I’m on the board of directors of a film festival that features a lot of small-budget independent movies.  These films don’t pull people in by featuring 3-D or special effects.  They do it through great storytelling. Like good filmmakers, some executives know how to use storytelling to connect with attendees.  Their technique starts with what [...] read more

Years ago, as an ice-breaker at a new-comers’ dinner for church , our minister asked everyone to think of who they would select to sit next to on a cross-country flight and discuss why. Selecting from an open list of historical figures, fictional characters, living influencers… or whomever, was a difficult task because the choices [...] read more

As a guitar player, I get to jam on a lot of digital gear. I’ve noticed that the high-end stuff always tries to recreate those older analog sounds—solid-state amps that have tube amp tone, and guitars that sound like they were pulled out of Les Paul’s attic. It’s as if the best digital technology is [...] read more

More and more employers are realizing today that the top reason employees stay at a company is because of a unique, supportive culture. Ten years ago the top reason why employees stayed at a company was – you guessed it – money. In 2011, money dropped down between 6th and 9th place out of 10 [...] read more

I recently attended a show we were producing for a new client; new not just to us but to all production companies. This was the first time that they had called upon a company like InVision to support their annual conference. When we first got the client’s agenda, we saw three 8 hour days in [...] read more

“You guys have the fun job.” I’ve heard this countless times over the years from clients. And they’re right. We come in with colorful drawings, hip music, cool ideas…We get to walk the line that connects creative thinking to business; I like to think we connect the brain to the heart (insert “Wizard of Oz” [...] read more

Those of us in the events business are doing a pretty terrible job. Here’s what I mean… In a typical conference, the opening experience usually entails some sort of theatrical excitement like pyrotechnics exploding onstage while the Parkour team and stomp group dance around or a high definition widescreen opening video with rock concert level [...] read more

When we speak with clients about their executive presentations, we often hear in response to our questions about the quality of their presenters or presentations that they don’t want to experience “DEATH BY POWERPOINT,” and we understand exactly what they mean. We have a couple of suggestions that have worked out wonderfully for those who [...] read more

Twenty years ago we hired USA men’s gymnastics team captain Peter Vidmar as a motivational guest speaker for a few of our events. It was only six years prior when Peter had led his team to America’s first team gold medal victory over the defending world champions, the People’s Republic of China. He went on [...] read more

It’s always interesting to read the reviews following televised debates as to who captured the moment and connected best with the live and/or viewing audience. It’s usually a victory of style over substance, but nevertheless, minds are made up and actions follow. Over the years I have witnessed many executive presentations, some of which were [...] read more

I was unexpectedly engaged by a presentation at the recent Event Marketing Summit.  And, although it was a presentation that I had been involved in creating, it was no less of a surprise to me.  A marketer’s work revolves around targeting audiences, crafting a message and finding the right creative wizardry to make it sparkle. [...] read more

When I was in primary school, my family took a trip across the United States.  When we emerged from the car at the end of a seemingly endless drive to the Grand Canyon, we walked into a lodge; I was spellbound! The golden evening light filtering through the atmosphere delivered warm light to warm colored [...] read more

Engagement: communication re-imagined.

Traditional concepts of communication tend to focus on the individual touchpoint (a Sales Leader Conference, a product reveal, a promotional video). Engagement focuses not only on maximizing the individual touchpoint, but also the connection of one touchpoint to another. read more