By Barry Mohn Miles Davis’s album, Kind of Blue, is regarded as one of the most influential jazz albums of all time.   Its music offers lessons for musicians of all genres, and its techniques offer interesting parallels and lessons for presenters. Here are three jazz elements that apply to presentations: 1. Improvisation – Miles Davis called for almost no rehearsals before recording Kind of Blue.   He provided the other musicians [...]

By Alison Rosen I’m one of those weirdos who actually enjoys public speaking, so I was surprised, early this summer, when the thought of giving a toast at my sister’s wedding began to fill me with dread. It wasn’t so much that I had to stand up in front of people and talk—I’ve been doing variations of that sort of thing on TV, on the radio, on podcasts, in front [...]

By Barry Mohn Occum’s Razor, loosely interpreted, is a principle stating that the simplest method is often the best.  Philosopher William of Ockham surely would have approved of clustering then. Clustering, believed to have started in Roman times, is a technique that helps create a hierarchy of ideas around a central purpose or problem.  Circa 75 BC, Cicero etched clusters for his speeches on clay tablets.  Today, third graders mark [...]

That’s right, Star Wars.  You know—Luke, Leia, and lightsabers—the George Lucas classic that we’ll never forget.  That one. So what on Planet Alderaan does Star Wars have to do with presentations? Let me explain.  Star Wars follows a quintessential three-act structure.  In fact, not just Star Wars, but many movies, plays, and books progress this way.  So too should your next presentation.  Why?  Because a three-act structure provides an organized [...]