30-Second Pitches

Instructions for the leader

Activity: Public-Speaking & Self-Promotion Practice Invite community members to step forward one at a time and deliver a 30-second pitch about a project they want to promote — an event, a business, an idea, a cause, or a personal passion. Each speaker has exactly 30 seconds to make their message compelling: a clear hook, a reason to care, and a specific call-to-action. Pre-Activity Guidance: Frame the exercise as a low-stakes laboratory for self-expression. Many people feel awkward promoting themselves or their work; this practice reframes self-promotion as a form of service — helping others discover something valuable. Emphasize that a great pitch is not about hype but about communicating genuine enthusiasm in a way that lands. Encourage brevity, specificity, and sincerity over polish. Structure & Rules: Time It: Use a 30-second timer. The hard cutoff keeps energy high and forces speakers to distill their message to its essence. One Pitch, One Focus: Each pitch covers a single project. Speakers name what it is, why it matters, and what they want from the audience (show up, sign up, spread the word). Cheer, Don't Critique: After each pitch, the group responds with a round of applause and one specific appreciation (e.g., "I loved the opening line"). Save deeper feedback for an optional debrief at the end. Rotate: Invite as many people as possible to step up. Repeat until everyone who wants a turn has pitched at least once. Debrief: Close with a brief reflection — what made pitches land, what felt hard about self-promotion, and how it felt to be celebrated by the group. Props: A phone timer or stopwatch.