Shorter?

We all know people are busier, again. Timelines and turnarounds are quicker, attention spans are shorter.

So being sharper, keeping things shorter, has some value to it.

It has always been the case in the world of entertainment.

There is a golden rule in screenwriting when writing a scene, come in late, and leave early.

Writers always say don’t bury the lead – and get to the point.

Songwriters have a mantra (apparently) “don’t bore us, get to the chorus”.

And in today’s world of clickbait headlines, YouTube and TikTok it is all getting shorter, and shorter.

I think it’s the same with the experiences we provide. We are in entertainment, in events, in sport, and today’s world is asking for shorter, better, and faster.

Every brief I’ve had lately is about finding the shorter 'BBL version' of [insert X sport], the modified sharper format to play [insert X sport], a new 'HITT' session, and, quickfire workshops or meetings!

Good things can take time - but quality rules over quantity

The counterargument to more immediate gratification is that good things do take some time, which is very valid, both in experiencing something and for designing the experience. But the reality of 2021 is that shorter is probably better.

Less is likely to be more.

We like to think people will invest more time into what we offer, but they probably won’t.

Just think of your own behaviour.

It’s not about less value, or less effort, it takes some talent and thought to simplify and shorten.

So, it’s a good question to ask yourself in the design of your experiences – can this be shorter?

On that note, I will keep it to that.

And if I can help you design or refine your experiences, please just let me know!