Pecha Kucha Event Review

Pecha Kucha Event Review

By:  Nikki J. Means

Project Manager, New Media Professional, and Process Consultant

Email:  nikkijmeans (at) yahoo.com

Blog:   http://TeaEscapade.wordpress.com

This morning I attended Pecha Kucha Over Easy at the METS Center.  As a project manager professional and process consultant, I create presentations regularly.  So when I saw this upcoming event, Pecha Kucha Over Easy advertised on LinkedIn, I was excited for the opportunity to attend. My agenda? To learn a new presentation style and to network.  Both of my objectives were met. I discovered that Pecha Kucha is a unique and easy presentation style.  Not to mention, Pecha Kucha can easily be utilized in any business setting. Additionally, I had a chance to network with numerous business professionals.  Finally, I learned about several amazing initiatives occurring within Cincinnati: 1) the vision for Creative & Second Story Arts Center; 2) tips on how to procure a new position from Howigotmyjob.com, 3) how citizens of Cincinnati are combating the impact of negative media coverage, and  4) the mission of the Fallen Hero Foundation & The Yellow Ribbon Center.  I appreciated the efforts of Brian Monahan and the METS Center for putting on this event and look forward to the next one.

Pecha Kucha Over Easy Notes

Date:   January 13, 2010

Location:        The METS Center

What is Pecha Kucha?

A presentation style that began in Tokyo, Japan in 2003 and has spread virally – now in 260 cities.  Usually pronounced in three syllables like “pe-chak-cha” or like foccacia but with a “P”.  The concept: 20 slides in 20 seconds; content is unlimited, amount of information is not as long as you can say it in 20 seconds.

Presenters:

1)     Brian Monahan, Prestige AV & Creative Services – Meeting Point Cincinnati Founder – Silly Meeting Industry Inventions

a)     Focus of presentation – identifying new ways to grow your business:

i)       Virtual world – pecha kucha is a way to present virtually

ii)     Businesses need to identify new communications opportunities – blogs, employee wikis

iii)   How do you roll your audience over? Facebook fan pages, ning, second life  – a way to reach out to people who cannot personally attend our events

2)     Jim Jung, Prestige AV & Creative & Second Story Arts Center – Vision for Arts Center

a)     Presentation Focus – Second Story Center for the Arts  – www.secondstoryarts.com

b)     A creative arts center for the family

c)      Looking for people to join the community – networking contacts, participation in classes, donations, employment

3)     Daniel Johnson Jr., New Media Cincinnati Founder & Howigotmyjob.com (considered a social media guru)

a)     Five qualities for how you can get your job:

i)       Well-connected: a. important to build your network before you need it and b. add value to your network

ii)     Adaptable – thinking outside of the box. Seeking to fill the need.

iii)   Audacity – “moxy” “boldness” – making yourself stand out

iv)   Perseverance – sticking with it and not giving up.; maintaining a positive attitude

v)     Authenticity – knowing yourself, what a company’s position is, and how you can meet that need.

4)     Randy Simes, Owner & Managing Editor UrbanCincy.com, UrbanCincy.com & Mainstream Media Discussion

a)     Focus – Why I’m passionate about Cincinnati and combating the impact of negative media coverage.

i)       City Dynamics – 52 neighborhoods with strong individual identity

ii)     Comfort = complacently. Media focused on negative city reports, which have caused people to lose faith in the city.

iii)   Believes in highlighting the positives of the city – urban core – the heart of the city

iv)   Urban advocates have begun to mobilize due to new media growth

v)     Involved with promoting: two-wheeler parking, streetcar initiative

vi)   Focus on promoting the positive things of Cincinnati, translating global media with a city spin

5)     June Izzi-Bailey & Keith Maupin, Fallen Hero Foundation & The Yellow Ribbon Center

a)     Presentation Focus: Vision for The Fallen Hero Foundation Museum

i)       Open a museum

ii)     Parent’s of fallen heros can be displayed – maintain their legacy

iii)   Community donations to give to troops

iv)   57 fallen heros in Cincinnati from Iraq and Afghanistan

Pecha Kucha –  Tips on how to create:

• Begin with a clear objective
• Each slide should have meaning – the slide has many visuals, very little words – no bullet points
• Pictures support discussion
• Discussion should be timed with each slide
• Place slides on auto-timer for 20 seconds
• Discussion for the slide ends as soon as it’s over – no rollover
• No going back to the prior slide

Resources:

• Presentation Zen
• Pecha-Kucha.org
• Do You PK?