May 2005 Article                      

Using Instant Audience Response

If the results from three recent sessions conducted in New York and Chicago are an indicator, you are between 30 and 40% likely to have used an Audience Response System (ARS) in the past and nearly 90% in favor of giving it a try or using it again.

In the trade shows sponsored recently by Krisam and GEP, the technology was used during sessions focusing on hot topics in the meetings industry such as the recent trend toward adopting ROI programs to determine the value of holding meetings. But how widespread is the ROI trend?  The answers from the audience proved that the use of ROI programs is still in its infancy as the following results show:

It’s interesting to see the difference between the percent of Chicago planners who are involved in an ROI program versus the New York audience.

The technology broke down the attendees from each sector:

A higher percentage of corporate planners attended the New York session. The answers lead us to believe that associations appear to be more involved at this point with ROI as they attempt to justify the cost versus benefits of meetings on a revenue basis.

Using audience response technology offers many benefits:

• It keeps the audience engaged throughout the session
• It allows for 100% candid, anonymous responses to
questions that might be controversial
• It provides immediate feedback to determine the peer responses in the room
• It can help direct the discussion to fit audience member needs
• It can identify the skill level of the audience
• It provides truly useful data you can take back and study.
• In a sales meeting it can test the level of product knowledge to identify where additional training might be needed
• For associations, it can even be a way to elect officers…quickly.

“When you ask people for a show of hands, ” Michael J. Lyons, session moderator, says, “Many won’t respond because they don’t want others to know how they feel.  With this system you can hide behind a key pad, answer honestly, and no one knows.” President of GEP Philly, Michael recommends the system as a way to get valid, real-time feedback on meaty subjects in your industry.

It’s useful for the host but it’s also useful for the participant, he continues.  Michael cites the “learn forward effect.” The voters are leaning forward in their seats waiting for the responses to be posted, he explains. Upon seeing the answers, they think to themselves “Oh, I’m in the minority (or majority).  Hmm, that’s interesting.”

Adding a little humor also helps to keep the audience members alert, if not amused. For example, in the sessions above, participants were polled on what is the definition of a DMC. Among the answer choices: Desperate Meeting Coordinator and Deeply Misunderstood Caterer, which of course drew a few chuckles from the group.

For the presenter, using ARS is simple.  The speaker creates a Power Point presentation, which is then sent to the system provider.  They format it in a way that allows for next slide response.  You can use the system for groups even topping 1,000. The ceiling is just a function or your budget. For associations, it can be an additional source of sponsorship, generating revenue that can help pay for the system.

Finally, some more results from the session polling.  How would you have answered?

Of the following which is most important to you…

For more about Audience Response Technology or the results from these sessions, contact your Krisam or GEP representative or email newsletter@theeventinsider.com.