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Seating Strategies to Engage and Involve Your Audience… and Boost Back-of-Room Sales


 with Paul O. Radde, PhD


Paul Radde

Your normally well-received presentation isn't going so well. You are used to people laughing, nodding, and being engaged, but this room is set with rounds of 8 and people's backs are to you. And the last row is so far back you can't see their eyes. Or maybe you're a light-hearted speaker and the rigid straight-across rows don't allow anyone to see each other, which you know is critical for humor.

What is the right setup for your presentation? How do you specify and educate meeting planners to set the room to get more engagement from the audience? Are there better designs to give the planner and the hotel staff? How can the seating setup affect back-of-the-room sales?

You will learn how to:

  • use state-of-the-art seating arrangements to optimize the learning environment, and increase capacity and back-of-the-room sales!
  • improve line of sight, comfort, safety, access, audience responsiveness, and networking.
  • utilize 4 state-of-the-art seating principles to design, set or troubleshoot or set any meeting room, and use 3 factors to fine-tune the room.
  • put into action tips on design, A/V, traffic flow, noise, and lighting.
  • accommodate last-minute registrations and ADA requirements.

Click here for all the details ...

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Free PowerPoint Twitter tools

Here is a site where you can download tools to add twitter to your presentations ...

Ever wanted to make presentations a more interactive, Web 2.0 experience?
The PowerPoint Twitter Tools prototypes are now available.
Get ahead of the backchannel! Put in feedback slides at regular intervals throughout your presentation, so you’re not the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on!
Tempted, but worried about what people might say? No problem – the tools include the ability to include a moderated feed

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Every speaker must respect the power of a potato

A potato?  Jim writes ...

Bored audiences will get up and walk out of your speeches. How would you keep the attention of 400+ engineers who were attending an industry dinner event that they didn’t really want to be at on a weekday evening? I recently had the opportunity to be the master of ceremonies at such an event – great gig, tough crowd.

OK so how was a potato of use here?   Read the article for an example of how Jim used creativity and how it works so well in successful public speaking assignments

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Are you host or guest at your presentation?

What an interesting thought form Sarah Gerschman:


So often we begin a speech by thanking the audience or someone in the audience for asking us to speak. This small (arguably unnecessary gesture) perhaps unknowingly puts the speaker in the mindset of being a guest. The speaker subsequently must ingratiate himself to the "hosts" - the audience.

What happens?   ... Read more >>>

http://sarahgershman.blogspot.com/

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Cicero Versus Demosthenes

There were two great orators from ancient Mediterranean: Demosthenes the Greek and Cicero the Roman.

It was said that when Cicero spoke, people exclaimed, "Great speech. Wonderful message. I couldn't agree with you more." And they showered him with accolades, adoration and standing ovations.

It was said that when Demosthenes spoke, people shouted, "Let Us March!"

Did you notice the difference?

Two great orators. People admired and loved the one. People were gripped and compelled to act by the other.

Cicero appealed more to logic. And reason. He carefully crafted his message to speak to the analytical and rational side of people.

Demosthenes appealed more to emotion. His message touched, tangled and transformed people's feelings. Feelings so strong they were willing to drop what they were doing to go into battle.

Let's travel in the time machine to the present...

Christy gave an excellent speech about her involvement with Women's Empowerment International. They help provide small loans to the world's poorest women, lifting them out of poverty, and creating a better future through their own hard work and ingenuity. You could say WE International is providing the dream of entrepreneurship to help poor women provide for their families, to better themselves and to live with a heightened sense of dignity.

She talked about the founder, Muhammad Yunus. She displayed a blown-up photograph of Rosario, a Mexican loan recipient who is making cheese and selling them door-to-door because her husband is no longer able to work. And she talked about what we, the audience, can do to help.

Christy had everyone's attention. You could almost hear a pin drop throughout her talk. When she concluded, we knew she had more to share. She did a phenomenal job. Everyone loved her message.

While there were a few people who wanted to join WE International, the majority sat on the sidelines. Why is that? Why wouldn't more people join up or donate their resources after Christy's fine presentation?

It goes back to Cicero and Demosthenes...

While Christy's message was technically sound, it didn't connect on an emotional level. Her message touched minds. It lacked the ability to touch hearts. And this is huge.

Here's the difference in a nutshell:

The audience thought WE International is a great idea. They felt good about its purpose and mission. A few donated $20 to become members.

But not one person said, "Let us march. I'm going to get involved. I'm going to pick up the WE International torch and run with it. I'm going to spread the word to everyone I know." Not even one.

Here's an important point...

Practice to become the best speaker you can. If your audience adores you, that's a good thing. You're taking up after Cicero.

But if you really want to move people to action - take up after Demosthenes. You'll touch people on a gut-wrenching, emotional level. You'll know by appealing to their hearts... their minds, desires and actions will follow.

Want to include this article in your newsletter? You can if you include this blurb:
Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today athttp://www.TommyYan.com

If you're a speaker, trainer, coach, or a consultant, the major challenge you face is connecting with your audience. You talk, shout, or recite your message while they are dreaming about dinner.

Their eyes are glossy, their minds' elsewhere, and their bodies ready to bolt. You don't have a lot of time, so you've got to grab their attention fast. Or else, you'll die wrestling against audience resistance.

Find out how...
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Connecting with your audience

Tim Wilson makes a short but very valid point about the questions to ask while speaking so that you can connect with the audience.

http://speakingquicktips.blogspot.com/2008/07/power-of-moment.html

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Presentation Mistakes: The View From the Audience

I routinely do presentations and thought many of the things I do and know about presenting to an audience were simply common sense.

However, sitting in workshops over a three-day conference gave me the perspective of a participant. It appears that many of the common sense things that I do and know are not so common sense.

How many ways can someone screw up a presentation?

From the back row, let me count the ways!

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Get Your Audiences Involved and Get More Business

with Karen Lawson, Ph.D., CSP
Karen LawsonToday’s audiences are different. Conditioned by their experiences in school and corporate training programs, they expect a presentation to be a learning experience, and they expect learning experiences to be active. Contemporary audiences are greatly influenced by computer games and simulations as well as videos and television. With a multitude of options at their fingertips, people are less tolerant of limited programming options. They want to be wowed by both quality content and quality entertainment, and it’s incumbent on us as speakers to deliver.

Your goal is to connect with your audience, and one of the most effective ways to do this is to get them involved. Audience involvement requires a different approach. Sometimes speakers prefer to simply stand before an audience and deliver their message. The ability to actively involve the audience requires a different skill set that many speakers have not as yet mastered. They may want to, but don’t know how.

Karen Lawson, Ph.D., CSP will share her practical, how-to approach to using interactive methods to increase audience impact and ensure speaker success whether an individual is delivering a keynote speech, making a sales presentation, or conducting a seminar or training session.

You will learn to:

  • Identify trends, influences, and considerations that shape demand for interactive speaking
  • Use specific interactive techniques to increase audience participation
  • Adapt interactive techniques to “dry” topics
  • Adapt existing material to a more interactive style
  • Identify sources for interactive techniques

Register (the date of the seminar is Tuesday, June 9) or order the CD or MP3 recording. Note: people who register for the teleseminar will get the MP3 recording of the session for free.

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The Tipping Point

This was the start of a nightmare. A painstaking presentation was taking place. I was trying everything known to man to stay awake. For 5 minutes I scrolled through my blackberry looking for distractions. When that proved to be futile I began thumbing through my notebook looking for an interesting story or factoid. In a last ditch effort to show respect and stay awake I vigorously rubbed my eyes. This didn't work either. With each stroke I moved closer and closer to unconsciousness.

My search for a jolt of life was failing miserably. There were no signs that the presentation was ending. After 10 minutes of fighting I succumbed to the twin towers of boredom and sleep. Just as my face grazed the surface the speaker brought his presentation to a close. Applause from my fellow audience members brought me back to life. Relieved, I stood up and quickly left the room.

Boredom is rampant in the public speaking world. Look around you at your next conference or meeting. You're bound to see people fighting sleep, playing with their phone, or drawing in a notebook.

As a communicator you don't have to be boring (it may seem like a rule but trust me it is not). Grabbing the audience's attention as soon as possible will ensure that you are not boring.

Once you reach the Tipping Point the audience is fully engaged for the duration of your speech. That is why this concept is so important. Reaching this point as soon as possible should be your goal in each presentation.

If you understand the concept of the Tipping Point in public speaking you can use it to maximize your effectiveness. In public speaking the Tipping Point is defined as:
"the point in which you gain the audience's attention and they begin actively absorbing your information"

There are 2 key takeaways from this definition:

  1. Gaining the audience's attention
  2. Active absorption of your information

Gaining the Audience's Attention
To take full advantage of the Tipping Point you need to gain the audience's attention quickly. An ear catching introduction is the best tool in this scenario. Since most people use normal speaking patterns this is not a difficult thing to do.Here are some of my favorite tactics for gaining audience attention:

  1. Start with a thought provoking question (How many of you have heard of ......?)
  2. Quote an uncommon statistic
  3. Engage a respected audience member in conversation (CEO, VP, President, Leader, etc)
  4. Make a definitive ear catching statement (this was the start of a nightmare).

Certain extreme cases (eulogies, statistical deep dives, fact only information exchanges etc) may not seem like the place for one of these openings. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Dry scenarios like these need some spice to keep people engaged and following the message.

Active Information Absorption

When an audience is actively involved in your presentation you will know. There really is no mistaking it. People take notes, ask questions, and focus all their attention on you when they are actively involved.

When you see this you will know that you have reached the tipping point. It is nearly impossible to negate the effects of the Tipping Point once you have reached it in a speech. You have to make a colossal mistake, and we both know you won't do that.

Conclusion

The war on boredom in public speaking is an ongoing struggle. Many people fight for the rights of boring speeches. Don't be one of them.

A bored audience is much less likely to absorb information than an involved one. Do your part in fighting boredom by getting to the Tipping Point with your audience as soon as possible.

Prove your merit at the beginning of your speech and ears will open immediately. When they do, use what you know about the tipping point to keep them engaged and informed until you are done.

Marcus Antuan Smith is a creative force in the public speaking world who strives to meet the needs of each and every client. His experience as the Toastmasters President at a fortune 15 company will prove invaluable to you.

Go to his website, http://www.marcusasmith.com for more information.

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Keeping audience attention? – try interaction

From Nick Morgan a great article on

How to interact with an audience -- 7 questions to get you started

Audiences today expect to have a conversation with speakers, and they crave real connection with successful speakers.  The best way to ensure that these good things happen during your presentations is to involve your audiences throughout.

But that takes some art.  How do you think about it?  How do you avoid the lame arrangement of too many presentations where the speaker drones on for 45 minutes, then stops and says, “Any questions?”  As the audience shakes itself awake, and starts wondering if it does in fact have any questions, the speaker stands there for what seems like an eternity, then gives up and concludes that no one cares.

How do you avoid this dysfunctional state of affairs?  How can you involve audiences in your presentations?

Following are a series of questions to ask the audience, in order to start connecting with them