As many of you know, ShowPhaze is Irish-owned and operated. Oisín is an old Irish name from ancient folklore. Now I know everyone wants to hear about pots of gold and leprechauns but I’m here to talk about the broader topic of storytelling in today's terms.
Mythology was about passing on knowledge and activating the imagination. Today, in an age of technology, some of the most consistent storytelling happens during keynotes. Sure, it’s a little more flashy than the fireside settings in remote cottages around the Irish countryside, but the context and medium are largely the same.
Seanchaí (shan-a-KEE) are traditional Irish storytellers who served as custodians of folklore, history, and culture, passing down tales orally through generations. They played a vital role in preserving Irish heritage, often entertaining audiences with stories of myths, legends, and local history. - wikipedia. They weren’t necessarily just entertainers; they were well respected and influential. Kings would treat them accordingly in order to maintain popularity with the masses.
These days, keynote speakers are often paid tens of thousands of dollars. Top motivational speakers and some of the most decorated experts in their fields, including doctors, scientists and engineers deliver valuable presentations all over the world, backed by AV. Being part of a show crew or a breakout op can often be a backstage pass to something that’s been with us from the very beginning. Storytelling.
A little like The Book of Kells, keynote presentations are the modern-day calligraphy, hieroglyphics, and ancient script. The lights, moving graphics and audio systems provide the right ambiance, similar to that of a crackling open fire, with a pot of water whistling to the boil - hissing out like the high-impact walk on music, flexing the subwoofers.
Storytelling never went away and I’d argue some of its purest form is being expressed during the events we service in hotel ballrooms and convention centers dotted all over the world. Next time you think Paddy’s Day is all about finding the end of the rainbow, think a little deeper. Oh and for the love of culture, please don’t ever call it “Patty’s Day”
