The future of storytelling
Feeling inspired following a "futuristic" session at MPI's EMEC conference in Brighton this morning, I got to thinking about the future of storytelling, which is the outline for my latest piece of content.
Storytelling is an important artform that has been around since the beginning of human civilization. From cave paintings to oral traditions, and from written stories to movies, storytelling has evolved over the years, reflecting the changes in society, culture, and technology.
Through this mornings session and yesterdays collaborative workshop led by Robert Dunsmore and Kim Myhre, they opened my mind to thinking about what's possible. What's next.
Can storytelling be used in new ways to create a more immersive and engaging experience for our event audiences?
As we move towards a more digital world, I think, the future of storytelling looks bright and exciting and is an area that could be explored even further by event professionals as we learn new ways to engage.
When was the last time you allowed yourself the freedom to dream and think differently about how you engage with your audience?
What's the future of storytelling
To be honest, who knows... Not what you wanted to hear right?
There is likely someone somewhere already working on a new technology or concept that will revolutionize how we communicate stories.
So no, I'm afraid to say I don't know how or even what will be possible, but as I mention above, I have explored the concept of allowing yourself the freedom to dream, to create, to inspire change in the past and following the conference sessions and workshops I listened to my own advice... I switched off on my way home and started to think about what the future of storytelling may look like.
Get lost in stories
Wouldn't it be incredible if when picking up our next story whether that be a book, podcast, blog post or something completely new, we were able to customize our experience?
Maybe that is twisting the plot, shaping the "character" into our own being, but maybe also it's an entirely new immersive experience that takes us into a virtual world where we are the main character and can physically interact with our story, such as stepping inside an alternate reality.
Wouldn't it be amazing if all five core senses could be triggered and engaged at the same time. Through sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, we could experience and interact with the plot or experience, in our very own reality.
The opportunities for event professionals to be creative and innovative are huge - think of the storytelling through interactive workshops, multi-sensory experiences, immersive events or just rip up the playbook, head outside and take your guests on a walk... it doesn't take much to open minds beyond the closed walls of a typical event venue.
Interactive Stories
Interactive stories could provide opportunities for deep learning and exploration to further our understanding of ourselves, others and the world around us.
As we engage more deeply with these experiences, it will create new levels of engagement and meaning - we could connect to stories in ways that would deepen our understanding, imagination and relationships with each other or, in the work world, with brands and events.
This type of storytelling could be used to create personalised and unique event experiences, where the guest can become part of an interactive story, or even use their own profile data to tailor stories from start to finish so that it is perfectly relevant to them.
Maybe, just like as I write this story and my mind begins to wander about other realms of possibility when it comes to storytelling, the "story" you're reading becomes an experience that you can interact with and shape in your own way.
Who knows what the answer is... do you want to finish this piece?
Creativity drives change, so keep dreaming. This is what will shape our future.
What do you think? What's your vision of the future of storytelling? Share and inspire.