Conferences Archives - Page 2 of 3

26 January, 2015 by Cris Popp

What Makes A Good MC

Not everyone can make a good MC which is why it’s important to get a really good one days before your scheduled event. A good MC can make or break an event whether that’s a wedding, performance or corporate function. Sometimes though the MC might not show up for a number of reasons and you may be forced to step up to the plate and do your best.

So, what makes a good MC?

Take Appropriate Pauses

If this is your first time MC’ing an event then chances are you’ll be a bundle of nerves and you may end up breaking just more than a sweat. To avoid making a wreck of everything it’s important that you speak slowly and take your time to breathe while at the same time making an effort to pause at full stops.

Be Organized

Make a point of sitting down with other speakers for the night to understand what order to introduce them to the audience as well as how to go about it. If you have trouble remembering names feel free to put down names of presenters to avoid embarrassing moments on stage.

I Thought That Speech Would Never End

The most efficient way of keeping your guests bored is by making lengthy announcements and speeches. Generally attendees like to talk to other guests while enjoying a sumptuous meal, so keep your time on stage brief and be sure to make succinct statements.

Don’t be Obnoxious

The last thing you want is to be memorable for all the wrong reasons. Humor is a great way to break the ice just don’t ruin your personal reputation while at it. Let your jokes come across as witty however be smart enough to let the spotlight fall on other areas of the event.

You are the Master of Ceremonies

Of course you shouldn’t domineer over others in playing your role. Much of the event’s success will depend on how great you play your role. Are all the speakers present? Are all the guests seated? You should even be prepared to take on roles that others may be unwilling to undertake.

Kris has hosted numerous events with roaring success. His LaughterWorks sessions also include a keynote speech that is sure to leave your audience motivatied. To have him MC your next event call him on +61(0)438 545 607 or send him an email info@laughterworks.com.au.

The Beginner’s Guide to MC’ing your own event. via @crispopp http://t.co/B6wju5Lt1G

— Cris Popp (@laughterpopp) January 25, 2015

29 December, 2014 by Cris Popp

Laughter Helps People Bond

Someone once said that laughter is the shortest distance between two people and they were right. Recent studies have shown that laughter has a domino effect on how well people bond with each other and it’s no surprise given how it is an integral part of every human being. Even before they can speak infants interact with others by laughing and/or smiling.

The universal nature of laughter means that it can be found in every group of people in the world and is a potent instrument of breaking down barriers of culture, race, nationality, economic classes and government philosophies. Whenever anyone of us comes across something amusing the response is always the same- laughter; ranging from loud vocal outbursts to the more discreet chuckles. The result however is always the same- it unites everybody who’s laughing.

Just like a magnet, laughter draws us together and encourages us to interact- the sound of laughter eggs us on to the source of laughter. By persuading us to lower our guard, laughter reduces our tendency to be anxious when meeting strangers. If you were to quickly go through your Facebook friends’ profiles you’d notice that the funniest ones have the most friends when compared to those who are more somber and reserved.

Even more importantly laughter helps relationships thrive. Whether sharing a humorous joke around the dinner table or watching a funny comedy with friends, laughter helps us release positive emotions that help bind us together and develop closeness.

One of the quickest not to mention easiest ways to help us through the tough times is by laughing off our worries. Coping with life’s problems can sap away all of our energy and laughter couldn’t be more helpful in those trying moments.

Kris delivers laughter workshops for both teams and organizations. Why not give him a call on your next quarterly forum or team-building day on 0438 545 607 or send us an email info@laughterworks.com.au.

How laughter helps people bond. via @laughterpopp http://t.co/uXqdnBHHZB

— Cris Popp (@laughterpopp) December 28, 2014

15 December, 2014 by Cris Popp

Warming up the Room at the Start of a Conference

Conferences can often be seen as dull, stuffy affairs, relating to the inner workings of industry or focusing on the same old team-building exercises in business. They can often be reminiscent of high school assemblies, where the audience is sitting around with the look of boredom in their eyes while the speaker drones along with a jargon-filled speech. But they don’t have to be this way, and one way to do it is to shatter expectations and take to the stage, or the front of the room, with gusto. Any conference speaker’s primary goal is to get people to listen with rapt attention, and not doze off or doodle in disinterest. The best way to do this is to grab their attention right from the start.

Laughter at conferences can be a great ice breaker, and this can be achieved by telling a funny anecdote or making an amusing observation about the conference setting or its attendees, depending on the crowd. It’s not always easy to make such comments on the spot, so prepare like you would with any public speaking gig, and write up your opening speech and practice, practice, practice before you ever get up in front of that room. Sometimes it’s easiest to sound like you are speaking off the cuff when you know exactly what you’re going to say.

If you have difficulty coming up with jokes, then engage the audience from the get-go. Ask them how they’re doing or comment on the weather, like you would with any individual conversation, and have a conversation with the audience.

You may even address certain attendees by name and make direct eye contact, to let them know that you’re engaged in this conversation. Better yet, comment on something specific and relevant related to the conference, which will engage any audience member’s attention. It’s also best to practice beforehand so it comes off as natural. However, all the practice in the world won’t necessarily prevent you from freezing up as you step up in front of the audience. Most crucially before speaking at the start of a conference, you must be calm and relaxed, which can be helped by taking deep breaths and with positive affirmations. Once you’re warmed up, your speech will come out naturally, and the audience will have you full attention.

Kris has many years’ worth of experience running successful laughter conferences for both organisations and teams. Get in touch to find out how he could lighten the mood at your next conference: info@laughterworks.com.au or +61 438 545 607

Warming up the Room at the Start of a Conference. via @laughterpopp http://t.co/3JPeAoZJqm

— Cris Popp (@laughterpopp) December 14, 2014

1 December, 2014 by Cris Popp

5 Secrets to Drawing Attendee’s to Your Conference

With how much time, funding, and energy planning a business conference requires, you want to be sure to optimize your profit margin. The best way to do this – besides proper budgeting – is to draw in as many attendees as possible.

Business leaders are becoming careful about which conferences they attend. They look to optimize the value of their experience by comparing travel and attendance costs with what your conference has to offer.

Follow these 5 tips to take your conference from “just another business conference” to a “must-see event”:

1. Get a head start

Don’t wait till every last detail is planned out to start attracting attendees. You are going to need sufficient time to advertise. Pick your venue and a date that doesn’t conflict with holidays or other, similar conferences and start marketing. The larger the conference, the further in advance you will need to announce it.

2. Make it marketable

Marketing firms are constantly keeping an eye on the latest trends. The goal is to borrow a trend’s existing momentum to advertise their own products or services. Search social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to find out what subjects are trending in your industry, and brainstorm ways your conference can provide exclusive content on these topics.

3. Don’t skimp on the speakers

Anyone can talk about trending topics in your industry. The trick is to find experts at the top of your field, people who are seen as innovators and industry leaders. These are the kinds of speakers that bring with them the promise of inside information on the future of your field. The money you spend on expert presenters should be made back in increased registrations.

4. Interview the speakers beforehand

Introduce your speakers to potential attendees through interviews leading up to the conference. If you are able to, make video interviews and share them on YouTube. This provides registrants with a chance to preview the speakers before committing to registration.

5. Industry outreach

Send personalized letters to major industry groups. Advertise in magazines, newsletters, quarterlies, and any other media that your target audience would read. Take advantage of social networking to spread the word. Savvy marketers can hire industry bloggers to promote the event through advertising, or even contests and giveaways.

We offer laughter workshops for both teams and organisations. Have laughterworks deliver a laughter session at your next quarterly forum or team-building day. Contact us: info@laughterworks.com.au, or 0438 545 607.

5 Secrets to Drawing Attendee’s to Your Conference. http://t.co/5dIcIaV29w

— Cris Popp (@laughterpopp) December 1, 2014

6 October, 2014 by Cris Popp

Factors To Consider When Organizing a Conference

Conferences provide a great way to broaden your network of like-minded people, share your ideas and ease up tension at the workplace through effective team-building. Well organized events will normally leave you bursting with fresh ideas and wondering why the aha! moment hadn’t come any sooner.

To set up a successful event however requires a lot of skill not to mention tireless effort. You should be prepared for late nights, a roller coaster of emotions and your social life will be interrupted in no small measure. A lot of people fail at event organizing as they mostly try to retrofit ideas from previous conferences which mostly results in a mediocre conference or an outright disaster.

By simply having a check-off list while planning your first conference you will have avoided the many pitfalls that many novice organizers fall into. Here are a couple of things you should be sure to get right from the get-go:

Event Theme

It may sound pretty obvious but torturing yourself with thoughts of everything that could go wrong may easily make you forget why the conference is held in the first place! A principle unifying idea not only sets the tone for the entire event but also offers guidance on what items should be the main focus; it makes creating an invitation list for the attendees much easier and makes choosing guest speakers a breeze!

Venue

Conventional conferences are not virtual and so determining a venue that is comfortable for all the attendees is critical. Attendees are more likely to be excited about an event held in a conference hall with an airy feel to it featuring large windows with a stunning view as compared to some dingy basement accented with a hint of mustiness. Comfort for the attendees means that they’ll have a better attention span and even want to stay behind and meet new people once the speakers conclude their speeches.

Speakers

Speakers can either make or break an event. Different speakers will have various ways of capturing the attendees attention for the time they’re up on stage. While most people will try to keep their allotted time at a minimum while offering the most value some subjects require an exhaustive explanation and its fairly common for the audience to drift off to what they had for breakfast or a less banal topic.

According to the journal of Primary Prevention (2007) laughter influences the amount of effort put toward a goal. This would come in handy especially during conferences that are geared toward workplace team-building. In addition optimism and motivation levels were boosted by laughter among the participants of the study making them more effective at work. Just because a subject is dynamic or the speaker is unable to build rapport with the audience shouldn’t mean that it’s ok to settle for a gloomy conference.

Contact Us

Here at Laughterworks we specialize in helping teams create an environment that is great fun for all. We are well spread out across the country and have laughter leaders in each state in Australia. For more on how you can make your next conference a fun and interactive experience please get in touch with us: info@laughterworks.com.au or (+ 61) 438 545 607.