top of page

Are your events a jumbled buffet of topics or a cohesive feast of ideas?



Have you ever attended a conference where the programme felt more like a jumbled buffet of topics than a cohesive feast of ideas?

 

A disjointed agenda will have individual sessions each with their own charm, but without an overarching narrative, the event can leave attendees trying to piece together their own thread. Without a cohesive and memorable theme or story, events can feel less like enlightening journeys and more like a search party for insights.

 

Events should be built around a clear theme that will guide an attendees learning and help them connect the dots. 

 

With a well thought out, clearly linked programme, attendees are fully engaged. 

 

They retain much more information and build trust with the brand or business who own the event. 

 

Without a thought-out, clearly linked programme attendees are likely to leave questioning why they attended in the first place.

 

At Ten Thousand Hours we like to use a three-step process to work with clients when developing their event programmes and agendas.

 

1. Establish the Central Theme


  • Identify Core Messages: Determine the overarching theme of the event that ties all sessions together. This could be a concept, problem, or opportunity relevant to your audience. Don’t wrap yourself up in knots trying to come up with a specific message. It can be a general theme. For example, TED talks focus on ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’ with each conference built around a theme that unites diverse talks.

 

2. Map Out Session Connections


  • Session Overview: Review each session's content, key takeaways, and objectives. Identify how they relate to the central theme and to each other.

  • Create a Flowchart or Outline: Visualise the connections between sessions. This can help you identify the logical progression of ideas and insights throughout the event and help you plan the journey for different attendee types.

 

3. Craft a Narrative Arc


  • Beginning (Introduction): Start with engaging opening session(s) that introduce the central theme and adds the context for the event. This could include compelling statistics, quotes, or anecdotes.

  • Middle (Exploration): Develop the story by diving into individual sessions/presentations that contribute to the overarching narrative. Use smooth transitions to connect sessions:

    • Highlight Key Themes: After each session, summarise the key insights and relate them back to the central theme.

    • Use Transitions: Narrate the flow from one session to the next, connecting ideas and reinforcing the storyline.

  • End (Conclusion): Conclude with a powerful summary that reinforces the key takeaways and offers a forward-looking perspective. What actions should attendees take after the event?

 

The narrative arc should move seamlessly from inspiration to practical application, culminating in actionable insights.

 

That’s how to turn individual sessions into a cohesive story but how can you enhance each session experience to avoid ‘the same thing over and over again’?

 

This is where TTH get involved with individual presenters to understand their key messages and work on a format that will provide variety and value to the audience.

 

Try considering weaving some of these ideas into individual presentations …

 

Incorporate Personal Stories and Testimonials


  • Speaker Insights: Include quotes or anecdotes from speakers that illustrate their messages and enhance the narrative.

  • Attendee Experiences: Capture audience reactions and insights, either through interviews or social media posts. This adds a personal touch and makes the story relatable.

 

Use Visual Storytelling


  • Infographics: Create visuals that summarise key points, statistics, or session connections. Infographics can make complex information easier to digest and remember.

  • Video Recaps: Produce short video clips that break up presentations. Inject the right element of surprise, insight and fun according to your presentation to keep the audience engaged. 

 

Engage the Audience


  • Interactive Elements: Include polls, gamification, Q&A sessions, or interactive discussions that allow attendees to contribute their thoughts and insights. 

  • Stand up anyone?: For the brave speakers amongst us who feel confident to do so, involve the audience in your presentation. Ask them for stories and experiences and build upon what they tell you. This can be serious discussion or even played out as a stand-up comedy style session. It’s risky, but framed correctly can raise your presentation from a 7/10 to a 10/10. A presenter that can grab an audience’s attention in this way is hugely memorable.

  • Why are theatres always sold out?: Ever considered turning your presentation into a play or an act on stage? The ultimate storytelling experience that can create an emotional bond with the audience and a multitude of styles to deliver it in - drama, comedy, thriller, romance … the list goes on.

 

A Strong Call-to-Action


  • Encourage Next Steps: At the end of your narrative, provide clear actions for attendees to take based on what they learned. This could be joining a community, signing up for future events, or exploring further resources related to the event topics.

 

Turning a series of event sessions into a cohesive memorable story is like weaving a tapestry. It takes time, patience and an understanding of how each element fits seamlessly together. But when done well, just like a tapestry, it’s a significant work of art, craftsmanship and design.

 

Now is everyone sitting comfortably, I think we all have a story to tell … 

 

We love storytelling and story creating. If you’re keen to work on your event programme structure, content or theme get in touch with our team and we can see if we can create something magical together.

 

Sign up below and receive insight straight to your inbox as and when we produce it.

Like what you've just read?

You may also find these helpful ...

bottom of page