Big Bird is 46: Speaking to Venn Diagrams

The interconnection between perceived audience and presentation. 

Sesame Street (http://www.sesameworkshop.org/)is 40 years old.  For a product that addresses an incredibly maturing fickle audience, this is an incredible feat.  Who is the audience of Sesame Street?  Obviously children from the age of 4 to 8, correct?  However, as most know, the audience who watches, interacts with, and uses Sesame Street is a much wider net (parents and/or consumers). 

It is intriguing to examine briefly how this is done.  Sesame Street uses a number of techniques to draw in its core audience (a center circle of the 4-8 year olds) with a sustainable definitive product (creative educational content).  It (or more suitably ‘they') then augment this base material with additional connections that speak to a generationally different audience (Venn Circle 2).  It is important to note that the message/content to the 2nd audience is not the same material delivered to the core audience, yet it is delivered at the same time – the material has layers.

When presenting (ideas, messages, products), acknowledge that there are distinct groups that will hear the message.  Create layers of intelligence, and actual different messages that are interwoven that can draw others, especially antagonists to your ideas.  Make people think about the message and allow them to ‘argue’ or play with the message.  This creates conversation and infusion of your ideas.

Closing thought… as an observant child, did you wonder why the muppets only had four fingers?  Did this stretch your mind while watching?  Or was it a diversion that made you miss the message?