pecha kucha whocha?
This Friday and Saturday I’m speaking at the Interior Design Show in Toronto. Friday is ‘trade day’ and I will be on the ‘main stage’ with a number of others doing a Pecha Kucha presentation in front of 400 design professionals. OUCH…..It’s Sunday night and my knuckles are already white!!
And so you wonder, what the heck is ‘pecha kucha’? So did I when they called me!
Pecha Kucha is a Japanese term for “chit chat” and it’s a rapid-fire presentation format. Speakers present a slideshow of 20 images which appear for 20 seconds each. They’re put on a timer (you can’t touch your own clicker!) and the presenter speaks while the images rotate for exactly 6 minutes and 40 seconds. The idea is that no one gets bored and the speaker keeps it short. A Japanese architect came up with the idea a number of years ago and you can catch a few presentations on Youtube if you’re interested.
Apparently there is also a certain amount of entertainment value in watching presenters try to either keep up with their slides, or wait them out if they run out of things to say…20 seconds can be a very looooong time if you’re in front of 400 people and (pause) silent.
And so wish me luck ~ I’m so nervous you’d think I had to say the words in Japanese!!
Oh, and look for me in the Toronto Star on Tuesday and on their website, www.yourhome.ca; on ChumFM with Marilyn Dennis’ “All about Style” segment on Thursday morning at 8:20am; and on CanadaAM on Monday.
This is one busy week! I also hope you’ve signed up for clubcobi, our bi-weekly newsletter is set to start this Wednesday and has a special offer in it for members!
Comments
No need to have been so anxious Cobi - you did an absolutely fantastic Pecha Kucha presentation! People were telling me how sincere and heartfelt your presentation was - it was a great way to kick off the event. I enjoyed all the colourful slides you showed…I’m inspired to add some punch now to my current bedroom inspiration!
Hi Cobi - nice to have found you on-line - have just finished re-reading October 08 House & Home and have been missing your column each month since - best of luck in living your dream. Cheers!
just received my first Clubcobi newsletter and was thrilled to see Cartolina notebooks.
Fiona and I live close by here in Nelson.
We are lucky to have such a talent.
Wow, that sounds very cool and fun, it’s ideal for you, 20 images, your dialogue….and your great ideas. Wish I could be there. Do you ever come to Mexico to speak?