Mr.MediaTraining (The blog of Brad Phillips) has published an interesting series of posts on “Eight ways to open a speech”. Here is the list:
One: The Startling Statistic
Two: The Anecdote
Three: Ask a Rhetorical Question
Four: Ask a “Show of Hands” Question
Five: Speak With Your Audience
Six: Build Off The Conference Theme
Seven: Mention Something In The News
Eight: Use Humor
If you want to know more and read the full article with many examples consult the series of posts on mrmediatraining blog
Fine list of ways to start a speech. I am sure the author also has advice on extempore speaking vs. written speeches that are read out. Why does an audience seem to hang on to the extempore speaker, almost never falling asleep, while the one reading a speech often transports some of his audience to slumber-land? One guess is that listening to the creates a sense of expectation — ‘What else is he going to say?’ or ‘Will he make a blunder?’ Any thoughts on this?
I agree, so many static speeches are totally lost on inattentive audiences. It’s ironic but I find especially boring speeches/talks accompanied with some sort of interactive content like slideshows, powerpoint presentations, etc. I believe it must be due to the speaker often either physically turning away from the audience to concentrate on the interaction or through total dependence on the material being displayed and thus unable to capture interest.
Finally, I would add a ninth element to the list: Attempt to make as much eye contact with the public and try to fathom what stimulates people better, be it humour, sarcasm, direct questioning, etc. and be thus prepared to ad lib the speech and not depend so much on following a script.