Wait for Laughter: Funny Business at DEMO
- Posted October 2nd, 2007
- Filed under: Events/Presentation
When we were working on our script in preparation for DEMOfall2007, we knew we had a huge task ahead of us. Not only did we have the pressure of trying to showcase what our product did in the allocated six minutes, but we were also the underdogs. The only company at DEMO from Rhode Island, BatchBlue was representing the smallest state to the biggest tech crowd in the country.
We brainstormed for ideas that would really wow them onstage. Beholden to the six minute, no-props-no-slides-no-acting-no-video rules of DEMO, we ultimately decided to just be ourselves. We showcased how we, a small company, were using BatchBook to do our jobs. We mentioned our families, our passion for finding work and life balance, and how we truly want to empower other small business owners to not just organize their businesses but to better live their lives. We knew it wasn’t going to be the flashiest presentation (how could it be? We were demonstrating with medical breakthroughs, video games, digital media, all sorts of products that would make the audience stop their frenetic text messaging and email checking and glance up at the stage for a moment), but we felt the presentation well-conveyed what our product does, who it’s for, and who we are as a company.
During the hours (and hours!) of script rehearsal, Pam often said a line and one of us (usually Adam) would jump in with “And…wait for laughter.” This became shorthand for acknowledging that we might not knock them out of their chairs at DEMO, but as we encourage our soccer-playing kids on game day, we were going to do our best and have a good time. UPDATED: Here is the link to BatchBlue’s presentation at DEMO.
The four days at DEMO were a blur of web apps and product pitches. The other demonstrators we met were incredibly fun, nice people and it was a pleasure to be around them and their great energy (see interviews with some of our favorites linked below). We saw the occasional bouts of bad behavior: the guy screaming “There’s no ‘I’ in team!” into his cell phone, someone snapping at a crew member during rehearsal, a man kicking a wall because he didn’t win a DEMO god award, but for the most part, the atmosphere among the demonstrators was very supportive and upbeat.
Where things got a little weird was the political goings-on that swirled around us, the proverbial sharks in the water. By its nature, DEMO is attended by people who want something, whether it’s funding, press or connections. The hustle and schmooze seemed like second nature to many of the attendees, part of a larger, unending conversation with and among industry insiders. To us it just felt…not like us.
What was us: performing a lobster dance unwittingly in front of a reporter to illustrate that we were from Rhode Island (Michelle); tipping over backwards in a chair in the middle of the pavilion – twice! (Sean); charming the pants off of other demonstrators and trading coffee for massive amounts of chocolate (Adam); bonding with the stage crew during rehearsals (Pam and Adam); packing up boxes though she was dressed to the nines (Keri); sending drinks over to Chris Shipley in the hotel bar at the end of the conference (BatchBlue staff).
We are not from Silicon Valley and nor would we want to be. BatchBlue had a huge amount of fun as a team, a great release from the sleepless, caffeine-fueled six weeks leading up to DEMO and the neglected health and home life the endless work created. We whole-heartedly congratulate our fellow DEMO attendees and appreciate the many great connections that we made there.
But the best connection we made was to each other. Staying true to who we are as a company was what felt right to us. We now return to our home state and to our work with a renewed commitment to making great products for small businesses. For its flaws, DEMO has given BatchBlue and, by proxy, small businesses, a seat at the tech table. As long as we’re still having fun, we have no intention of leaving.
Watch fellow demonstrator Vello’s BatchBlue interview!
Behold fellow demonstrator CashView’s BatchBlue interview!
Hello, BatchBlue Team!
This is one of the best DEMO stories I’ve ever read. I’ve heard other companies talk about the fact that DEMO brought their teams closer, but you give this an important context.
You are right… there is an elitism (my word not yours) to Silicon Valley that can be off-putting to “out of towners” and detrimental to startups hoping to sell products beyond this little spit of land. I could argue that Rhode Island is exactly the right place to build a software company like BatchBlue. You are right there in the midst of your customers. I can’t think of a better place for any company to be.
Congratulations on an impressive DEMO launch, and continued luck and best wishes.
Pam,
Started looking at you guys when a colleage was prepping a client for DEMO. Agree with Chris, great to hear someone articulate the east/west tension. As we “east coasters” push the envelope around social media, Web 2.0, etc. it’s great to have spirited stars like you and your colleagues. Keep up the great work!
Scott
I want to see the lobster dance! I grew up in Rhode Island but never learned this.
Happy Holidays everyone at Batch Blue!
Soyeun, from her office and
Tommy, from CashView