Public speaking vs broadcasting

I am a humorous public speaker who writes comedy for radio. Here is a light-hearted article I recently wrote for the Radio Magazine contrasting these two media:

Radio broadcasting is, of course, a form of public speaking. So can public speaking be a form of radio? Over the course of more than 700 speeches, presentations, talks and workshops since 1996, I have certainly noticed some similarities...

For a start, I am sometimes invisible to my listeners, for example, when I speak at luncheons and dinners in hotel restaurants where pillars obscure the view of me to some of the audience (perhaps to their profound relief) but occasionally I will be booked to speak for an organisation for the blind. This really emphasises the importance of vocal delivery because for these listeners a talk is very much like a radio programme. But putting light and shade into my delivery is essential for any audience I am addressing because I don't use many visuals, such as props (as for Power Point presentations - what, with my level of technical knowledge? Please!)

One thing I did find when I started as a speaker - and I wonder how many radio presenters would agree with this - is that learning to consistently put some expression into one's voice actually takes longer to master than conquering nerves.

Additional sound effects tend to be provided by the audience themselves in the form of mobile phones ringing, hearing aid feedback and (thankfully not too frequently) snoring.

'Dead air' (i.e. pausing during my speech) may be a little more acceptable than on radio but silence due to a lack of questions or discussion after the presentation can leave a speaker feeling a little like a phone-in host with no callers.

Elements of my talks are sometimes pre-recorded (sketches played at writers' workshops, for example) and I do have my own brief 'commercials' where I slip in a plug or two for the booklet of speaking anecdotes I sell (it must be effective advertising as it has sold into four figures).

Parts of my material are delivered without notes, other bits are from bullet points (my 'log') and there may be the odd reading. My 'playlist' can be as repetitive as that of the major stations in that there are some anecdotes, observations and gags that I deliver during most of my 'shows'; the difference is that I try not to use them over and over again with the same listeners!

And who are those listeners? Well, my demographic is usually the 50s to 90s age group so I keep the humour clean - easy listening, you might say. To the best of my knowledge, there have been no complaints about my content to whatever the after dinner speakers' equivalent of OFCOM might be.

However, there are some occasions, such as corporate training days, when there are people in their 20s present so perhaps these are like club gigs to me.

And what about my 'RAJAR?' Well, my audience figures have ranged from 1 (seriously!) to 500 so I guess we're talking hospital, student or community radio comparisons here. Or a struggling commercial station!

The slots I am booked for are usually mid-morning, lunch, 'drivetime' or evening. I have done the odd breakfast show (a business networking  club presentation) and one organisation had the bright idea of not putting me on until 11.15pm for a tiny audience at a function which had been going on for four hours (it was something akin to a graveyard shift in that I certainly died a death that night).

I am often asked to draw the raffle tickets after a talk but these seem to be legitimate contests with no scandals involving fixing.

Finally, there are occasions when curious members of the public gawp through windows or even wander into the room set aside for the private function where I am speaking. They have little real interest in hearing me and soon disappear again.

A bit like an outside broadcast from a shopping mall, really.

(Nick R Thomas is available to speak at training days, luncheons and dinners. His rates are reasonable - just don't expect him to present for you for ten quid an hour).


Don't let the above put you off public speaking! The great public speaker and humorist Basil Boothroyd may have remarked in his book Accustomed As I Am: The Loneliness of the Long-distance Speaker that 'observational humour is pointing out a truth that everyone knows but nobody has realised yet' but it does sometimes involve simplifying - then exaggerating!

Nevertheless, I hope I have made it clear that a presenter is, well...a presenter!

Public Speaking Tip #308: Some of the best practices from radio broadcasting can be adapted for other areas of public speaking.

PS: Of course, DJs usually have microphones that actually work!