PowerPoint Karaoke: The Ultimate Low-Stakes Performance Night
Author: The Pepur Team
Category: Niche & Nostalgia
Reading Time: 5 min
Public speaking is the number one fear of most adults.
Which is exactly why you should turn it into a drinking game.
PowerPoint Karaoke (also known as Battle Decks) is the simple, beautiful art of giving a presentation you have never seen before, on a topic you know nothing about.
It is improv comedy for people who think they aren't funny. It is corporate satire. It is the best party theme you haven't tried yet.
The Rules
- The Deck: You (the host) or the guests prepare slide decks. 5-7 slides max.
- The Topic: Absurd. "Why Pigeons Are Government Drones." "A Q3 Strategy for Selling Ice to Penguins." "The Socio-Economic Impact of Mullets."
- The Speaker: Someone draws a topic. They stand up. They see the first slide at the same time the audience does.
- The Pitch: They must explain the slide. They cannot stop talking. They must sell it with the confidence of a TED Talk speaker who has had three espressos.
Why It Works
It removes the pressure of "being good." You are supposed to fail. The slides are designed to sabotage you.
When a graph appears that makes no sense, and the speaker confidently explains that "This dip represents the Great Hummus Shortage of 2018," the room explodes.
It forces vulnerability. It levels the playing field. The CEO and the intern are equally lost.
How to source the decks
- Option A: Make them yourself. Search "weird stock photos" and put them in a random order.
- Option B: Download real corporate decks from the internet and remove the context.
- Option C: Ask guests to email a deck beforehand. The rule: You can't present your own deck.
The Setup
- A TV or Projector.
- A clicker (holding a physical clicker makes people feel powerful).
- A podium (or a stack of books).
- Alcohol (optional, but highly recommended for courage).
Summary
We spend our lives trying to be competent. Give your friends permission to be incompetent. It is liberating.
A Few Questions You Were Probably Going To Google
Q: How long should it last?
A: 1 hour max. 5-6 presentations. Then go back to drinking. It's a high-intensity activity.
Q: Do I need prizes?
A: Yes. "Best Logic," "Most Convincing Lie," and "Worst Graph Interpretation." The prize should be a laser pointer.
Q: Can I do this with coworkers?
A: Yes. It is a fantastic team building exercise, provided your HR department has a sense of humor.