More “Making Public Speaking FUN!” suggestions from the HARO mailbag…

Joel Hilchey at www.joelhilchey.com offers a suggestion to warm up with a few folks before going onstage:

Hi Tim! My name is Joel, and I’m a youth inspirational speaker.

Before I give a talk, I try to get out into the audience and chat with some people. I have a few small magic tricks that I use to break the ice with individuals in the audience ahead of time – especially people that look like they’re “leaders of the pack”.

When I get on stage, these people become my biggest supporters. Plus, afterwords, they are more likely to say hello and chat. Speaking is fun for me not just because I can make people laugh, but because it’s a chance to make a connection with people, and starting BEFORE the talk helps me do just that!

Of course, it’s also important to be so well-prepared that you can really enjoy the moments on stage without worrying that something will go awry. That frees up your mind in the moments before the show, so you can focus on who’s in the audience..

If you’ve got any kind of singing voice, you might try what Susan Lannis, Time Liberation Agent with ORGANIZATION Plus! Inc. did:

I was faced with an after-lunch group that had been sitting through non-stop, hour long, sessions that started at 7 am. I sang my opening and a room full of people who had slumped into the room suddenly sat up straight and laughed and their energy fed my energy and I was funnier than I have ever been and the group literally danced out of the room – it was an amazing experience for us all.

And then there may come a time when you’re in a unique situation where you speak to an audience that may have a language difference…let’s let Victoria H. Trabosh, Executive Coach and Speaker at victoriatrabosh.com try and explain:

I speak professionally in the US and RWANDA. I speak some Kinyarwanda – just enough to dazzle – not complete a complex thought. But when I’m there – I connect with my audience with a bit of English.

If you say Hallelujah – they will shout AMEN! So when I came back from my last trip to Rwanda in October, I started adding that to my speeches. And would say, “many of you are staring at me as they do in Rwanda and thinking, “who is this white woman and what is she doing here? And when I see that look – I shout Hallelujah, and they shout AMEN. We shall practice!” And then I sprinkle it throughout my speech… it’s amazing and brings tremendous joy and laughter. Hallelujah?

Another way to add FUN is to play a game. Anyone remember Jeopardy? Mary E. Banks of W.O.W Consulting Group in Houston does:

I do a lot of public speaking and one of the ways that I have incorporated ‘fun’ into the topic is to have the audience engage in a game of ‘Jeopardy’. It is set up like the TV show and the audience loves it.

Now here’s a clever (and yes, somewhat sneaky) idea from Ken Newman of Magnet Productions in San Francisco. Plant a ringer in the audience:

One of the devices we have used very successfully over the years, in the interest of making public speaking a bit less predicatable, is to plant a heckler in the audience.

Someone who takes a decidedly contrary position to the speaker.

One example that comes to mind was a presentation we did a number of years ago for a large investment bank. The speaker was introduced with a very impressive CV. As his presentation began, a waiter began circulating throughout the room, topping off wine glasses. As the speaker continued, the waiter began muttering comments to the seated guests, getting at various times, chuckles or not very gentle requests to, “shut up.”

This continued for a bit until our desired degree of discomfiture was reached, at which time the speaker confronted the waiter.

The presentation at this point became quite hysterical, and unlike anything that this very conservative audience was expecting.

I think just putting forth that ‘bold’ part of yourself can pay big dividends. Sara Holliday of FitBySara.com describes a particularly powerful outing…

One of the most memorial speaking engagements I did recently was for the Race for the Cure (for Breast Cancer) in front of 15,000 participants. I started off with foreboding music in the background and said, “I’m so excited to be here today because each and everyone of you is making a HUGE difference in the cure for Breast Cancer!” The crowd cheered. I said, “I’m going to warm you up with kickboxing and we’re literally going to kick cancer in the BUTT!” The crowd roared and the music was “We Got the Power” by Snap and the band got into it too. Everyone was moving even if they had no rhythm! I felt like I was floating! It was an incredible amount of energy!! In fact the Susan B. Komen foundations folks told me that people thought I was “a rockstar”! Then 2 weeks after I did a speech about my experience of being in front of 15,000 people. I shared my dream the night before of waking up hard pounding in cold sweat. I also wore my workout outfit under my jacket, took it off, played the music, while sharing the thoughts going inside my head such as “I have so much energy in my body right now, I could pick up a car!” The audience was so into it. They laughed and sweated along with me!

Ever done any impromptu speaking? Children’s book author Sharon Rexroth of fromtheskybooks.com says she looks forward to the Q&A with her audience – which are often kids:

I speak often to schools and to civic organizations because I am the author of children’s books which are educational.

When I speak, I never use notes and I try to make the speech always be geared to the audience. I try to open up the audience with questions and answers after I present my info. That is by far the best part of the presentation, because I never know what the kids will say and it is really interesting to hear. I think the impromptu aspect is the best way to go.

So thanks to all of those great suggestions – all worthy of consideration next time you’re giving a speech. What are YOU doing to make public speaking FUN?

photo credit: peruisay

Thanks to HelpAReporter.com, it seems we have an (almost) never-ending supply of stories and examples of what it takes to make public speaking FUN! It’s time for another installment:

Journalist/Author/Speaker Darlene Arden, Author of “The Angell Memorial Animal Hospital Book of Wellness and Preventive Care for Dogs,” “Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can’t Get Unless You’re a Dog,” “Small Dogs, Big Hearts,” and “Rover, Get Off Her Leg!” speaks about animal behavior. You can find her online at www.darlenearden.com

doG bless HARO! LOL

I am a certified animal behavior consultant as well as an author. One of my areas of expertise is Toy and Small dogs. I often have at least one puppy which I find much better than PowerPoint. I can make *my* point much better and we usually play “pass the puppy” so everyone has a chance to interact with the pup (without stressing the pup) and the pup gets more socialization. I also make my talks interactive and funny so no one falls asleep!!

We may have mentioned in our of our earlier installments of Making Public Speaking FUN! that you may have an opportunity to dress in costume, which is usually a good attention-getter. Lloyd Lofthouse, author of “My Splendid Concubine” says he gets into costume for his presentations:

When I am doing an author event in a bookstore (usually an hour or more), I dress in the costume for the time period and culture for my historical fiction novel, which is 19th century China. I’ve had some good results meaning no one walks out even when the event runs over (even with standing room only) an hour and the owner of the bookstore wants it to end so he can close and go home.

I’ve posted pictures of several of these author event’s on my Website. If you are interested, and you have difficulty finding those pages, I’ll direct you to the proper page. It’s a large Website–a planned portal to China that deals with more than just my novel. As a matter of fact, the novel takes up only a few of those fifty plus pages.

Tommy Hilcken, who bills himself as a Comedian / Motivational Teacher / LifeSuccess Consultant, uses props, sight gags and magic:

Hi Tim…Before I became a full time speaker I was a full time clown. I think that should say it all. I have done a talk on this subject – you can check it out on my site,
Check out this video of him at a Toastmasters presentation:

Marybeth A. Traut, author of “Diabetes In The Family” (her website is at www.marybethtraut.com says bringing food – which is a major part of her talk – is always a welcome sight:

I speak about Diabetes … a topic that not a lot of people want to talk about let alone hear about..so I always bring food…diabetes friendly of course and it seems to bring the people in! Go figure!

Next up, John Schulte, the President and Chairman of the National Mail Order Association (NMOA), incorporates a tried-and-true method of looking under your chair for a note or card. While he was delivering his speech in Moscow, it was being translated to his audience. Naturally, you might expect that any translation is opening itself up to errors…

I was in Moscow giving a talk about manufacturers using mail order to sell direct to the consumer.

To demonstrate the many different ways that direct marketing tactics can produce a measurable response and lead capture; before my presentation I had a business card taped to the bottom of a seat in the audience.

When my time came, I asked everyone put there hand under their seat to see if they can find the card, if they find it they get a book. It translated into their headpiece that everyone should reach under themselves and grab their butts. Funny.

Karen Pollak, Founder of Babies2Sleep: Helping Parents Help Their Babies Sleep is an infant/toddler sleep coach. She talks to groups every week (what a great way to comfortable with your presentation in front of different audiences!), and says her presentations use a lot of humor:

Making it fun for the audience is imperative! I like to use lots of visual analogies. For example I liken the internal Cortisol vs. Melatonin battle to David and Goliath. Milk consumption throughout the day is the “fuel that drives the car” Sleep training a baby who doesn’t have the foundation in place is’ like riding a bike without wheels’….you get the idea. All my seminars invoke humor and ALWAYS elicit lots of laughs; something that no one needs more than a sleep deprived parent. I receive rave reviews from my audiences because I reach out to them, relate and empathize and make them smile.

Props are always a good way to get the audience involved, and with this story from Allen Klein, MA, CSP (www.allenklein.com)comes a prop I don’t think I’ve seen used (yet):

I use a lot of props in my programs to illustrate my points. When talking about letting go of things that stress us out, I give everyone in the audience a balloon and ask them to blow their stress into it. Then, on the count of three, I ask them to let go of the balloon and let go of the stress they just blew into it.

Very visual. Very fun.

Then I make a point of how some people didn’t want to let go of their stress (those who might still be holding the balloon; those who got hit by other people’s stress; and those whose stress came back to them.

I’m talking about using humor, laughter, and play here to reduce stress. This playful interactive game illustrates that.

Finally – for this installment of “Making Public Speaking FUN!” a tale that shows you have to be able to think on your feet. This comes from Elizabeth A. Sears, PhD., President of Workplace Communication, Inc. in Scottsville, New York. What to do when the earth starts shaking?

I presented in Vegas last summer and was surprised at all the construction around our hotel. Part way through my presentation, the chandelier in the ballroom started tingling and I thought, “Oh, they are working on the roof.” A few seconds later, a piece of it fell on the table. Soon after a participant said, “Beth, we need to take a break, this is an earthquake!!” It was a shock from the quake in California. I was on my feet, so I did not feel it whereas people seated did. I had been speaking on the difference between being task focused and people focused, so when I got back on stage I said, “Pop quiz…. Was I task or people focused!” I got a good laugh and returned to my speech. Go with what happens and use it is my recommendation. Beth

Thanks again to all the great suggestions from our contributors. If you have a suggestion for our “Making Public Speaking FUN!” series, let us know!

photo credit: hectorir

Hey, let’s pull a few more responses from our HARO e-mail bag. Several weeks ago we posed the question: What do you, as a public speaker, do to make Public Speaking FUN for both you and the audience? Our goal was to sprinkle several ideas throughout our blog and to compile them all into a book.

photo credit: hectorir

Ami Simms of Flint, Michigan, says “I travel around the US and sometimes internationally to speak. Groups range in size from 30 in a church basement to 400+ in a hotel ballroom or convention center. I get to lecture about twice a month. It’s WAY FUN!” She offers a pair of ways that work for her…

1. After I thank the person who just introduced me and tell the audience how happy I am to be wherever it is I am, I deadpan, “Any questions so far?” Always gets a laugh.

2. Later, when I seriously want people to ask questions, if I don’t get a hand up immediately, I say, “Have I mentioned that I’m wearing hand-dyed underwear?” This always gets a room full of giggle and breaks the ice. I get loads of questions, and not just related to the how and the why of the underwear. Helps that I speak predominantly to female quilters and crafters who actually would consider hand-dying their underwear. (No, I don’t show them my underwear. They have to go to my web site for that.)

For Robert Galinsky of Boom Consulting, having several personalities – er, uh, characters – helps break the ice and invite his audience into his world:

1. When I am introduced and enter a room or onto a stage I will make upwards to five separate entrances, each an absolutely different character, each only about 15 seconds long. The audience loves it and is shocked to see the levity and intensity. They wonder which is the real me. I emerge as the 5th or 6th character as me and then I can refer back to the original 5 characters throughout my presentation and develop and connect learning points with a vivid characterization.

2. I use tennis balls to wake people up and talk about communication, multi-tasking and focus. I start with one ball and get upwards to ten going at one time. People love to play.

However, Reinvention Expert Ann Fry of New York does show that if you effectively use the skills you have, you can do just about anything:

As a professional speaker, I’ve tried many things, but here’s a couple I love:

1. Whenever training a small group, inside a company, I take toys for the table (so they can play and open up their creative channels) and I pour chocolate candies all over the table. The choc tastes yummy and puts them in a more fun place.

2. When I do a Keynote, at the end, I invite them to come up and get a “kiss” for their business cards so I can sign them up for follow ups. The Kiss, of course, is a candy kiss, but they love it.

Now we get into an area where most of us may not be able to go: being a psychic. However, Psychic Messenger Terri Jay of Nevada says it works for her:

Tim, I am a psychic, medium and pet psychic and my favorite thing to do when I do public speaking is answer a person’s question before they have asked it. I call on them and they are just getting ready to take a breath to start asking it and I am answering it. So much fun!!!!

A simple technique can also be used to have fun, as shown by author and speaker Jan Cullinane, co-author, The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale 2007):

I can talk backwards fluently, so use that as an attention grabber! (I’m an author – see below) and speak on the non-financial aspects of retirement.

Finally, Dr. Ray Lauk of La Grange Park, Illinois reaches back to one of his previously developed skills (sense a theme going here?): improvisational comedy.

When I am speaking on my “FUEL for Growth” or “FUEL for Learning” program, I always incorporate Improv comedy techniques that I learned at the Second City Theater in Chicago. These techniques get people up, moving around, engaged, laughing—and the games ALWAYS illustrate the points in my speech.

I love it! These are all great ideas. They may be suited specifically to each person, but you can certainly use the ideas as stepping stones to pull out an element of your life and skills to incorporate into your speaking gigs. Are you a musician? Outdoorsman? Acupuncturist? It doesn’t matter – if you put your mind to it, you can find a way to incorporate your skill into your public presentations.

And if you have an idea you want to share,  just leave a comment.

All right, it’s time to unveil a few more ways that you can add pizazz and snap-crackle-pop to your presentations or speeches. Thanks again to HelpAReporter.com, which is where these responses came from.

First, how about asking your audience to (briefly) becoming a movie star? From Amy Dorn Kopelan at TheGuruNation.com:

I love your inquiry!

I am the Co-Creator of The Guru Nation, and I speak all over the United States and Canada encouraging emerging leaders to present with confidence and never abandon control of their careers.

Two fun things that always work:

Act out a scene from a hot movie! When you hand out a script from a film that almost everyone has seen and secretly wanted to star in, you get great response and participation from the audience. As a speaker, I make a lasting impression and my audience wants to hear more from me. I direct the scene and make sure I have stars. As a session with impact, it rocks. No one forgets what I teach!

Organize “show and tell” for the audience. When you want to demonstrate the way attire and personal accessories tell a story about someone or send key messages, you can best bring it to life by a public game of Show and Tell. Everyone in your audience pays attention. Everyone is waiting for their turn.

Everyone is at the ready to be critiqued. No one forgets what they hear about themselves.

Next, do you feel as if you are giving a speech at an early-morning breakfast meeting and want to connect with the folks in your audience who aren’t awake yet?

Do what Laurie Cameron, “Evolutionary Relationship” Expert does (http://www.LaurieCameron.com):

My topics always have something to do with “WAKING UP” – being more conscious of our thoughts, words and actions. I often talk about how we’re sleepwalking and “sleepworking.”

So I usually walk out on stage in a robe (over my biz clothes, of course!), wearing Bugs Bunny slippers.

As I get to the point of using my Rock and Roll Chicken alarm clock, I take the robe off, but leave the slippers on for the rest of the presentation.

This is definitely memorable for people. Six months after I did one at a networking event, a woman in a restaurant bathroom recognized me and remembered me by my bunny slippers!

And it’s the most acceptable way I know of to be able to wear slippers instead of dress shoes for a presentation.

Here’s a great way to involve your audience by using technology. Instead of trying to have folks turn off their cell phones, use them to your advantage! Alan Stevens offer these ideas:

I’m VP of the International Federation for Professional Speakers, as well as being a pro speaker and media coach.

I love to have fun while I’m speaking

Two ways:

1) I give the audience my mobile phone number at the start of the speech, and ask them to text any comments or questions, which I then go through at the end. People are much happier to ask questions and make remarks this way. Fun too.

2) I always get people involved in an exercise as early as possible – maybe reading a story from the newspapers in different character voices. Getting them having fun between themselves for a few minutes really lightens the atmosphere.

Patricia A. Farrell, Ph.D. of www.drfarrell.net looks to get her audience to try something they do not normally do:

I always use the ice breaker by telling the audience that I want them to “wiggle your ears.” They look at me as though I’ve got two heads and then I demonstrate that I can do it and I tell them that they can, too, but it takes work just like the communication techniques I’m going to teach them. I tell them to go back to their homes or hotel rooms and practice, practice, practice because that’s how you learn anything that doesn’t come naturally to you.

Elaine Ambrose of Eagle, Idaho (www.elaineambrose.com) goes into the prop bag:

I use props and prizes to entertain and humor my audiences. For example, I hand out a small prize for a risk-taker and then a bigger prize for a bigger risk-taker. Hence, the bigger the risk, the bigger the prize. I also call a dozen people up for a “corporate choir.” I hand out kazoos, tambourines, whistles and drums that I buy at discount stores. Then we preform a round that I write about the company that sponsored the speech. Everyone has a ball! Another technique is to have a “goody bag” and pull out funny props that I link to strategic business examples. For example, I pull out a compass and explain the importance of knowing what direction to take.

Got an idea to share that will help make some speech fun for someone else? Drop us a note here at Communication Steroids – or leave a comment.

WEBSITE: http://www.LaurieCameron.com
BLOG: http://todayichooselove.com
BOOK: http://www.TheJourneyFromFearToLove.com
GIVING BACK: http://www.TheFearToLoveProject.com

Subscribe to our newsletter (upper right column) and immediately download a free copy of our e-book “Making Public Speaking FUN!” with more than 40 different ideas you can use in your presentations!

Let’s delve a little more into our box of great responses to the question “What do you do to make public speaking FUN?”

Let’s first head to Bozeman, Montana, where Shelley Bluejay Pierce believes you should get your audience INVOLVED:

One of my BEST tips is simple…. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!

I have sized up my audience and chosen someone who seems outgoing and of the personality type to handle this one– I ask the audience member to come and teach the audience what THEY know about the topic. After that, I follow up with the speech I am prepared with BUT! more often than not, the person doing the preliminary “teaching” has given me a critical insight into some of the aspects of the group and its knowledge. Works great! This also gets the audience more relaxed because they have had their first introduction to the topic by someone they all ready are familiar with.

Also, I ROLE PLAY with the audience members. If I am working with young people, I take my presentation into more of a “create as you go”  storyline. The KIDS complete the story based on what topic you are using, with my guidance, and we create our own unique exchange this way. If I am speaking with adults and trying to explain a communication pathway for better work environments or effective communication for managers… no matter the topic, you can get the ideas across MUCH better if you use all the senses….get some laughter going… relax people and let them know that you are a REAL person… not just some hired speaker. If the audience is engaged visually, physically and also hearing the presentation? You’ve got the attention of a broader spectrum of people!

Then it’s off to Andrew Langer at the Institute for Liberty:

I always warn people (humorously, of course), that I’m going to call on them while I’m speaking—and then I do. I always try to get involvement from the audience whenever I’m giving a speech. I know, that’s fairly standard – but honestly, when you’re talking about political theory or regulatory policy, the more you can draw people in, the better. So, I ask questions – usually simply questions, but in a rapid-fire manner that is more like a game-show than anything else.

Singing and interacting with the audience? Sure, why not, according to Beth Butler, Founder of The Boca Beth Program: The Fun & Easy Way to Raise a Bilingual Child!

Our mascot BOCA joins me on stage for our upbeat bilingual echo song titled “What Time Is It? / ¿Qué hora es?” followed by him throwing our company t-shirts out to audience members. They act like children again (which is the point of my keynotes).

Simon-Says style song has 50 & 60-year-old women sticking their tongues out at me as we go through a short bilingual song I wrote and recorded to get Americans up off their rears and raise physically fit children. The sea of attendees doing as I say through this 20-body-parts-song is enough to make a grown man laugh & cry!

Happy Educating! ¡Sea feliz educando!

And finally (at least for this edition), we go to Portland, Oregon to hear from Jeff Fisher :: Engineer of Creative Identity Jeff Fisher LogoMotives:

I am often speaking to audiences of younger, creative individuals at design schools, colleges and design conferences. That demographic often allows me to have a bit more “fun” than many public speakers.

1.) I once stripped down to my t-shirt, boxer shorts and dress socks to wake up, and get the attention of, a late afternoon conference of several hundred design professionals.

2.) When completing presentations, I will usually give “prizes” to those initially asking questions to get the question/answer process moving along. I’ve used books, toys and Hello Kitty art supplies as “prizes” in the past.

3.) I may also pass the hat at a presentation to collect the business cards of attendees. I will then have a host/organizer draw names for “prizes.”  On some occasions I have made the ‘rule” that those not bringing a business card to the event are not allowed to participate.

4.) For some events I have used a photo of the lip print tattoo on my ass as a “THE END” slide.

Subscribe to our newsletter (upper right column) and immediately download a free copy of our e-book “Making Public Speaking FUN!” with more than 40 different ideas you can use in your presentations!

Our expanding list of things to do to make your next presentation FUN is thanks to the contributors who found our query on HARO.

Let’s start today’s list with a tactic that’s fun for the speaker and for the audience (which makes the idea a keeper!), suggested by Karen Schafer of Simple Appeal:

“One thing we do is to use “toss out” prizes — I am a really bad toss so it makes it hysterical for my audience, plus they get a ‘prize’.
“Another thing we use are contests and we bait them throughout the entire 3 days and do something huge in the end.”

Cool idea, Karen. I’ve seen that idea used before with all sorts of things a speaker has tossed into an audience. Frisbees, chocolate kisses, toy soldiers, candy and more. It keeps the audience on their toes and of course as a member of the audience it puts urgency into the rest of the presentation!

What about a visual tool or enhancer?

Gregory A. Kompes, the Writerpreneur, is an online self-promotion expert.

He says “As a visual aid, I give out a 1 inch, wood cube. It’s an example of not being able to see all facets of an issue at one time. Audiences love them!”
Gregory offers an online promotion course here.

If you have a product or service that lends itself to show and tell, yup just like in first grade, the audience will usually go for it, especially if presented the right way.

Dale Bellisfield, RN, AHG, who works in Holistic Health and is a Clinical Herbalist says, “I’m an Herbalist-RN & love to lecture to health care professionals (docs & RN’s & med students) along with the general public about the safe use of herbs. I go beyond show & tell to passing around the herbs to sample–taste, inhale, apply, and create their own tea blends. Very fun and user-friendly.”
You can find Dale online at www.herbaldale.com.

What about the idea of having other audience members answer questions? If you feel comfortable enough and have good rapport with your audience, you might do as Paul Donehue of Paul Charles & Associates suggests:

“I’ve received very positive feedback on the technique of directing questions to specific individuals in the audience (called by name whenever possible via name tags,etc.) during speaking engagements. While a small minority have expressed discomfort at being singled-out or put on-the-spot, an overwhelming majority – surprising as it might seem – regularly applaud the practice and tell me it keeps them engaged and on their toes. A fair number of people also state that the time passes very quickly during these sessions. A convenient by-product, the audience feedback lends itself nicely to improvisation or to what I call “planned spontaneity.” The answers to many questions are quite predictable, thus serving as a lead-in to humor or to make a point, quite often bringing about enhanced audience buy-in as well. I began using this approach when conducting webinars in an effort to keep people involved and discourage multi-tasking. It has transitioned quite nicely to live gigs – try it and see!”

Thanks to all who shared their terrific thoughts and ideas for adding pizazz, frivolity, engagement and FUN to your presentation. We like to believe that using these tactics that are appropriate and that you’re comfortable with as a speaker (we doubt you’d use them ALL!) will help you become a better speaker faster.

Still looking for ways to inject FUN into your presentation? Still wondering what it takes to get your audience involved in your talk?

We go back to more suggestions from HARO (Help a Reporter Out) responses.

Door prizes are always good, according to *Andrew Darlow* of imagingbuffet.com (732-742-0123):

I’ve taught many different workshops and have done many presentations over the years, and one of the best ways to make them more fun is to hand out a sheet of paper which people can fill their name out on to win door prizes for merchandise related to the topic. I also add a checkmark box that asks people if they’d like to subscribe to my free Inkjet and Imaging Tips newsletter, and I include that their e-mail address will never be shared or sold to a third party.

Another way to make things fun is to give things away when people answer questions related to the topic at hand. For example, I might
ask: “if your shutter speed stays the same, which aperture requires more light to expose a scende, f/2 or f/22?” First one to answer, or first one to put their hand up and get the answer correct gets the gift.

From *Mike Michalowicz,* the Toilet Paper Enterpreneur, comes the ol’ photographic memory trick:

Saw your HARO request (thanks again for the radio interview last week)… and wanted to give you a fun trick I use. In short, I ask how many people in the audience have photographic memory. The response is always 0. Then I explain only 0.001% of the population has it and most people can’t even remember 10 items in order. But that the impossible is possible… if you simply believe it possible and search to discover a way.

Then I show them a visualiazation technique, and within 10 minutes can remember any list of 20 random items.

I actually wrote a post about it too…!

*Silvana Clark* of Bellingham, Washington, tells us:

I’ve been a professional speaker for 18 years. To make speaking fun, I involve the audience by:

Taping “PANIC” buttons under everyone’s chair. After giving a keynote on reducing stress, I end by saying, “Hopefully the tips I’ve given you on reducing stress in your life will work. If nothing else helps, look under your chair for a never-fail way to reduce stress.” Everyone gets up, looks under their chair and leaves the room with a PANIC button and a smile. I sell the PANIC buttons as a sideline business, so this means I also get more orders at a later time.
When making a point during my speech, I ask who in the room has had more than 20 years experience in their particular field. I select three people to come up front and put a sign around their necks that says “WISE ONE”. Then I ask the Wise ONes questions about their industry or how they would handle a situation i was talking about. All their peers love hearing the Wise Ones answers and the Wise Ones share industry-related information I wouldn’t know about.

*Joe Bruzzese, M.A.,* speaker and author of Author of the Parent’s Guide to the Middle School Years, chimes in with what he feels in an obvious observation, but one worth sharing:

It sounds obvious but, knowing your audience gives a speaker an incredible advantage when it comes to the fun component. Connecting personal stories that draw on the relationships a speaker has with her audience creates a connection that keeps the group hooked. Connect a physical action (20 jumping jacks, introduce yourself to 2 new people, share something that no one knows about you with the person sitting to your right) brings the audience out of a passive state and into an active, playful place that sets the stage for an engaging event.

Find Joe on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/JoeBruzzese

I hope you find a few good ideas in our series on *Making Public Speaking FUN!* If you want to contribute to the series, which will eventually become a book, you’re welcome to send us your story. Click here for contact information.

photo credit: hectorir

NOTE: Download our *free* e-book “Making Public Speaking Fun!” It’s yours when you subscribe to our Inner Circle Newsletter. Sign up in the column on the right.

As public speakers, we all want to have an audience that’s engaged, sitting on the edge of their seats and paying attention to what we’re talking about.

There are a lot of ways to do that, of course. But for this series, we’re focusing on ways to have FUN! Ways for you to have FUN, ways for your audience to have FUN!

Here are some more examples of things that have worked, such as this presentation where the speaker wore several sets of clothing:

Terri “Ta-Dah Mom” Camp of DFW Homes Realty and TerryCamp.com says…

“One of the things I do in one of my talks to homeschool parents is that I begin wearing a stereotypical denim jumper. As I talk about differences, I unzip my jumper, letting it fall to the ground. Under the jumper I am wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt. More time goes by in this talk as I continue talking about how all of our children are different as are all of our teaching styles. I then begin removing my sweats to reveal that I am wearing pajamas. The audience roars with laughter, and I have made my point that we are all different. I always get the comment – I laughed so hard, tears were streaming down my face.”

What about appearing as a dead person? Well, hey, that’s worked, too:

Dick Cheatham of Living History Associates LTD. says….the method I employ is portraying dead people. True! Great fun and intellectually provocative! Here’s what an audience member said about a recent presentation…

“Your ability to deliver an educational topic, while in character as Mr. (John) Rolfe (Pocahontas’ husband) and to maintain a multi-way conversation with all of the attendees was remarkable. Your thought provoking questions to us and the observations you shared, had us speaking up and rethinking some of our philosophies and opinions. I believe that your characters are able to discuss an unlimited variety of topics, while maintaining a conversation with true and active participants in just about any setting the host supplies.” C. L. P. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Audrey Thomas, CPO® who calls herself a ‘Speaker, Author, Lean Office Expert’ tries a somewhat different approach – getting the audience loosed up immediately:

“I give them a pop quiz right off the bat. There’s always humor built in it. They’re not expecting it and it always “loosens” them up and gets them talking at their tables. (I’m a Professional Organizer and Lean Office Expert so I include questions that talk about their disorganization which they always have fun with!)

“For one of my keynotes, I put crayons on the table and incorporate using them on a handout. Most audience members haven’t picked up a crayon in a long time and there’s always members who ask if they can take their crayons home with them!

“Last week I presented to some HR professionals. I was warned that this group “is pretty serious and doesn’t always know how to have fun.” So I brought mini containers of play dough, slinkies, mini Etch-A-Sketches and extra large pipe cleaners. They LOVED all the toys! It really brought them out of their shells and they ended up being one of my best audiences ever.

“Many people learn best by having their hands busy so having toys on the tables help individuals get the most out of my presentations.”

Audrey is the Past-President of National Speakers Association-Minnesota and can be reached at 866-767-0455.

The ideas suggested here by Vicki Lynne Morgan, President RUSSMOR MARKETING GROUP are well, perhaps not for everyone:

“I teach many professional education classes in colleges and at business events. One topic is Networking Skills.

“I ask volunteers to stand and to follow my template for giving their 30 second elevator speech. It really gets the audience engaged and it can be quite entertaining as I coach them through their speeches.

“Another is Guerrilla Marketing. I wear a camouflage jacket, steel helmet, and carry a camo bag with signs on it reading, “Guerrilla Marketing Weapons”.

“Also Guerrilla Markering: I walked into a group wearing a rubber gorilla head and hands with signs, “If you think this is Guerrilla Marketing, we need to talk”.

“I also sometimes throw mini toy soldiers attached to my business card into the audience.”

Vicki Lynne Morgan can be reached at http://www.russmormg.com.

Cool stuff, huh? As a public speaker, I hope you’re taking notes…and yes, we have many more to come!

SHAMELESS PLUG: Subscribe to our Inner Circle Newsletter (upper right column) and Get Our Newest e-Book “Making Public Speaking FUN!” with over 40 ideas you can use immediately.

photo credit: Loozrboy

(This is a previously published article – get the complete e-book containing over 40 great ideas on Making Public Speaking FUN! by subscribing to our Inner Circle Newsletter – fill in the form on the upper right column just below our photo)

Thanks to a flood of responses from HARO, we’re going to share some great ways to make your next public speech or presentation fun for both you and your audience.

For instance…a great way to turn a dry topic into an interesting talk comes from Rajesh Goel with Brainlink International, Inc.:

“I speak on fairly dry topics “information security”, “trends in financial crimes”, “security compliance”.

“One way I make my talks fun, and memorable, is to focus on case studies — analyze well known news events (Societe Generale fraud, TJ MAxx credit card breach, Sams club breach, George Bush choking on the pretzel, The Long Island maid-slavery case) or obscure organizations (Northeast medical centers, etc).

“I tie real-world events to security regulations and show how these impact us in real life, and how they tie-in to the audience’s organizations.”

Jill Starishevsky with http://www.HowsMyNanny.com pulled out one of her talents to grab the audience’s attention at one of her appearances:

“I spoke at and assembled a safety panel for Baby Celebration LA last year.  As I started to speak, I realized the turn out was bigger for the children’s fashion show that preceded us than for a panel on various child safety subjects (including my subject of how to keep kids safe from child sexual predators and how to make sure your nanny was doing a good job).

“So I decided to pretend I was walking down a runway as I gave my presentation with hopes of drawing a big crowd.  With only a spattering responding I kicked it up a notch and said this is LA, I bet you’ll respond to a little ‘American Idol’ and I asked the audience what song I should sing.  We chose ‘Under the Sea’ from Little Mermaid and I belted out an off tune ditty.  That brought them in and then I proceeded with my important lecture.  Lots of fun!

Wow, could you sing a song on the spur of the moment?

Let’s go for one more:

Denny Andrews, Author and International Speaker says he kicked up his speaking by working on his comedy act:

“One of the best ways I have been able to make my speaking more fun for the audience was to read up on and then go to open mike nights and practice standup comedy.

“Nothing has helped me more or improved my speaking better than this exercise!”

Just a handful of fun ideas…lots more where those came from – just subscribe to our Inner Circle Newsletter (see form on the right) and you’ll get the free e-book once your subscription is confirmed.

photo credit: liquene