Originally published in Successful Meetings magazine, June 2006
A Dose of Nostalgia
www.enterprisemedia.com
Even the grouchiest of attendees can't help but smile at the Muppets. Short and entertaining, Muppet Meeting Films, available at Enterprise Media, can be used to announce breaks, open or close a session, help deal with difficult topics like corporate benefits and legal issues, or provide a lighthearted moment. If titles such as Break'N the Rules, Explosion, and Wheels of Progress don't provide enough information on content, online previews are available for many of the films, as well as suggested uses. The movies can be rented or purchased on VHS or DVD, and most run two to three minutes.
Kick-start a Program
www.corporatesidekicks.com
Jack Fiala's Corporate Sidekicks are designed to help executives who may not be the best speakers to better communicate with an audience, or simply to interject some humor and (well-planned) spontaneity into a meeting. The puppets interact directly with the executive and reappear throughout the meeting. All interaction is live and custom written for your event. The puppet can play the role of an audience member, voicing the potentially impertinent thoughts running through attendees' heads, so that management can address those issues ("You're doing what to our benefits?!").
Try the Punch
http://punchandbrodie.com
Punch & Brodie's cast of 10 puppet characters includes Alphonzo, the boss; Kelsey, the third assistant to the creative director of a second-rate public relations firm; and Drizzle the Rain Elf. They are ready and willing to appear in corporate videos or during live meetings. New puppet creations can be developed specifically for your group. One of Punch & Brodie's specialties is using puppets to show how things should not be done, and then following up with a lesson on the appropriate way to handle a situation.