20 frequently asked questions about PechaKucha 20x20.
01. What is PechaKucha 20x20 ?
PechaKucha 20x20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images forward automatically and you talk along to the images.
02. Who invented the format ?
The presentation format was devised by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture. The first PechaKucha Night was held in Tokyo in their gallery, lounge, bar, club, creative kitchen SuperDeluxe in February 2003 Klein Dytham architecture still organize and support the global PechaKucha Night network and organise PechaKucha Night Tokyo.
03. Why invent this format ?
Because architects talk too much! Give a microphone and some images to an architect - or most creative people for that matter - and they'll go on forever! Give powerpoint to anyone else and they have the same problem.
04. What are PechaKucha Nights ?
PechaKucha Nights are informal and fun gatherings where creative people get together and share their ideas, works, thoughts, holiday snaps - just about anything really, in the PechaKucha 20x20 format.
05. Why have PechaKucha Nights gone viral globally ?
With PechaKucha Nights now happening in over 230 cities around the world we have discovered that most cities - not just Tokyo have virtually no public spaces where people can show and share their work in relaxed way. If you have just graduated from college and finished your first project in the real world - where can you show it? It probably won't get into a magazine, you don't have enough photos for a gallery show or a lecture - but PechaKucha 20x20 is the perfect platform to show and share your work.
06. Where are PechaKucha Nights held ?
PechaKucha Nights are mostly held in fun spaces with a bar similar to the home of PechaKucha Night - SuperDeluxe - which is a space for 'thinking and drinking'. To date PechaKucha Nights have been held in bars, restaurants, clubs, beer gardens, homes, studios, universities, churches, prisons (disused), beaches, swimming pools even a quary!
07. Who can present ?
Anyone can present - this is the beauty of PechaKucha Nights. Astrid's daughter presented when she was 5 (about her artwork ;- ) and Mark's mother presented when she was 69 (about her elaborate wedding cake creations).
08. What can people present?
The key to a great presentation is to present something you love. Most people use PechaKucha Night to present their latest creative projects or work. Some people share their passion and show their prized collections of Nana Mouskuri records, other share photos of their latest site visit to a construction site or their recent holiday snaps. We always recommend people go and see a PechaKucha Night before they apply to present to get a good feel of what it is all about.
09. What makes a good PechaKucha?
Good PechaKucha presentation are the ones that uncover the unexpected, unexpected talent, unexpected ideas. Some PechaKuchas tell great stories about a project or a trip. Some are incredibly personal, some are incredibly funny, but all are very different making each PechaKucha Night like 'a box of chocolates'.
11. Who runs PechaKucha Nights?
Each PechaKucha Night is run by a city organizer. Well, they are more like stewards really who look after the PechaKucha spirit in each city. All PKN organizers must have a regular day job and they run PechaKucha Nights only for the inspiration, love and fun of it. They mostly come from the creative fields. The PKN organizer is usually supported by a big team of volunteers in putting on a PechaKucha Night and the more helping hands come together the better. The global PechaKucha Network is organized and supported by Klein Dytham architecture.
12. How can I run a PechaKucha Night?
We have never asked anyone to run a PechaKucha Night, people ask us. We only planned this as a one off event, people asked to run it again - and again - and we were 3 years and 30 events into it, just in Tokyo, before people started thinking it would be cool to have one in their city. Check to see if there is one in your city first - if not and you think you have what it takes to run one in your city get in read the 'start one in your city' section.
13. What's a PechaKucha Night Handshake Agreement?
We have a very simple Handshake agreement with each city basically to ensure there is only one event series per city and people are not treading in one another toes or pulling the rug out from under there feet. PechaKucha Nights take quite a bit of organizing and the more networks the better so we think it is better for cities to focus on one event. We run an event every month in Tokyo and believe us it is quite an undertaking! The handshake agreements are free, and renewed each year. Cities must organize a minimum of 4 events a year to qualify as an active city.
14. Why is PechaKucha Night trademarked?
PechaKucha Night is trademarked to protect all the effort and hard work of our PKN city organizers and network. PechaKucha Night is for CONTENT and not profit.
15. Why are we setting up a global foundation?
PechaKucha was devised and by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham and their office Klein Dytham architecture has supported the movement and global network for the past 7 years covering all cost for staff and web development. To keep the project sustainable and viable going forward as the network expands we are setting up a foundation. The foundation will also support creative projects such as the Mark Hoekstra PechaKucha Night Award.
16. Can I use the the PechaKucha 20x20 format at school or in the office?
Sure - it is a great format for project reviews and presentations at schools or internal presentations in offices. We are setting up PechaKucha Learning and PechaKucha Corporate programs (????) We also license the event format for Events and Conferences, please check out PechaKucha Event for more details.
17. Is PechaKucha Night like TED?
Many people have said - “oh so you're like a local TED!” A very nice complement but not quite right! TED is brilliant but very different to PechaKucha. TED is top down, PechaKucha is bottom up! Deanne the hooper, Astrid daughter or Marks mum could not present at TED - but they had awesome stories and creativity to at recent PechaKucha's
18. Was PechaKucha the first format like this?
That's a good question. We have all heard of elevator pitches, a presentation so short you could pitch it to someone in an elevator, well 20 seconds x 20 is a bit longer than that, but the idea is the same short concise presentations. As far as we know PechaKucha was the first to put a limit on the number or images, number of seconds - and the all important auto forward. No 'next slide' or 'go back one please' at PechaKucha Nights. There have been several, rather sly - and not so sly imitators including Talk20 and Ignite - but PechaKucha was there first, seven years ago!
19. Is PechaKucha Night a social network?
No because there is nothing social about social networks, get out from behind your screen and get to a live event, with real people, real communication, real beer and real creative fun.
20. What's next for PechaKucha 20x20?
We have launched version 4.0 of the website. For press enquiries and further information, please get in touch!
