at your event, a special call-out to the wronged party may be in order--even if it's not at the event itself.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Double check everything.</h3>
In this type of event, secrecy is key. But at YOUR event? Give up a little secrecy to make sure that everyone has double checked EVERYTHING. Some mistakes are still going to happen because it's a live event--mistakes happen. Spontaneity that leads to a sparkling, vivid event can also cut the other way and leave the door open for mistakes. Even big mistakes. Mistakes will happen, but dealing with them with grace and aplomb can mean the difference between a disaster and a minor embarrassment. Live Sparkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09324488170419948704noreply@blogger.com0