The World Cup PowerPoint Karaoke: a few lessons

the Speak team witnessed the "World Cup PowerPoint Karaoke" in Boom Chicago. Eight contestants competed for the coveted cup. Format: 6 minutes of improvisation with a topic devised by the audience and an existing PowerPoint presentation about something totally different.

Besides nice entertainment, also interesting for our profession. Why does one speaker get the audience along and with another it's agony for everyone? Read our lessons here.

1. Energy = key

As an audience, you have to wait and see. What kind of meat are we dealing with? And pretty soon you know: this is going to be good, or not. The speakers who go full steam ahead and put their heart and soul into the nonsense they spout, we feel 'safe' with. Which also makes us appreciate everything they do next more positively. So even if you're not quite feeling it, go all out. Fake it till you feel it. It sets the tone.

2. Play with your voice

Pause, emphasize, high, low, fast, slow. The voice sets the mood, the dynamics. It is the filter through which we interpret the text. And again, you can say little and still generate maximum tension purely through the use of your voice.

3. Engage your audience

You don't have to do it alone. And audiences love to participate. Seeking interaction gives you ideas, creates breathing room and allows you to naturally break down the turn you've taken that isn't working and change tack.

Would you also like to learn how to present better? Then contact us.