Crappy Presentations...

I work with some of the smartest people on planet earth, and yet...

And yet, the presentations that I have to sit through can only be described as torture. Well, not for everyone. Most people just look away and tend to their computer or blackberry.

But for anyone who makes an effort to stick through the presentation, it's somewhat akin to that scene in Clockwork Orange where Malcolm McDowell gets his brain pummeled with degenerate images.

Wait... did I say 'somewhat akin'? Umm, no - it's exactly like that. Or worse?

Please don't do that to anyone, I beg you.

Buy slide:ology, Presentation Zen, and Beyond Bullet Points -  and then practice their theories.

Promise me... please?

5 Steps to Presenting Like a Rock Star! Part IV

The fourth step to presenting like a rock star is to create images for your audience.

Why are images so important?
Because, without images, we might be using only half of our brain. 

Brain Rules, by John Medina, covers the science behind this brilliantly, so read his book if you need the data.

Images promote engagement and help us think better.

There are three ways you can be visual:

• Visual imagery - Slides, pictures, posters, props... Give your audience something to look at! Think about the great shows by Pink Floyd or U2. 
  The best way to learn about visual images for your speeches and presentations is to read Garr Reynold's excellent blog, Presentation Zen.
• Verbal imagery - We've already talked about Bruce Springsteen writing that "this town rips the bones from your back", but what about Martin Luther King addressing a "governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification"... Wow... words rock when used well.
• Gestures - When Bono sings, "if you wanna touch the sky, better learn how to kneel", you better believe he drops (above). Your gestures should support your words. If you say 'big savings', your arms better show me big savings.

You can pretend I'm wrong. You can pretend these won't work for your situation.

All I'll say is watch. Watch Ted. Watch Steve Jobs. Watch the best speakers in your company.

They create images. I guarantee it.

5 Steps to Presenting Like a Rock Star! Part II

The second step to presenting like a Rock Star is to write the appropriate verses for your speech.

The verses are the proof of your refrain.

Think of it this way - at the end of a verse, you should be able to write, "And that's why I say..." and then say your core message or refrain.

So, if Bruce Springsteen wants us to sing "Tramps like us, baby we were born to run", he'd better convince us, right?

I mean, I don't run (at all) unless there's something worth running from (or to).

So, let's look at Bruce's proof:

In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through the mansions of glory in suicide machines
Sprung from cages out on highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected,and steppin' out over the line
Oh, Baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
`Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run

Hmmm... I don't want the bones ripped from my back, so I'd agree, I'm born to run.

If your refrain is, "My project needs more money", then your verse one better say, "this project is important". Or, better yet, this project rips the bones from your back! Try that your next project review...

And verse two better say better say, "more money will make this project successful". 

Right?

But most presentations don't make this much logical (or emotional) sense. 

Because of that, your audience isn't singing along.

They're saying, "Why should I run?"

Nobody asks Bruce why they should run, because he tells them. In fact, he implores them.

That's rock and roll.

Look at this:

The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive
Everybody's out on the run tonight
but there's no place left to hide
Together Wendy we can live with the sadness
I'll love you with all the madness in my soul
Oh, Someday girl I don't know when
we're gonna get to that place
Where we really wanna go
and we'll walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us
baby we were born to run

Damn... if you're not ready to run now, you're going to get run over...

Bruce provides the WIIFM or "what's in it for me" (in this case, Wendy).

So, we're ready to sing along, or even run.

Just in case you think I'm being esoteric, watch this great video by Lawrence Lessig, who uses - literally - the verse/refrain structure in a technical/business presentation.

So, your assignment today is to write your verses (try 2-3 of them) that prove your refrain. Tomorrow, we'll look at your introduction. 

5 Steps to Presenting Like a Rock Star!

Everyone wants to be a rock star, right?

Oh, you might shake your head and say "not me", but I think you're kidding yourself.

How do I know? 

Well, back in the days (nostalgia alert!) when I was in a band, many people came up to me and said, "I love singing, man", "I always wanted to be a guitarist", "It must be great up there", or "After being on stage, the other 22 hours of your day must suck". 

Even the founder of the company I work at - Ken Levy of KLA-Tencor - agreed. He once came up on stage to introduce our band at a company picnic and, looking out over the happy faces in the waiting audience, said, "Oh, you guys have definitely got the best spot at the picnic, up here on stage."

What's my point? Good question...

My point is that you probably have regular opportunities to be a Rock Star (like Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, from a NY's Eve performace we attended in Waikiki).

But are you taking advantage of those opportunities? I doubt it...

This week I'll post a five part series on how you can use your presentation opportunties to be a rock star.

1. Have a refrain that everyone can sing to...
2. Make sure your verses lead the audience to your refrain.
3. Have a compelling introduction to your song.
4. Create images for your audience.
5. Add a bridge or solo to provide pattern disruption.

Each day this week, I'll cover one of these: using example from the world of rock and roll.

In the world of music, a bad presentation doesn't sell.

It's the same in your world, so the sooner you learn from the masters, the better off you'll be.

See you tomorrow!!