your audience, without the risk of
overloading them with content.
Most importantly, think about your
delivery. Your enthusiasm should help
the audience forget about their
mundane work schedule and be
thankful they have ventured out of the
office. Don’t talk at 100 miles per
hour which leaves your delegates
frantically trying to write notes or
speak in a monotone voice. Present
clearly and concisely at a
conversational pace, and you will
naturally be more engaging. Charles
continues that delegates who attend
conferences want the “highlights and
headlines,” and suggests avoiding
minute detail; keep it simple and allow
delegates to think for themselves. It’s
always better to leave them wanting
more, not less.
Your delegates must also have the
opportunity to be both “participant
and/or spectator,” says Ewan.
Doughty agrees that delegates don’t
want to be “passive spectators”, but
instead want to feel that they can
“control and influence their learning.”
This doesn’t mean dragging a
delegate on stage and into the
spotlight, but suggests to “keep
delegates on their toes,” Ewan adds.
Invest in fun tools like interactive apps
such as Catchbox or Eventpal or
throwable microphones to maintain
their engagement and ensure the
audience has their say (if they want to)
instead of talking at them.
Alternatively, host a panel of speakers
where delegates can partake in a
33
Creative agency professionals
Wow Factor
Above: Jemma Peers, Above: Michael Charles, Above: Katie Doughty, Above: Craig Ewan,
client and commercial director, Julia Charles producer, DRPG project manager, Cue
director, Top Banana Event Management
Delegates don’t want to be “passive spectators”,
but instead want to feel that they can “control and
influence their learning.”
Craig Ewan, project manager at Cue
Q&A, or simply encourage delegates
to discuss ideas with one another and
feedback.
Here’s the exciting part, it’s time to
get creative! Forget the standard
PowerPoint slides and remove the
bulks of text. Bring to life your event by
adding snappy visual designs and
relevant event themes paired with
high quality AV which involves all of
your delegate’s senses and create an
experience they’ll never forget. Peers
reminds us that “‘wow’ moments
don’t have to come with a hefty price
tag.”
Technology can be fantastic, but
not everyone has the budget for it. If
you do, consider that it could also
overcomplicate or take away from
your key message, which is the most
important aspect of your conference.
It is up to you to find the balance
between being “daring” and “safe”.
The ultimate ‘wow’ comes from the
“emotional connection” made with
your audience Doughty and Peers
add, which can be achieved without
the gimmicks. Your delegates can also
be impressed by elements such as an
intimate outdoor venue, fun team
building exercises or be shocked by
an appearance of a relevant guest
speaker. Craig says that “delegates
can look back on their experience,
associating their sense of joy and
excitement with the event and its
purpose,” which in turn “guarantees
the retention of information.”
So, tune into your audiences’
emotions if you really want to not only
wow them, but ensure that they
remember your content, and are
ready to apply it themselves.