To use a slide template or not??

Last week for my presentation to the Dallas .NET User’s Group I chose to use a blank slide template. That is plain black text on a white slide. My theory was that this simplification made the content of the presentation more clear. With less cool graphics to get lost in the audience is able to focus on the content more easily.

I was in the middle of pulling together another deck when I accidentally applied a theme (one from last year’s PDC)… and I hate to say, the deck looks “cooler” and more professional.

So my I am torn. Should I go with a blank slide template or use “cool” side template for the rest of the “road show”?