This week’s lesson is focused on the importance of capturing your audience’s attention from the get-go, and is tied together by a Magic Show I saw recently and the movie Die Hard.
When you start the substantive part of your presentation, it is imperative that you have the attention of the audience.
You never want the audience to miss the first words that matter. If they do – then the entire message is in jeopardy. Yet this happens all the time.
- The audience are checking their phones
- The audience are finishing off a conversation
- Or any other distraction
The audiences miss those early introductory words.
The magician and the poor introduction
I went to a Magic Show with my family recently. It was an enjoyable day out, but it started badly.
The announcer could not be heard clearly during the introduction to the show – their voice was muffled.
There was minimal applause from the audience and many people did not realise the show had begun. The magician was therefore a little hesitant at the start.
He was saved by the quality of the first magic trick, but most presenters don’t have that option.
It’s a perfect example of the importance of capturing audience attention early. Not doing so can have a serious impact on the delivery.
Die Hard and the “Ladies and Gentlemen” Introductions
A few days before the above magic show I had seen it done well in speeches in the film Die Hard. Twice.
Early on in the film, Joe Takagi (the Executive from the Nakatomi Corporation) says this:
“Ladies and Gentlemen”
“Ladies and Gentlemen”
“I want to congratulate you…”
Mr Takagi realises there is still some ‘cocktail party chatter’ after the first time he says ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’, and so he says it again.
As a result, everyone in the audience is paying attention when he starts the substantive speech.
This happens again later in the film when the main villain Hans Gruber gives his first speech.
“Ladies and Gentlemen”
“Ladies and Gentlemen”
[ pause ]
“Due to the Nakatomi Corporation’s legacy of greed…“
Conclusion
In every presentation, for every audience, without exception … you need their attention from the start.
If you do not have audience attention yet, do not be bounced into starting.
Get their attention first. Do something to draw them in. Capturing the audience attention from the outset, or failure to do so, can make or break your delivery!
If this is something you find yourself struggling with, why not consider one of our Presentation Courses or for one of our 1-to-1 Presentation Coaching Programmes.
If you are interested in getting a presentation boost every week with a range of free tips, please click on the link below to sign-up to our weekly newsletter.
Sign up for the Speak With Impact Newsletter
