I have a strong background in theater arts that has always influenced how I deliver presentations or evaluate events that I attend. Some presentations and events have flash and sizzle (think CES)…while others are snooze festivals sponsored by Sleep Train. I can’t help think how a CEO’s presentation could be more impactful if someone played the “I am Mighty Mouse and I here to save the day!” theme before he or she walked on stage to deliver the new turn around strategy. He he.
Mostly these musings are simple forms of cerebral entertainment to keep me awake during long meetings. Face it, we all dread going to long presentations that we tune out after the first hour as we regularly login to check email on our laptops. It’s a delicate balance between getting the message across and creating a level of entertainment that engages the audience to receive the message.
The show gets started tomorrow for FinovateSpring in San Jose. Finovate is one of (if not THE) leading FinTech innovation shows in North America and Europe. Like many show attendees, I’ve been to several Finovate shows and love the excitement and energy the format creates and seeing innovators get up there and sell sell sell their innovation. Obviously there is a great deal of networking that goes on their too as innovators seek the right strategic partner to grow the business, technology and customer audience.
I wonder what would happen if the Finovate team started the next event in a slightly different manner. Instead of the standard welcoming remarks and sponsor thank yous, could Finovate be opened with a musical number to energize the crowd and alleviate the tension of the presenters?
I always enjoyed the opening song (or “number”) of The Muppet Show that introduced their host and kicked off a series of great skits. Could a similar song and musical number be done for Finovate? Would Statler and Waldorf like it? Would the audience boo and hisssss? I think it’s worth a shot. Afterall, we are together for two days and have a lot of ground to cover! Let’s have some fun!
The Finovate Show Theme Song
(Drum Roll)
It’s the FinovateSpring Show with our Very Special Host, Eric Mattson
It’s time to play the music
It’s time to light the lights
It’s time to meet the FinTech Innovators on the Finovate Show tonight.
It’s time to put on makeup
It’s time to dress up right
It’s time to raise the curtain on the Finovate Show tonight.
Why do we always come here?
I guess we’ll never know
It’s like a kind of torture
To have to watch the show
And now let’s get things started
Why don’t you get things started?
It’s time to get things started
On the most sensational innovational inspirational Finovational
This is what we call the Finovate Show!
I am very excited to attend the event tomorrow as a guest blogger for the newly launched Money S
ummit blog produced by MoneyDesktop. I will be providing commentary with fellow Fintechy, Bradley Leimer throughout the two day event. In keeping with the Muppets theme, Brad and I will be a MUCH kinder and more professional version of Statler and Waldorf of sorts. We are looking forward to a great event!
Eric Dunstan 
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