Storytelling: Comparing the Stage and Digital Platforms

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How Storytelling Techniques Differ and Why Both Matter for Christian Communicators

Storytelling has been an innate part of human culture since creation. In the last 20 years, technology and media have become a massive part of our daily lives, and so have the platforms and techniques through which we tell stories. Even to the point that we are now all looking for ways to disengage media. In turn, this makes our job seemingly more difficult as communicators. But what if we tap into both mediums to authentically connect with our people?

The stage, being one of the most traditional platforms for storytelling, has specific techniques that differ from those within digital platforms. Let’s take a look at how they compare:

Medium Limitations & Advantages:

Stage:
- The interaction is limited by physical space and the live, "real-time" nature.
- Strengths include the immediacy of live events, the shared experience with an audience, and the tangible presence of others.
Digital Platform:
- More versatile as it can encompass video, audio, animation, text, and interactive elements.
- Digital stories can be paused, rewound, or re-watched. They can be nonlinear and interactive, allowing users to choose their path.

Sensory Engagement:

Stage:
- Primarily engages auditory and visual senses. There's an intangible emotional and energy transfer in a live setting.
- Stage design, lighting, and live sound play crucial roles in assisting people in a response. As Christian speakers and leaders, we should handle these settings with care and integrity so as not to blur the line of manipulation.
Digital Platform:
- Tech now has the ability to engage the auditory and visual senses. Haptic feedback, such as vibrations in video game controllers or rides at Disneyland, is impressive; however, this method is not common for speakers and church environments, nor is it really encouraged.

Interactivity & Audience Role:

Stage:
- The audience can be passive, but reactions (laughter, gasps, applause) can influence real-time events or engagements.
- Some speakers might break the wall or involve audience participation, but this is less common. It can be very effective within specific environments.
Digital Platform:
- It can be designed for passive consumption or active interaction, such as lives on social media.
- Social media platforms allow audiences to influence outcomes, making them active participants. The data you collect from their engagement can help you determine the content they need or want from you.

Duration & Pace:

Stage:
- Typically fixed, although there can be variations in live performances.
- Intermissions might break up longer discussions, as we see demonstrated in conferences.
Digital Platform:
- Varies widely from short TikTok videos to hours-long live feed videos, courses, or message series.
- Allows for user-controlled pacing, especially in interactive mediums like YouTube.

Accessibility & Reach:

Stage:
- Limited to those physically present or, in some modern contexts, those watching a live stream.
- Touring can expand reach but is still limited by geography.
Digital Platform:
- Global reach with potential for virality.
- Accessible at any time, from almost any place, especially with mobile technology.

Immersion:

Stage:
- The suspension of disbelief is often required, and much is left to the imagination.
- Minimalistic sets can suggest rather than show, letting audiences fill in the blanks and be able to focus on the speaker.
Digital Platform:
- Multimedia and special effects can create detailed and realistic settings or hyper-real environments.
- Virtual and augmented reality can offer deep immersion. We are breaching the day of Star Wars.

Evolution & Change:

Stage:
- While topics, scripts, and notes remain the same, speakers can evolve as communication skills improve.
Digital Platform:
- Content is static but can be edited, updated, or deleted. In interactive platforms, algorithms can change the story experience based on user behavior.

While the core essence of storytelling remains consistent—to engage, influence, entertain, or inform—the techniques used vary widely between stage and digital platforms. Each medium offers unique strengths and presents its own challenges, but both continue to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of human communication and expression.

That is why I feel both are always necessary for speakers and churches. Digital media such as livestreams and social platforms should be used as tools to encourage deeper in-person engagement for audiences and communicators, not replace in-person connection.