Mindset Stories - Audience involvement in Keynote speaking.

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 keynote 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽…

It’s one thing to deliver a keynote. 

It’s another to bring the audience 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 the keynote.

Bringing volunteers on stage, or getting an entire audience involved in a live experiment, is a skill not every speaker has. But when done well, it transforms 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 into 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀. Three decades of being a 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻 has trained me to create moments, not just messages. 

To control the energy of the room. To make the audience not just hear the insights - but experience them.

Why involve the audience? 

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: When the audience is part of the experience, attention isn’t just captured - it’s held.

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗸𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: People remember what they do far more than what they simply hear. Live experiments and interactive moments leave a lasting impact. 

𝗘𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Whether it’s laughter, surprise, or an “aha” moment, a keynote should be something people feel. 

𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀: An interactive experience keeps the audience alert, involved, and buzzing long after the session ends. 

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: When people participate, they internalise the learning. It becomes actionable - something they take back to their teams and apply.

This is what I feel is needed from conference keynotes. 

If not bringing someone up, just some kind of audience participation is crucial at various moments. I try to make an experience for conferences where attendees don’t just sit through a keynote but 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁. A session that doesn’t just 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 but 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀.

If that’s what you want for your next event, let’s make it happen.

Alex Moffat is an experienced leader, a NeuroLeadership practitioner, a multi-award-winning magician, and a highly sought-after keynote speaker in Sydney.

With audiences from Sydney to London, Alex is renowned for helping leaders and their teams rewire their mindsets with neuroscience and magic. 

Alex is available Australia-wide and beyond.