How Bruce Springsteen can help your keynote

Nobody can deny Springsteen has a magic connection with all of his audiences, no matter where in the world he performs. Here is how you can borrow a page from his playbook when you deliver a keynote:

BREAK THE FOURTH WALL.

1) Step away from the podium. 

2) Proceed around the front of the room while talking.

 And then...

3) WALK INTO THE AUDIENCE.

That's right. Break the invisible wall and roll right down the aisle. 

Everybody's looking at you. And you are looking at all of them. 

Read their faces and react in real time. It's an adrenaline rush you can't get anchored behind a podium.

Ask a question, they'll raise their hands, go over to one or two people, and have a little back-and-forth dialogue with them.

Show that you are not there to read off a script, click through a bunch of slides, thank everybody, and sashay out the exit.

Just like Bruce, you can hop back onto the stage and continue your keynote. But now, everybody has made a connection with you. They are along for your ride.

If your material is "Thunder Road" quality, when your keynote is done, you've got a room full of new believers. They may even buy your t-shirt. 🎸