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!