Effective Audience Interaction

I love audience interaction. And the smaller the audience I have while speaking the
more fun I and my audience is going to have in a break out of training session.

Now, if you were going to speak to a group and you thought the turn-out was going to be bigger, and instead it was smaller, make the opportunity to bond with your listeners get extra attention.

The best way to do that is to have an "icebreaker" An icebreaker allows you to open up the lines of communication with your audience.


Some of my favorite "icebreaker" self-effacing lines I use are of the humorous kind.

"Wow, I am quite a draw here this afternoon."

(looking at someone in the front row) "Perhaps we all could've met in your living room, instead of this conference hall."

Let's say the room holds 150 seats and only 35 people show up. Worse yet, they are scattered all around the room. This does not bring much intimacy to the presentation, in addition, it makes the audience less cohesive to your message.

This is the perfect time to break the ice with a humorous line: "Hey folks, could everyone spread out a little more ... and give each other some more space? (Naturally, no one moves. My response) Perfect! (This gets a laugh)

Then you have to offer a shameless bribe to get the folks to down in front which will make your presentation more humorous and inviting.

The most powerful speaker learns how to adapt to each situation. That said, you should always have your saver lines ready for each different scenario.

If you are doing training, the best method to use is to of course to break your audience into smaller groups. Then have them pick up a group leader. Once they do, they then get to work on your exercises if you want them to do.


Naturally, there will be talking in the room. When the time is up -- ring a bell, or sound off a buzzer if you to get everyone's attention.

Then ask the group leader to stand and make sure everyone hears his or her response.

Another idea for audience participation is to give 3 by 5 cards handed out to your audience members. (Get the participants to ask questions pertinent to your presentation.)

If you are spontaneous person and are quick on your feet, the questions can be quite entertaining. Hope the ideas I just gave you worked. There is a cool book out you should get, called "Game Trainers Play" by Robert Pike. You should get other ideas to use with your audience.


Peter “The Reinvention Guy” Fogel is an award winning humorist, keynote speaker and member of the National Speaker’s Association Speaker. As a marketing consultant, copywriter and author he speaks across the country to corporations and associations on marketing, public speaking and reinvention in the workplace.

Want to take your speaking and selling to a whole new level? Then check out Peter’s products and other articles at www.publicspeaklikeapro.com
PLUS sign up for his 7 Days to Effective Public Speaking e-course

The Secret to Becoming a Captivating and In Demand Speaker!

Subscribers and clients are always writing to me about what would be the one “take away” they need to give a compelling presentation or seminar.

Well, what I am about to reveal to you – should in fact be the focus of every presentation you give. This one mind set will allow you to get into the hearts and minds of your listeners. Master this easy concept and you could very well rise to the top of your profession while giving a presentation. While along the way help get you more consulting work, as well as allow you to sell more products in the back of the room.

I’ve learned this strategy with my work as a sales writer and it has helped make a lot of marketers money. Ready… (drum roll, please… waits for drum roll sfx
Okay, the sound effects aren’t working today:

Here it is: Your speech or presentation should never, ever be about you, it should always be about your audience and how you can change their lives. If you are telling your audience a story about a situation that happened to you, there must be a point to it. And the point must resonate with your audience so it gives a solution to their problem!

Don't forget: Whether you are giving a motivational speech, a “how-to-seminar”, a keynote presentation, or break out session – focus on the needs and wants of your audience. Not once in a while, every time you speak. Again, your audience doesn’t really care about you your problems or needs... people only care about themselves.

That said, how can your presentation be focused on your audience? The solution is to create an effective outline of your presentation so you know exactly where your speech will begin and then end and how you can focus on the needs of your audience. An outline is a road map that shows you how to get to your final destination!

You should always follow this format when creating your outline for your presentation: problem, cause, solution, benefits.

In giving an hour presentation – less is more, which is wise to stick to three main points. Anything more will be brain dump!

Structure of a Presentation:

1.Introduction (Opening remarks) Here is where you warm up your audience a bit with a story or transition that is relevant, and leads to your main idea.

2.The Main Point (more stories, illustrations, examples)

3.The Second Point ( stories, illustrations, examples)

4.Third Point ( stories, illustrations, examples)

5.Benefits

6.Actions our audience should take

7.Closing Remarks (this segues into your Q & A)

8.Questions from Audience

9.Final Close – sum up your presentation if you can.


Use the above guideline for your next presentation and tell me how it works for you.
Please remember: THIS is your blog! I want to give you information that can help
you over come your stage fright and techniques that can allow you to be an in demand public speaking. Please write me at info@publicspeaklikeapro.com, or leave a comment here at the blog -- so I can get your feedback. Thank you in advance.


Peter “The Reinvention Guy” Fogel is an award winning humorist, keynote speaker and member of the National Speaker’s Association Speaker. As a marketing consultant, copywriter and author he speaks across the country to corporations and associations on marketing, public speaking and reinvention in the workplace.

Want to take your speaking and selling to a whole new level? Then check out Peter’s products and other articles at www.publicspeaklikeapro.com
PLUS sign up for his 7 Days to Effective Public Speaking e-course

The Importantance of Critiquing Your Presentation!

After you have given a presentation, and especially at the beginning of your career (and even when you are at a level of expertise), you should critique your presentation skills to to improve. It’s safe to say the more proficient a speaker you are, the better the communicator you are. The better the communicator you are, the more engagements you will get!

So who should critique your speech or presentation? Well, of course, you should. On the other hand, your toughest critic should be yourself. That is why it is vital for you to video tape or record your presentation (whenever you can) so you are able to pick up the blatant flaws in your presentation. (Hemming and hawing, adding "uhs" etc.)

I know a lot of speakers who don’t want to do it for that reason, which is precisely why you should. Real growth will come to you once you get out of your comfort zone and deal with the parts of your platform skills that need to be honed.

That said, besides yourself, the ideal person(s) to critique your speech should be someone who makes up the ideal audience you are addressing.

According to my colleague, Bob Bly, author, copywriter and speaker, the more technical your subject matter is, the better to get someone to vet your notes or draft (before your presentation.) Naturally, you don’t want to present technical material that is out dated or could be easily challenged by your audience for accuracy.

Here are Bob’s 10 guidelines you can use to help critique yourself. In fact, you might want to use this format for your own speaker evaluation forms that could handed out to your audience after your presentation.

1.Was the content clear and understandable?

2.Was it written at the right level for the intended audience?

3.Did the speakers maintain good eye contact with your audience?

4.Was the content fresh, useful and practical?

5.Did the speaker tell you not just what to do, but how to do it, or at least where to find out how to do it?

6.Were the points covered actionable– ideas the audience can take back to the office and pout to work immediately.

7.How was the pace of the presentation – too fast, too slow, just right
8.Did the speaker articulate well? (Did his or her voice project so everyone in the room can hear them?)

9.How were the sight lines? Was everybody in the room (including those in the rear) able to see the power-point and the speaker?

10.Did the speaker’s presentation match the expectations of the listeners and attendees? (Were all the important points in the outline covered in the presentation.)

When getting the evaluation forms or critiques back – notice which common areas your audience keeps either complimenting you on, or which problem areas they comment on that wasn’t up to par!

Remember: You are never as great as you think are, and you are never as poor a speaker as you think you are. Some where in the middle is the truth.

If an audience member comes up to you and compliments you are your work, thank them of course, but ask which specific area of your speech resonated with them. Specificity is important!

Peter Fogel is “The Reinvention Guy”. He is the editor and publisher of “The World’s Best Public Speaking Secrets!” For more information on this e-book and the two cool FREE bonuses that come with it, go to
http://www.publicspeaklikeapro.com/public-speaking-secrets.html

The 3 T's Speaking Formula

In the direct marketing world, of which I am a part of, there is a formula that sales writers adhere to. And it’s one that speakers can use as well.

It is called The 3 T's Speaking Formula! It is old advice, and yet, it's an excellent use of your talents and time and is quite effective in holding your audience’s attention. This formula holds up today. Because, well, human nature really doesn’t change.

Sure, thousands of years ago barbarians slaughtered their enemies, but at the end of the day, they still have the same wants, needs, desires and yes… the same insecurities that all of mankind has.

That said, The 3 T's are a great formula to use in preparing your presentation. And here they are in order of appearance:

1. Tell your audiences what you are going to tell them.
2. Tell them.
3. Tell them what you told them.


I use The 3 T's when I am giving a break out session. However, you can use it if you are going to give a motivational speech as well.

My colleagues and friend, Bob Bly, who is a splendid business speaker says at the beginning you should outline the points to your listeners that you are going to cover during your presentation.

The middle of your speech is where you give these points. Naturally, towards the end of your talk you sum up the points your had presented (and of which hopefully they learned)

The best part that in doing PowerPoint, your slides can mirror this outline. In Bob's Power-Point presentation the first slide (after the title slide), are his bulleted or numbered list of all the major points he is going to cover in the order to which he will give them.

Then right before the end of his speech, he uses the bulleted list once more to do a
“wrap up” of his presentation.

Do the math and you can see that the 3t’s formula works quite well. Use it the right way, and it will show he nitpickers and anal retentive attendees in the room (Oh yes, they are there), that "See, I promised I would cover everything... and now I did. Go in peace!"

Try The 3 T’s formula. It's a proven technique and it helps you organize your presentation. Please let me know how it works for you.

Peter Fogel is an in demand sales writer, award winning humorist, and speaker (At least he says he is.) He is creator of Peter Fogel’s Guide to Effective Public Speaking. Check out all his books and programs at www.publicspeaklikeapro.com


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Put Yourself in the "Best Light" to Succeed!

One of the most important things as a speaker has to do to make an impact with their audience - is to control the environment they are in.

Believe it or not, some speakers get the “gig” (aka the engagement) show up at the correct time and realize the seating arrangements or the lighting is off.

Trust me: If your lighting or environment is not at optimal levels, your performance will suffer and you could get a poor evaluation.

Look at this way: You could have given a presentation at another venue, blown the room away with your wit, charm and content rich information. But do the exact speech at another venue, where your audience loses interest in your message due to lighting you can can bomb unmercifully!

And can you blame the audience? Look at it this way: If you are watching a speaker and they're in the shadows… don’t you lose focus on them? Of course, you do. Why should an audience strain themselves to see you?

Believe it or not, some speakers (not you of course), won’t even take that into consideration. Make no mistake: GOOD lighting boosts a speaker’s performance.

When I do a stand-up comedy show. I want a night-club feel. By that I mean, I know I will get BIGGER laughs if the audience is dark and I am heavily lit. (Anonymity
makes people laugh harder)

It’s just the nature of the beast. On the flip side, in a corporate environment a speaker wants his audience lit, so he can see them, and interact with them. PLUS, the audience can’t take notes on your words of wisdom.

If you are at a lectern be careful if the wall of curtain behind you is heavily lit. Why? Because your lovely face will be in a shadow. Every one should see your pearly
whites and that way – they will hang on every word you say!

Steven Pollack, a Special Events coordinator (as opposed to an Average Events coordinator) gives these tips.

1)Adjust the room lighting. Rooms have incandescent and fluorescent lighting. Go with incandescent. Fluorescent can be quite overwhelming. The harsh light can NOT be adjusted. They are usually on full blast. Also, some fluorescent have a BUZZING to them which can be picked up on audio if you are recording.

2) Incandescent is softer and can be adjusted. (This is the lighting you have in your living room.)

3)Steve recommends that the intensity of the brightness level of the general room lighting be set no more than 60 percent. Depending on the banquet room your lighting should also be set no more than 60 percent (Use 50 percent on average.) For seminars and workshops use 70 percent.


One last thing: While up on the stage or on a platform, a whitewash of floodlights can over power your audience… and you as well.

Choose your lighting carefully – make an effort to control your environment so you can place yourself in the “best light” (I meant that literally and figuratively) to stand out and give your audience a memorable performance. Yes, as speakers you want to change lives --- but remember: You are ALWAYS giving a performance!

Peter “The Reinvention Guy” Fogel is National Speakers Association Speaker, seminar leader and creator of Peter Fogel’s Guide to Effective Public Speaking. Check out his cool products at www.publicspeaklikeapro.com

View his platinum package and discover how to get FREE coaching from Peter. http://www.publicspeaklikeapro.com/platinum-package.html

8 Vital Questions to Ask BEFORE You Give a Presentation!

One of the skills a marketer knows if he wants a high response from his campaign is to understand the make-up of his audience. He (or she) will dig deep to understand their core desires, needs, and wants.

In essence, what “makes them tick!”

Well, the same type of expertise is needed to win over your audience when you giving a speech or presentation. For the speaker to succeed he NEEDS to know who they are and why that audience is there.

The good part is that the client and the location can give significant information about the audience and related demographics.

This is especially needed before a business presentation. With so much riding on the success of your speech— it’s important to know the composition of the audience, who really determines your ultimate success!

1.Where are they from:

An audience from the Midwest will respond differently to a topic than an audience from New York City. If the audience is gathered from across the country, it will be important to accommodate the range of viewpoints. If the audience is international in composition it will be important to reduce jargon and use expressions and terms that will translate easier in their minds.

2. What do they do?
In many cases the audience has demographic features with similar occupations or interests. The speech written for engineers would be factual and analytical; the speech written for teachers would be informative and more creative in design.

3. Why are they there?

The audience that is in attendance for entertainment has different requirements than that of an audience attending for education or information.

4.How large is the group?

Is it a large audience where projection and volume will be an essential part of delivery? Is it a smaller group that will need a more intimate style and more casual delivery?

5. Does the audience know you?

As a speaker’s reputation grows, so grows the expectation of the audience. If this is the first time an audience has seen the speaker, the expectation is different than if they have an expectation based on a branded concept or established reputation.

6. Will they know the topic?

Does the audience have the necessary background or requisite information to understand the presentation? Will the speaker need to include a review of foundation or basic information to establish a comfortable environment for the audience?

7. Are they required to be here?

Is the audience paying to be here? More importantly, is this a requirement for their work or did they stand inline to pay to see someone whose reputation has generated interest for them?

8. Will the audience support or resist your topic?

You want the path of least resistance. If the speech is persuasive or motivational it is essential to know to what extent the speech will need move them.

If the speech is to motivate a change in behavior in a conservative audience the speech will need to be constructed in a different fashion than if the audience is leaning toward the topic initially.

Just like a pilot does an instrument check before taking his air craft off into wild blue yonder, so must a speaker do the same thing to get the results he wants. And that’s a rousing presentation that motivates, inspires, and helps solve the pain of their targeted audience!

Are you serious about being a public speaker? Do you want to know how enfuse humor in every presentation. Do you want to knos how correctly use your voice to command
attention in every venue? Do you want to learn how to craft a compelling story.
Well, then you should hight tail it over to publicspeaklikeapro.com and check out
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How to Become a Micro Entrepenuer!

I always knew they existed. In fact, go to any flea market or mall and you will
see them? I am talking of course about Kiosks. You see people from all walks of life selling their wares at these kiosks.

Jewelry, cell phones, arts and crafts… you name it. Naturally, if you want to release the inner entrepreneur --- operating one Might just be the antidote to owning your own business in the most Cost effective way possible.

Silvia Spross wanted to become an entrepreneur at a Santa Monica mall.

She spent $11,000 to set up her own little company $3500 (including her first month’s rent) The Swiss Miss did her homework and realizes that she has met her goal of $200 a day.

She sells necklaces, rings and bracelets from rough-cut sell precious stones, polished rocks, and beads from around the world.

Silvia wants to own her store some time but figures this is a great way to stick her toe in the water of entrepreneurialship.

This woman is a large group of people that are I feel going to be the cornerstone of reviving economy: Micro entrepreneurs. Owning kiosks carts, according to the Specialty Retail Report, is a $12-billion dollar industry.

It can be quite lucrative if you can put the time into it. According to CJ Products in Oceanside California – a single kiosk operated by her company (which sells stuffed animal pillows she created) can ring up gross sales of $125,000 during the holidays.

Impressed? I am. But again, know that the hours can be long and if you hire help – that will of course cut into profits. But again, you need a life and that’s just the cost of doing business. One kiosk does well? Then rinse and repeat start another
kiosk business.

Here's some good news: Mall operators are actually cutting the cost of rented for prices that were going around 10 years ago. So starting a micro business could be perfect timing for you.

You should naturally find a high traffic mall. And know things could get a little rough if you are working in an outside Mall (and the inclement weather that comes with it.) In the future I will find more little businesses you might want to start part time --- and then go full-time with.

To your reinvention,

Peter Fogel is
The Reinvention Guy

Need some motivation some LAUGHS... then check out my products and books at
Reinventyourselfnow.com



My advice? Have a hobby? A passion that you want to monetize? Then check out what the competition is doing and see if want you want to sell is in great demand.