Royal Air Force Yacht Club Ladies' Luncheon, Hamble

On 14 March I spoke to around 50 ladies at the Hamble Royal Air Force Yacht Club in Hampshire.

They were a very good audience and, despite the talk being scheduled for after the (very good) lunch, attentive enough for me to speak for the best part of an hour on My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer (often a presentation following a meal has to be somewhat shorter!)

Afterwards, as always, I chatted to members, gave out my Twelve Tips for Terrified Speakers! leaflets and sold and signed booklets. Even back in the days before I gave people handouts or did any merchandising after my talks, I would still be available to chat with audience members. It is only on the rare occasions that I have to get away quickly to travel on to another engagement miles away that I make a quick exit and even then I cut it fine by spending at least some time with the people who have just given me their attention, laughter and applause.

Years ago, a Women's Institute member told me that she had been to a national event where the speaker was a very famous actress who was there in her capacity as a representative of a campaigning countryside organisation. Despite her decades of stage and TV experience, she had read her entire speech with her face buried in her script. Afterwards, she had rushed off so quickly that they had to persuade her to come back just to receive her vote of thanks! Result: a disappointed audience.

Contrast this with a Rotary club in Hampshire which organises a charity lunch each spring with a celebrity speaker. They sell around 250 tickets and raise thousands. The speakers they book always seem to go well but one they remember as being particularly good value is Christine Hamilton. She and her husband Neil may still be controversial figures to some people but they have worked hard to become successful and popular entertainers. This Rotary club really appreciated the fact that she not only gave a successful speech but had so much time for her audience afterwards instead of rushing to get away.

Public Speaking Tip #179: Unless there is a really pressing reason for you to get away (or you feel your presentation has been a sheer, unmitigated disaster - which it probably hasn't!) you should spend time with your audience afterwards, not just the ones who want to buy something from you or book you for another engagement, but also those who want to chat about your presentation.

You will sometimes even find that what some of them have to tell you - perhaps an anecdote of their own related to your subject matter - will enhance your future talks.

Another reason is that some people may be too shy to ask a question in front of the audience so making yourself available afterwards means that they can talk to you one-on-one.

 The Royal Air Force Yacht Club is a very pleasant venue in a lovely setting. My thanks to Charlotte Jarmain (who booked me) for the transport from Southampton Parkway and also for the coffee in the village before the talk.

Postscript: Here is a testimonial extract from a super email Charlotte sent afterwards:

"...your speech was received really well. I have  many messages from our members to say that they thoroughly enjoyed listening to your talk and that you were one of the best speakers that we have had!"