On 3 September I was back at the Forest Lodge Hotel in Lyndhurst for my second talk to the town's Probus Club, this time about Patrick Campbell.
The nature of a speaker's presentations to the same organisation can vary. For example, the last time I spoke to this club was in December 2003 at their Christmas Dinner, a black tie event with members' wives and widows as guests. This time, it was a morning meeting with an all-male audience numbering around 40.
With repeat bookings, I always find it useful to remind them that they have heard me before, however long ago it might have been. For one thing, it stops audience members' minds wandering and wondering! It also reassures them that I am good enough to be re-booked!
But with this particular talk, there is another reason. After mentioning that I have spoken to them on a previous occasion about my own career as a radio comedy writer, I add that, after delivering that presentation, I am very often asked who my own favourite humorous writers are. I then reveal that at the top of this list is...the late Patrick Campbell. This gets the talk underway but also explains why I speak about this subject.
Public Speaking Tip #350: If you have spoken to an audience before then briefly point this out. It reminds them of your last presentation, demonstrates that you are considered worthy of hearing again and may even serve as an introduction to your latest topic.
After the talk and a good question and answer session, I enjoyed a very nice lunch at the hotel, during which I chatted with Mr Alan Mecken who is himself a speaker giving talks about restoring ships' figureheads.
My thanks to John Ledger for the coffee, the transport from Brockenhurst station and back and for this email:
Testimonial: "Many thanks for your very excellent talk last week. Feedback was really good and I'm sure we will be in touch to see if we can book you again. And thanks also for the help you gave with other speakers names".
My pleasure!
