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WORDS TO
THE WISE
Loving the Stories that are Worth Sharing: PechaKucha
02.13.14
By Doreen Overstreet
It has been said that the invention of PowerPoint has been the death of public speaking. So when I heard about the presentation style called PechaKucha (pronounced Paw-Chalk-Ahh-Chaa) coming to Orlando, I was intrigued. PechaKucha, which is a Japanese word meaning chit chat, was developed by two renowned architects from Tokyo as an engaging way to share ideas. The concept is to bring people back to captivating stories that we once shared around campfires – only with a modern twist. In a nutshell, speakers use 20 photo-centric slides that auto-advance every 20 seconds – resulting in a 6-minute-and-40-second time limit.
Ever since it started more than decade ago, PechaKucha has steadily become an international phenomenon – with talks in 735 cities all over the world. Last Friday was the 12th time the event came to Orlando and nine creative people from various backgrounds and fields spoke to the theme of “Showing Orlando Some Love.” Topics ranged from the neuroscience of love … to the technology of love … to the love of quilt making (see detailed speaker list below).
I’m a former Toastmaster, so I already think this format is cool. But as a public relations professional, it’s equally intriguing. To tell a convincing story clearly and succinctly – and to make it visually appealing – is what we do each day for our clients. Cutting away the jargon and fluff to get to the essence of your message can be daunting (and time consuming), but worth it.
As a storyteller for a living, I think it’s wonderful to see all kinds of stories alive and thriving in Orlando. Check out the next event in June with more information here.
PechaKucha Night
Orlando V12
“Showing Orlando Some Love”
Speakers included:
Doreen Overstreet prefers listening to stories rather than telling them (unless they are for her clients).
