Mickey’s 10 Commandments
Marty Sklar, Walt Disney Imagineering Ambassador, recently discussed Mickey’s 10 Commandments or 10 Rules for creating a successful theme park. Interestingly enough, these principles will apply to office presentations as well.
Steps for a successful theme park or presention
- Know your audience;
This is a basic notion useful for all presentations. Disney is basically doing presentations on a grand scale, but can’t ignore the basics.
- Wear your guests’ shoes;
You’ll never know how the story and ride experience is perceived by the customer unless you become the customer. Its alot like a secret shopper concept, except you are challenging your own concepts. Walt used to do this all the time, but Michael Eisner didn’t really care, so he and his management team would skip the line for the most part when reviewing rides. The horrid wait inflicted on guests in Epcot’s Test Track could only have been designed in the days where Disney management jumped the line.
In a business presentation think about the information the audience wants to hear. Then give it to them!
- Organize the crowd and your ideas;
Again – Epcot’s Test Track is the exception that proves the rule. In any event, when making a presentation you must organize your thoughts. A story told through a theme park experience is no different.
- Create a visual magnet;
Castles, Trees of Life, Magic Hats, geodesic spheres; ‘Nuff Said. For a presentation – no white text on a black background. Make the slides visually interesting and ensure your brand is present.
- Communicate with visual literacy;
A well formed vocabulary is always helpful in communications. With theme parks you use shapes, color, and presence to communicate. A limited vocabulary means a boring presentation.
- Avoid overload;
Everything in moderation. Excess is inappropriate in all cases.
- Maintain identity;
If you are creating a theme park, then stick with the theme. Duh. If you are authoring a presentation – YOU should author it. Delegate the creation and you delegate your brand. Protect your brand!
- Tell one story at a time;
Don’t confuse people with confused thoughts and storylines. Keep it simple. People will get it and return to it.
- Ounce of treatment – an ton of treat;
People attend theme parks and spend money to have FUN. If it isn’t fun, they won’t return. For presentations, give the attendees the information they need and END IT. Don’t dwell on details if the audience doesn’t want them.
- Maintain the park.
Really, as far as repeat business is concerned #10 is probably really #1. When Cedar Fairs purchased Kings Island parks, the first thing the company began was a systematic plan to clean the newly acquired parks that had deteriorated. (Cedar Fairs probably runs the best Amusement Parks in the country). Disney – the leader in Theme Parks – seeks to see that its parks are always clean and therefore inviting.
If you use and reuse a presentation, keep it current and updated.
No matter how you cut it – the message is that to be successful takes thought and tenacity with a just a few goals in mind. Too many goals leads to inattention to detail. Keep it simple and you can succeed at any presentation whether it is a humble 30 minute powerpoint or a grand theme park.
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