You Won't Believe What I Saw in the Park

Last Sunday, I was walking through Edinburgh Gardens in Melbourne. Suddenly I was in a sea of red. Hundreds of people all wearing red, were dancing, falling and rolling on the lawns! It was crazy and enchanting.

I had stumbled upon ‘The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever’. This annual celebration is where participants recreate Kate Bush’s music video ‘Wuthering Heights’.

Wuthering Heights was Kate Bush’s debut single in January 1978. The song became a No.1 hit in the UK singles chart and remains her biggest-selling single.

All the dancers in Edinburgh Gardens wore red dresses, black sashes and red stockings, just like Kate Bush in the video. I even spotted a baby dressed in a tiny red dress – adorable.

‘The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever’ began 11 years ago in the UK and has now spread worldwide. There’s even a teacher who teaches you to ‘wuther’. The moves are like trying to get a pair of tights on. (ifykyk).

Seeing people celebrating Kate Bush, dancing together, and wuthering away in nature was magical. One participant said it’s ‘deliciously silly’. For me, in the awe-struck audience, it was a joy to watch, surprising and delightful.

I immediately wanted to bottle some of this magic into every presentation. Now, I’m not suggesting you frock up in a flowing red dress and get your audiences to wuther away. You could, but there’s no need to go so deep, so fast!

What are some simple ways to ‘surprise and delight’ your audience in your next presentation? How can you bring more joy into their world?

‘Surprise and delight’ and ‘Bring more joy’ sound like Instagram cliches. Sparkly yet unhelpful. The good news is it doesn’t have to be complicated, as the bar is so low with most business presentations.

Here are some simple, practical steps:

Add a Personal Touch: Share a personal story or experience about your topic. This makes your content more relatable and engaging.
Use Unexpected Visuals: In addition to traditional slides, use memes, gifs, or even props that will catch your audience off guard in a good way.
Involve your audience: Use polls, quizzes, or live demos to make your audience feel involved and keep them engaged.
Humour and Playfulness: Don’t be afraid to inject humour or playfulness. A light-hearted joke or a playful metaphor can go a long way.
Power Endings: End with a surprising fact, a powerful quote, or a call to action that leaves a lasting impression.

It’s all about creating memorable moments your audience will remember and talk about.

Now it’s your turn! How will you add a touch of magic to your next presentation?