Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog

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Saturday, November 28

Public speakers' audiences can multitask!

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Sat 28 Nov 2009 01:14 PM GMT

Forever Friends, Southampton

Back in February, my return visit to Forever Friends, Southampton had to be cancelled due to the snow but they rebooked me for 4 August.

My journey from the station to the venue was made easier by the excellent free CityLink shuttle bus service and, as with my last booking, there was an audience of about 80, mainly female, at the Masonic Hall. My subject this time was Patrick Campbell.

The venue was absolutely sweltering at this time of year and warm conditions can make audiences restless. One thing a speaker must get used to during the summer months is audience members using any slips of paper they have been given before your talk, such as leaflets about future outings, as makeshift fans! The sight of dozens of papers being waved about the whole time you are speaking can give a certain 'House of Commons' feel to your speech (but hopefully more civilised!)

You soon become accustomed to this, along with other potential minor distractions. After one talk earlier this year, a lady asked me if I found it annoying that one member of her organisation always sat knitting throughout the speaker's presentation! I had certainly registered what she was doing during the talk but I paid it no heed; it's practically an autopilot activity for many and it didn't necessarily mean that she wasn't listening. And besides, I've encountered far worse...

At another talk this year, I had to compete with a lady who examined the contents of her handbag the whole time, regularly (and loudly) dropping items onto the floor. And there was one booking many years ago where my content was drowned out by Committee members counting and discussing the takings on the door - despite the fact that this was a large hall, they were right at the back of it and I was using a microphone! This put me off the idea of speaking to them again but when I was rebooked some time later, this ill-mannered obstacle seemed to have disappeared.

Yes, interuptions and distractions can come in many forms besides loud noises outside the venue, people's mobiles going off or latecomers but you have to be careful in trying to allow for them. I once turned up for a talk in a village hall and immediately noticed that one of the audience had brought a baby (not something I'm used to seeing considering the age group I so often speak to!) I politely asked whether he was likely to cry (as if anyone except the child could predict that!) and was assured that he didn't usually. In the event, he behaved perfectly; it was the only occasion when I have been relieved that somebody slept through one of my talks - and, unlike pensioners after a heavy dinner, he didn't snore! But I got the distinct impression that my concerns about his possible behaviour weren't appreciated and I hope it is just a coincidence that they have never asked me back.

Public Speaking Tip #345: Although you should try to predict any possible interruption that might affect the smooth delivery of your presentation you should also try not to be over-cautious - it may never happen! You don't want to alienate the people booking you or be distracted throughout by expecting the worst.

(Of course, if the baby had started bawling then I would have expected the mother to quickly take him outside).

As a speaker, you need to get used to the sight of one or two audience members taking notes for their vote of thanks or in their capacity as press officer for their report about your talk for a newsletter, website, parish magazine or, if you're really lucky, a local newspaper. This is to be welcomed; it's better than yawns, watches being looked at, coins jingling in pockets, etc...

And on the subject of audiences doing something else while you speak, there used to be a club in my area (it may still exist) where members sewed while listening to a guest speaker.( I have a feeling that my late mother once spoke to them). They were listening to taks, certainly - but stitching all the way through. I wonder what proponents of the Mehrabian Myth who believe that communication is 55% about facial expression would make of that one! For the speaker, addressing such a group would be very much like that of giving a radio interview or speaking to a visually-impaired audience: emphasis on content and voice - and definitely no PowerPoint!

Or, perhaps, like talking on the phone. And speaking of phones, something else which many speakers are having to get used to is audience members posting comments on Twitter during a presentation! Olivia Mitchell has blogged extensively about this.

Public Speaking Tip #346: Audience members may sometimes appear to be doing something else while you're speaking but this doesn't necessarily mean that they are not listening - so don't you become distracted!

I was pleased that I had another chance to speak to the lovely people at Forever Friends after that February cancellation - even if the venue was a lot warmer than it would have been back then!

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Monday, November 23

Some public speaking requires you to sit and deliver!

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Mon 23 Nov 2009 09:29 PM GMT

Southbourne Ladies Group, Bournemouth

I had an evening booking on 22 July, the day after my three-talk marathon. It was for Southbourne Ladies Group who meet in one of their member's houses in Bournemouth.

I have occasionally spoken in private homes over the years including talks for writers' circles and one group which was part of the National Women's Register. Even a fairly large lounge can seem a little 'cosy' with a dozen or more people sitting there and in these .circumstances, I really would recommend that the speaker sits down as well; the alternative is to stand and have everyone's eyes fixed on your nether regions or your audience craning their necks to look up at you.

Delivering your material from a sitting position demands a different, less formal style, ideal for storytelling, and anecdotes are a speciality of mine so I very much enjoy these rare opportunities to present in this way.

There are other circumstances where it may be better for speaker and audience alike for you to stay seated, such as sometimes when the chairs are all arranged in a semicircle around you or if you are speaking to a very tiny audience, whatever the size of the room (I once sat while I delivered an entire talk for a writers' group in a community centre because there were only three of them at the table - or four if you counted the man who slept through most of it!)

There were about 16 ladies - plus a dog! - in a fairly small lounge when I delivered My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer for the Southbourne Ladies and my very well-received talk was followed by some delicious home-made cake. After all the rushing around the previous day, it was good to deliver 'sit-down comedy' in this relaxed, intimate setting.

Public Speaking Tip #344: The traditional image of a public speaker is of someone who stands to deliver their material but there may be some occasions when it is preferable to sit. Obviously much depends upon the formality of the occasion and content, ease of access to visual aids, etc, but for storytellers it really does add an extra element. Your audience must be your primary consideration; if you think it's best for them then give it a try.

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Saturday, November 21

3 talks, 3 topics, 3 towns - in one day?

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Sat 21 Nov 2009 02:42 PM GMT

Morning, afternoon and evening presentations on different subjects on the same day

Two years ago I blogged about how I was offered a choice of two dates for a booking, one of which would have meant my having three engagements in one day so I chose the alternative. But I was left with a curiosity about what this would be like so when a similar opportunity arose for July 21 this year I took it. The venues were all in Hampshire and Dorset and within fairly easy reach of each other - even by public transport - but I did have the challenge that three different topics were involved, each with a different set of props to take with me, and I would not have time to get back and change these over between talks.

If you are offered bookings in quick succession, you have to be realistic about whether you can get to them by whatever means of transport you are using. I have managed to complete a morning talk in Christchurch and then make it to a lunch near Wimborne Minster the same day and in 2000 I was guest after dinner speaker at an event run by the Glass National Training Organisation in Sutton Coldfield and got up at 6am the next morning to be on a train from Birmingham New Street to Southampton where I changed for Pulborough in West Sussex in good time to speak to a WI group that afternoon.

Public Speaking Tip #339: It may well be possible to undertake two or three speaking engagements in a short space of time - possibly even on the same day - as long as you are sure you can get to each one without cutting it too fine. In other words: be realistic about the logistics!

New Milton RAF Association, Hampshire

My morning talk was about the Algonquin Round Table for around 25 members of the New Milton branch of the Royal Air Forces Association - my fourth booking for this group since 2001.

This one didn't seem to be as well received as my three previous presentations for them. That's sometimes just the way it goes: you do your best but not every subject you speak about will necessarily have the same appeal as others for a particular audience.

Public Speaking Tip #340: You can play safe and only ever have one tried and tested presentation and keep searching further afield for audiences to hear it - or introduce new topics for repeat bookings from organisations you have spoken to before. These titles may occasionally not go down as well with these audiences but they increase your experience and versatility as a speaker. And, for some organisations, they may actually be the most appealing choice out of the talks that you are offering.

Afterwards I enjoyed chatting, as always, to Mr Ray Russell, who I have met so many times over the years at this organisation and others within the New Forest area.

Then, after a quick lunch in a cafe in New Milton, it was back by train to Bournemouth from where I would be setting off for my second talk that day.

Britiah Gas Retired Employees Association, Poole

Maybe I should have had an even quicker lunch or extended my rail ticket to Branksome because I missed the connecting bus from Bournemouth Square to Newtown and had to take a taxi which knocked a slightly bigger hole in the budget than I had expected! Traffic was really heavy that rainy afternoon but I arrived at Newtown Conservative Club in time to speak about the Power of Humour in Everyday Life for around 45 members of the Poole British Gas Retired Employees Association.

This talk, my fifth for them, went really well with this lovely society. They always want to book me again and I am running out of topics for them to choose from so it's time to think about working on some new talks.

Public Speaking Tip #341: The prospect of revisiting an organisation whose members really enjoy your presentations is a good incentive to introduce further topics.

After my talk, I chatted to members who included a lady with some fascinating stories about appearing on the Weakest Link. Then I travelled by bus to Bournemouth railway station to set off for my third booking that day.

Woodley and Crampmoor Women's Insitute, Hampshire

I arrived at Romsey station at around 7pm but my talk wasn't at a venue in the town but in a village a couple of miles outside it called Woodley. Usually when a venue is some distance from the station, I get a lift and somebody from the organisation booking me phones to confirm the times a week or so beforehand. But no-one had called and when I tried ringing the contact number a couple of days before the engagement I got no answer meaning they were probably on holiday. My own fault: I should have tried to call them much sooner when I hadn't heard anything.

There were phone numbers for taxi companies at the station but I didn't see any point in adding extrra expense. I wasn't due to speak until about an hour's time and I wasn't feeling especially tired yet so I thought I'd walk. True, there had been heavy rain throughout most of that day but it wasn't too bad at this point...

I had to pass through the town. I came to a bus stop where none of the friendly locals seemed too sure whether there was a service due which would be heading where I wanted to go. I checked with an elderly gentleman whether I was walking in the right direction for Woodley. 'It's a long way', he said. Well, maybe for him, I thought - and carried on walking.

The rain was falling quite hard now and as I headed up the hill along Winchester Road it turned into an absolute downpour. And now it did seem like a long way!

I arrived at Woodley Village Hall at around 7.40pm. My raincoat was now just that: a coat full of rain. My tie, new on that day, was like a wet piece of string around my neck (luckily it was the washproof type).

Fortunately I had packed my books and leaflets securely so there was very little runny ink.

After their business meeting had finished, I explained why I was in such a state. The ladies were very apologetic about my not getting a lift but, as I have said, it was my fault - I should have contacted the Speaker Secretary myself.

The talk, My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer, got a fantastic response. There were only 17 there but this was another of those small WIs whose warmth and laughter more than makes up for their low numbers. And a decent number bought copies of 'Nick R's in a Twist!' afterwards..

Public Speaking Tip #342: If an audience knows that you have gone through a great deal to get to them, they will usually be especially receptive.

And when you get that level of appreciation for your presentation, the trials and tribulations involved in getting to the venue suddenly don't seem so important. (Not that I'm planning to make a habit of getting completely drenched before every booking!)

Following my talk, I enjoyed some excellent refreshments, judged the competition and chatted. The ladies bagged up my sodden coat and I really must thank one of them, Sylvia, who drove me all the way back to Southampton Central station where I was able to immediately leap onto a train (OK, so maybe I wasn't quite up to 'leaping' by that stage!) which meant that I was back in Bournemouth far earlier than expected after such a hectic day.

Overall, I think I pulled it off. Things could have run more somoothly with a little more attention to public transport details but I do thnk that driving to all those venues would have been far more stressful. I proved to myself that three talks on three topics in three towns in one day is achievable and, despite the challenges, I look back on the day with affection - although doing this every day would be a bit much, however lucrative!

Public Speaking Tip #343: Days when you stretch yourself as a speaker can become treasured memories.

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