PowerPoint-Karaoke turns random slides into a playground for confidence, storytelling, and quick thinking. Dutch presentation coach and moderator Remco Verwaijen (“Remco Presenteert“) runs lively workshops that mix improv with practical coaching, helping professionals and students present with clarity and confidence. Together with colleagues Aniek van Onzenoort and Paul te Hietbrink, he organises and hosts PowerPoint-Karaoke events across the Netherlands.
Hello Remco, thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview!
No problem at all, always a pleasure to talk to a fellow PowerPoint-Karaoke fanatic!
Please give our readers a brief introduction to yourself and your two colleagues – who are you?
I’m Remco, a presenter, presentation coach and comedian from the Netherlands. Together with two brilliant fellow comedians, Aniek van Onzenoort and Paul te Hietbrink, I host PowerPoint Karaoke sessions in the Netherlands. We share the same mission: helping people have more fun on stage and feel confident while doing it.
Aniek: During the day, I work on the modernization of trains. During the night, I am a stand up comedian. I have also done some improv and liked that as well. So when Paul and I were invited to join the Dutch Championships, I immediately said yes and afterwards, we decided that this was way too much fun, to only do this once.
Paul: Hi! As Remco said, I am a brilliant comedian, although I have not performed in quite a while. But it’s a bit like Einstein: true geniuses are lazy, they say. Besides hosting Powerpoint-Karaoke I am a plant-based cooking Chef with my own catering business, and I am training to be a provocative coach – a style of coaching/therapy that involves humor (luckily!), challenge and compassion all in one.
How and where did you meet, and how did you come to organise PowerPoint-Karaoke events together?
We met on the Dutch comedy circuit and quickly discovered our shared love for the beautiful chaos of improvisation. Paul knew I was working as a presenter and presentation trainer, so he reached out with the idea of organising PowerPoint Karaoke sessions. At the very first test event, he performed with Aniek, and that’s when everything really took off.
When did you realize that helping people present is your thing? A short “aha” moment from your own stage experience.
Remco: I wasn’t the kid hiding behind a book; I loved telling stories. Later, when I started doing theatre, I suddenly saw how my hobby (acting) and my job (communication) fit like puzzle pieces. That’s when I knew: helping people present is what I’m built for.
Paul: I believe that people should hide less and show their true colours. I think PowerPoint Karaoke can be a tool to help people loosen up on stage/while presenting, giving them more calm and ease. I love it when I see people open up and develop skills they didn’t think they had.
Aniek: During my time as chair of my student association I found that I was intrigued by public speaking and chairing. I found it terrifying but so fulfilling if it went right. I found a job at a company that also offered presentation and storytelling training and there I discovered how great it was to help people get from the terrifying part into presenting with confidence.
What challenges do you most often observe in presenters?
Remco: Most people think they should “perform” instead of simply connect. They overthink their slides and underthink their story and their presence. And almost everyone forgets to breathe, which, I’ve learned, is pretty useful during a presentation.
Aniek: As Remco says, a lot of people become a different person on stage. When you speak to them alone, they are charming, funny and smart. On stage they overthink. I think one of the causes for it, is that people measure the success of their performance on things they can’t control (completely). Like the reaction of the crowd. It helps to choose a way of defining your success in a way you have full influence.
Paul: Overthinking! People are so stiff and afraid to make mistakes that they almost freeze or perform a robot-like presentation. We want to invite people to show up as their genuine self, and just relaaax.
What is the most common mistake you see and what’s one practical fix for it that readers can try this week?
Mistake: Trying to say everything perfectly instead of saying one thing clearly.
Fix: Before you start, write down just one sentence: “If my audience only remembers THIS one thing, I’m happy.” Say it out loud. Suddenly your whole presentation gets lighter and more focused.
Many people suffer from stage fright. What specific techniques do you recommend before a performance – physically, mentally, vocally?
Physically: Shake out your arms and shoulders to release tension. A loose body makes for a loose mind.
Mentally: Film yourself during rehearsal and watch it back. You’ll see how you actually come across and it takes away a big part of the unknown.
Vocally: Hum for 30 seconds. It warms up your voice and calms your nervous system at the same time.
First-timer nerves: What pre-performance techniques (body, breath, focus) make the biggest difference for anxious speakers?
Body: Stand with your feet hip-width apart and loosen your knees slightly. A grounded body tells your brain: “We’re safe.”
Breath: Exhale longer than you inhale. It slows your heart rate and brings you back into the moment.
Focus: Before your talk, film yourself for 20–30 seconds while practising. Watching it back removes a lot of fear. You realise you look far more confident than you feel. That small reality-check works wonders for anxious speakers.
In two lines: What is PowerPoint-Karaoke — and why does it work as a training tool?
PowerPoint-Karaoke is presenting a story based on slides you’ve never seen before.
It works because it forces you into spontaneity: improv, storytelling and presence. And that’s the core of good presenting.
Take us behind the scenes: How do you structure a typical PowerPoint-Karaoke session (warm-up, rules, time, feedback) so beginners feel safe and willing to try?
We start with a fun warm-up to get people out of their heads. After that, we explain the simple rules and give one or two demo presentations so everyone knows what to expect. Then it’s the audience’s turn: they make slide decks for each other or practise together as a group. And finally the big finale: volunteers go on stage and give a real PowerPoint-Karaoke presentation.
We always end with supportive feedback focused on what worked. The goal is: safety first, chaos second.
You have already seen several PowerPoint-Karaoke shows and numerous volunteer speakers. What three tips do you have for newcomers?
1. Don’t explain the slide, react to it.
2. Use short sentences. Panic loves long ones.
3. Embrace the absurd. The audience rewards courage, not perfection.
You also offer presentation trainings and PowerPoint-Karaoke as team building activities: What learning goals do you set for groups — and how do you know the ice has truly broken by the end?
We aim for spontaneity, clearer communication under pressure, and more trust within the group. I know the ice is broken when people start cheering for each other and when the quietest person in the room suddenly volunteers to go next.
Storycraft on nonsense slides: Which 2–3 methods do you teach/recommend first and why those?
1. The “Because” technique: Every slide becomes the logical next step because you decide the logic.
2. Character first: Pretend you’re someone else. It frees you from self-judgment.
3. The 3-part story: Situation, surprise, solution. Works even on a slide of a confused alpaca.
Is there a comedian in the world you would like to have lunch with, and if so, why?
Remco: I’d love to have lunch with Ricky Gervais. I love how he combines sharp, fearless humour with honesty, even in the most uncomfortable topics. And in improvisation, my role model is Robin Williams. His ability to shift characters, rhythms and emotions in a split second was pure magic.
What are your three favourite books?
Remco: Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo
Aniek: Finding your comic genius by Adam Bloom
Paul: I, Jan Cremer
Are you also active on social media? How and where can we follow you online?
Remco: Yes! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn under Remco Presenteert. I share tips, stories and behind-the-scenes from workshops, comedy and of course PowerPoint-Karaoke shows.
Aniek: Instagram
Dear Remco, Aniek & Paul that was very informative, thank you very much! We wish you continued success!
Thank you! This was a lot of fun and if your readers ever want to try PowerPoint-Karaoke in the Netherlands themselves… I know a few people.
