Unusual Speaking Experiences

A World of Unusual Speaking Experiences!

In the course of speaking to more than 770 audiences around the world, I have encountered my share of unique engagements. For example, when I spoke to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, a division of the U.S. Treasury Department, every audience member was carrying a gun. Understandably, I felt compelled to give a great presentation.

At a leadership conference sponsored by the St. Alfonsus Regional Medical Center, I was introduced by a staff member, wearing skis, whose conclusion involved sliding down the stairs off the podium.

Follow the Introduction Verbatim

Many introducers offer an ad-hoc lines, which squelch a speaker’s planned opening. One of my introducers once added his own line to my introduction. It was his attempt at a joke. It was lame, fell flat, and went nowhere. It also conflicted with my intended opening line, and I had to quickly say something else.

Do your conference speakers a favor: tell your introducers in no uncertain terms not to improvise. I know of one meeting planner who asks, "Can you deliver this introduction as the speaker has requested?" If the introducer does not pledge to deliver the introduction free of these remarks, she suggests another introducer.

Four Basic Audience Needs

Since my first paid presentation in 1983, I’ve learned a great deal about what audiences need, want, and expect, which primarily boils down to four vital ingredients:
* to be informed,
* to be entertained,
* to participate in some way,
* and most of all to be inspired to take action.

Over the course of 26 years, remarkably, these four basic needs prevail.

Keynotes: Less is More

In a keynote speech it is better to present one key idea four different ways than it is to cram your keynote full of material that is guaranteed to miss the mark with 75% of the audience.

Bargaining with Speakers

Are there instances when speakers can legitimately fit an organization's budget without altering their fees? "Absolutely" says negotiating specialist Jim Hennig, Ph.D. Speakers can legitimately charge different fees in different situations:

1. Multiple Engagements: two or more bookings deserve quantity discounts.

2. Dual Purpose Engagements: when the speaker accomplishes several thing at once speech.

3. A Shared Speaker: when an organization cannot afford a speaker, they include another organization to share the costs.

4. Product Sales: book, audio and other products:

5. Trades: Many speakers will trade for a needed product or service from host organization.

6. Different Fees for Special Groups: non-profit organizations, government agencies, etc

7. Time of Year Fees: lower fees for slow months, such as August or January.

Critique Your Literature

Attracting people to your meeting can be a challenge. Have you critiqued your own marketing literature of late?
* As you read your Web content, brochure, or other marketing literature, following each assertion made, ask yourself the question, "According to whom?" To be convincing, the answer has to be someone who is held in esteem by the people in your target market.
* Stellar marketing materials could be handed to an individual who's never heard of you and enable him to quickly and accurately determine what you offer and why it’s worth investigating.
* A person of average intelligence should be able to quickly understand based on your marketing materials what the meeting will deleiver. If not, they need to be rewritten.

Speaking Experiences, 3rd

Prior to my speech to a group of managers in Bangkok, Thailand, I was told that audience members would periodically be leaving the room to take cell phone calls. To my surprise, every single member of the audience, at least two or three times each, left during his presentation to take calls. So for the entire session, people were constantly coming and going as I spoke.

On short notice, I was requested to speak in Zurich to Swissotel's general managers from their 16 facilities around the world. Because I had departed the previous afternoon from Los Angeles and arrived in Switzerland that morning, I only had time for a 30-minute nap before I had to get dressed, come downstairs, and address the group. The speech went exceedingly well, and apparently no one knew the difference!

Speaking Experiences, 2nd

When Jeff was retained to speak on board a cruise ship to the National Association of Women Business Owners, he was surprised and pleased to discover that he was the only male presenter onboard!

Another time, Jeff presented a half-day seminar to a group of association executives who were given nothing for breakfast and nothing during the breaks except for coffee or tea. By the third hour of the presentation, blood sugar levels and attention spans were dropping all over the room. Had he known in advance, Jeff would have brought bagels and cream cheese for everyone!

Want to Preview Jeff Speaking?

The Carolinas Chapter of the Institute of Management Consultants is presenting a program on Monday, May 22 how to manage your growing consulting practice in ways that maximize your personal enjoyment and benefit.

PRWEB -- The May 22nd program will be held at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. The keynote dinner speaker is Jeff Davidson, founder of the Breathing Space Institute and a noted author and speaker. Mr. Davidson will focus on how you can truly master the information and communication overload you face every day in your practice. You’ll learn simple but powerful techniques to help you better manage information, control your environment, generate energy from your success and gain some real breathing space more often. So you can manage your pace with greater grace.

A Networking Social begins at 5:00pm and a Dinner featuring the keynote speaker at 6:00pm. Fees are $50 for non-IMC Members. For more information, call 704-364-4440