Speaking to an audience

[NIK]

Watched the 'Educating Manchester' programme the other day, and a girl was anxious about making a speech in front of her year group.

Don't know how many of you have made speeches, or at least had to speak to an audience, but I reckon it's actually easier to speak in front of 2,000 than it is 20. As the larger the crowd the less likely you are to be embarrassed or distracted by individuals. I have never spoken to thousands, but did once address 100+ and found it strangely easier than speaking to 20-30 which I have done frequently.

It is also perhaps easier to address strangers than it is people you know as you might be distracted or embarrassed by reading their thoughts.

It is definitely easier to be interviewed by people you have never previously met than it is people you know. I have experienced this. Fortunately I got the position, but was given the back handed compliment, 'You were better than I expected!' 

[notcalledchris]

Thanks for that

[geezer_breezer]

You'd have smashed it if the subject was "inane pish".

[NIK]

You'd have smashed it if the subject was "inane pish".

Thought you'd fucked off. Is Scutty having a day off? Are you on an arseholes rota?

[willie loman]

You'd have smashed it if the subject was "inane pish".

What an unpleasant post.

[RedKettle]

Watched the 'Educating Manchester' programme the other day, and a girl was anxious about making a speech in front of her year group.

Don't know how many of you have made speeches, or at least had to speak to an audience, but I reckon it's actually easier to speak in front of 2,000 than it is 20. As the larger the crowd the less likely you are to be embarrassed or distracted by individuals. I have never spoken to thousands, but did once address 100+ and found it strangely easier than speaking to 20-30 which I have done frequently.

It is also perhaps easier to address strangers than it is people you know as you might be distracted or embarrassed by reading their thoughts.

It is definitely easier to be interviewed by people you have never previously met than it is people you know. I have experienced this. Fortunately I got the position, but was given the back handed compliment, 'You were better than I expected!' 

I agree with you. Presentations to large crowds are much easier, you slip into an acting mindset and get on with the job.

I have also done the being interviewed thing with somebody who had know me for years and it was difficult. Partly because it stops you putting a slight spin on what you have done in the past!

[Blackpool Rock]

I agree with you. Presentations to large crowds are much easier, you slip into an acting mindset and get on with the job.

I have also done the being interviewed thing with somebody who had know me for years and it was difficult. Partly because it stops you putting a slight spin on what you have done in the past!

I also agree with what Nik posted and would add that it's far easier if you have an in depth knowledge of what you are saying and are confident in your facts (i've also been shoved up to talk about something last minute so effectively had to ad lib and bullshit my way through, fuck me that was a hard gig  )

The other thing is whether the audience is friendly or hostile

[Colston36]

Apparently only divorce and poisonous snakes are more frightening than making speeches. The first time I did one I had to take two blue Valium and a large brandy.

The worst ever was in Washington years ago. Only 5 people turned up. One was the next speaker.

[Hobbit]

I don't like speaking in front of people at all. I always end up stuttering or not speaking clearly. I imagine the more one does it the better one gets. However, I don't think I will ever improve on it.

[Ali Katt]

I don't like speaking in front of people at all. I always end up stuttering or not speaking clearly. I imagine the more one does it the better one gets. However, I don't think I will ever improve on it.

I used to do this. Trick is to memorize your speech or get good at improvisation. The best part is if you can enjoy it, in the past when there's been a few speeches before mine, I try to make it funny, if someone has to sit through 20 speeches might as well make mine entertaining.

[mr.bluesky]

It's usually a thing you have to do at a work team bonding exercise .  Stand up in front of everybody and talk about yourself for 2 minutes . All total bollocks imo.

[Hobbit]

I used to do this. Trick is to memorize your speech or get good at improvisation. The best part is if you can enjoy it, in the past when there's been a few speeches before mine, I try to make it funny, if someone has to sit through 20 speeches might as well make mine entertaining.

I'm just an anxious individual sometimes due to underlying health conditions, so memorising wouldn't help. However, some whisky would definitely take away the anxiety.

[scutty brown]

Nik do you find it easier if the audience are all dressed the same? Black for instance?

[Ali Katt]

It's usually a thing you have to do at a work team bonding exercise .  Stand up in front of everybody and talk about yourself for 2 minutes . All total bollocks imo.

I prefer it to raft building - another crap American idea like High School Proms that has carried over the pond. I just take the Mick out off myself for two minutes and it seems to get people on my side.

[WASA38]

I also agree with what Nik posted and would add that it's far easier if you have an in depth knowledge of what you are saying and are confident in your facts (i've also been shoved up to talk about something last minute so effectively had to ad lib and bullshit my way through, fuck me that was a hard gig  )

The other thing is whether the audience is friendly or hostile

Bloody hell, exactly that happened to me once. I was given the paper I was required to present and could see that some of the reasoning in it was flawed.I crossed my fingers and hoped that nobody in the huge (Indian) audience would spot it. No such luck. One guy stood up and pointed out in the politest terms that my logic was a load of bollocks. Nightmare!  I totally failed to bluff my way out of it. I could never have been a poliician.

Another nightmare scenario can be speaking to a dozey audience in the graveyard slot , ie straight after a heavy alcoholic lunch.  When it gets to the Q and A session at the end nobody is sufficiently alert or interested to ask a question and the poor old chairman has to contrive to do so.
 I recall attending a conference in the imposing lecture hall iof the IEEE in Savoy Place. The speaker in the graveyard slot was presenting a paper so academically erudite that most of the attendees would have been finding it incomprehensible. Suddenly the guy in front iof me started snoring at so many decibels that the din reverberated around the auditorium. It fell to me to thump him in the back and end the speaker's embarrassment.

[Fuzzyduck]

Bloody hell, exactly that happened to me once. I was given the paper I was required to present and could see that some of the reasoning in it was flawed.I crossed my fingers and hoped that nobody in the huge (Indian) audience would spot it. No such luck. One guy stood up and pointed out in the politest terms that my logic was a load of bollocks. Nightmare!  I totally failed to bluff my way out of it. I could never have been a poliician.

  Have you ever wondered why the original presenter handed you the shitty stick? That's a proper TOFTT.

[WASA38]

Have you ever wondered why the original presenter handed you the shitty stick? That's a proper TOFTT.

Genuine reason. He was up to his neck in a major Company reorganisation. Actually he was a really nice guy and a good friend.

[donnybob]

Many years ago I had to attend a cricket presentation evening, and the club secretary had to make the prize announcements, brief resume of the season etc to probably 40 people
He was a serving Policeman and he was so nervous I could not believe it, I assume he must have been confident in his interactions with the public on a one to one basis

[Kev40ish]

I do it all the time in my job, so don’t mind talking to any number of people.
I don’t over prepare and just use basic one lines to keep me on topic. I have done hundreds of presentations now so it does get easier after time.

I do like people challenging as it makes it more interesting and I do have an in-depth knowledge of the industry, but will always admit if I was wrong.

Confidence is key speak clearly and people won’t question what your saying.

It’s good when your presenting something totally new, as people don’t know anything and listen intently.

If it’s a smaller group I prefer to get them involved rather than doing the work myself and will get them to come up with the ideas and present them to me. It’s a much easier approach than just lecturing them

[Bonker]

I always take a viagra tablet before making a speech. Doesn't help my nerves but I have somewhere to hang my jacket when I start to sweat.

[standardpostage]

I always take a viagra tablet before making a speech. Doesn't help my nerves but I have somewhere to hang my jacket when I start to sweat.

[standardpostage]

I was a member of a speaking club once, for about 2 & 1/2 years. (got bored, so I left).

Very enjoyable, (after I got the hang of it) gave me lots of confidence.

The topics or impromptu sessions were very good and often quite hilarious.

[chrishornx]

Thought you'd fucked off. Is Scutty having a day off? Are you on an arseholes rota?

was there ended for that ?

must have missed something

[sparkus]

I think this is the greatest speech ever given: External Link/Members Only

[petermisc]

I don't like speaking in front of people at all. I always end up stuttering or not speaking clearly. I imagine the more one does it the better one gets. However, I don't think I will ever improve on it.

The more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Nervousness and anxiety can be a vicious circle - once you start getting anxious that you look anxious to your audience, it just gets worse.  Fortunately I had some training, where we had to make presentations to the group - we were videoed, and it was played back to us.  The critical thing is that you never appear nearly as nervous as you feel.  When they were played back, we each realised that we had done far better than we had thought.