Reinhold Nawroth is on a mission to improve the image of IT! It can be fun, he says – and he certainly went a long way towards proving that last week, at DSLAM in Munich.

DSLAM (Digital Security Slam) is a live event where performers take the stage to present 10-minute comedy slots on IT, digitalisation or cybersecurity-related topics.

Sounds unlikely? I’ve been there and it really works!

My first DSLAM was the full-day version, in Leipzig last June. This year, Reinhold and team are taking the format on the road as ‘DSLAM Nightshift’. So far, they’ve delighted audiences in Leipzig, Cologne and now Munich. Next stop Hamburg on 19 November 2025.

Held at the famous Wirtshaus im Schlachthof* venue, the Munich event had a lively, Oktoberfest feel to it. I ordered some spinach dumplings and a drink, found a space (and some translator colleagues!) at one of the beer benches and settled in for a fun evening.

The short slots and fast turnover of performers keep the energy high and the interest piqued. If you’ve only got ten minutes, you have to think carefully about what your core message is – there’s no time for waffle.

It was something a bit different, a fun night and well worth the trip to Munich. And since the line-up of performers changes each time, I’ll be looking out for an opportunity to go again.

*Website in German, but look at the images under ‘Saal’ to get a sense of the room we were in.