Last week, I went to Europe’s biggest stand-up comedy show – 1Live Cologne Comedy XXL.
It was a blast.
One comedian, Marco Gianni, really stood out. I hadn’t heard of him before, but he told a story that cracked me up. And the funny part? The story itself wasn’t even that great. There wasn’t a big punchline or a crazy twist.
He just talked about the old days of trying to watch movies on this site called Kinox. You’d go through hundreds of ads, close all these annoying pop-ups, and finally – finally! – you’d get to the movie. But it was some shaky video someone filmed in a theater, with people’s heads blocking half the screen. And the audio? Total garbage.
But everyone laughed.
Why? Because it was so relatable. Almost everyone had an experience like that, or at least heard about it. It was funny because we’d all been there. No clever joke needed – just a story that connected.
And that’s what great comedians do. They don’t just tell jokes. They make you feel like they get what you go through.
So, what does this have to do with giving demos?
A lot, actually.
Make Your Demo Relatable
When we give demos, we tend to focus on our story – our company’s success, our big clients, our fancy logo slide. But let’s be real: that’s not what hooks an audience.
What actually grabs attention? Telling their story. Talking about their problems and showing you understand what they deal with every day.
How to Bring This Into Your Demo
- Focus on Their Daily Problems: Don’t just talk about your product’s cool features. Start with the everyday problems they face that your product can solve. Make them feel understood.
- Tell Their Story, Not Yours: Use examples they’ll recognize – maybe it’s the pain of managing too many tabs or the stress of switching between platforms. Keep it simple and relatable.
- Forget Fancy Features; Keep It Real: Sure, fancy features are cool, but what people care about most is how your product makes their lives easier. Show them that.
- Have Fun: Just like in comedy, a little humor can make you more likable. Don’t be afraid to keep it light. People respond to realness.
Relatable stories aren’t just for laughs – they’re what keep your audience engaged. So, next time you’re doing a demo, think like a stand-up comedian.
Make it real. Make it relatable. And have a little fun along the way! 🎉
