And Finally...

REVIEW!

Review your presentation and see if you met the critical question or statement (The Promise) you first opened with.

Did I keep my promise?
Was my audience happy with my answer to the promise?
Did I leave them with any questions?
If so, what questions did they ask? (Then you can incorporate it into the next presentation)

Remember that all experienced speakers did not just start off like that. They all learned with experience. So, practice! If you go to school, use opportunities such as presentations to build on this skill and remember the 9 Techniques!

Please rate how helpful my blog was! Be sure to comment with any feedback or any questions and concerns pertaining to the topic, and I will be sure to answer!

Thank you,

Dillon.

Visuals and Samples!

Visuals help the audience learn and sometimes can be most helpful than any other method. Visuals can add humor to a presentation, add meaning, and sometimes also persuade the audience into using your product or service.

What is the probability that your old method of fixing computers will be better than mine you ask?

Chances are:                           "SLIM"                           to                     "NUN"

I bet we have all seen charity commercials, whether it be for humans or animals. They are famous for using very sad images that usually, if not always pull on your heart strings, which further persuades you into donating money to them.

Samples are any item that can be given to the audience for free which can act as a promotion for your product or company.

Popular samples are:

·         T-Shirts

·         Pens

You can distribute these after the presentation or throw them into the audience. As a side note, pens shouldn't be thrown…they hurt! Shirts are fine!

This helps to promote your product or service if the pen or shirt is used in public. It's a free source of advertising!

SLIM Visual: http://www.locogringostudios.com/Cowboy-Southwest-Portrait-Painting.html

NUN Visual: http://www.mostphotos.com/944951/angry-nun

Demonstrations:

Nothing is more fun or engaging than being called or seeing a fellow colleague get called up to be part of a demonstration. Demonstrations help to build practical knowledge as well allowing you to show the audience that your product or service doesn't just look nice on the screen or sounds nice coming out of your mouth.

Demonstrations are simple. All you do is pick a member from the audience and have them come up and simply say: “I am going to show you how…”

EXAMPLE: Factory Safety Presentation

(You and the audience member): I am going to demonstrate the correct warm-up procedures that you should do before every shift to make sure you do not hurt yourself when lifting heavy boxes. These warm ups are quick and easy and will warm up your muscles and lower the risk of on-the-job injuries. [Demonstrate with the audience member]

Demonstrations don’t always have to be one on one. Here is another cool example:

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

• Which method do you think will be more beneficial? One on One, or Group? 
• Do you think that the method should be determined based on what the presentation is about?

Langhans, T. (Speaker/Director). (2008). Audience Participation [Video Clip]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiTikwPpeus

Questions...

Engaging the audience is another element that you could use to gain and keep audience attention. Questions can be used to determine whether or not the audience is paying attention to what you are presenting. Questions can stimulate the audience to be motivated to want to learn more about the audience.

Think about a time when you were listening to a presentation, or when you were in class listening to a lecture from your professor. Did you find yourself more motivated to learn about what the presenter (or teacher) was presenting?

Questions are easy to ask if they are asked in the right way, but that is easy. What do you do if you are asked a question that you do not know an answer to?

Check out this video for the answer!

Bryan, A. (Director). (2010). Ep 10. How To Answer Questions On Your Presentation - Presentation Skills - Public Speaking [Video Clip]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgk215R2zkc

Movement!

MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!

A lot of people you will be presenting to can become distracted and or gaze away from your presentation. The best way to fix that is to MOVE! Buy walking around, people will stay alert and will pay attention you and the presentation. Sometimes, they could be watching you but daydreaming away, and by moving around you can end this certain distraction.

But, do not get into the habit of walking left then right, then back left then back right, really fast! It is not a work out! Not only do you get exhausted, but the audience will too! This can happen unconsciously due to the fact of nerves, and the best way to fix this is to use eye contact. (Discussed more in a previous post: “Eye Contact”)
Slow, steady steps towards the audience or slow strides from one end of the stage to the other can help you to be more effective with movement.

REMEMBER it is not a workout!

GC Workshop Clips (Creator). (N.D.). GameChangers: "Good Movement" [Video Clip]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/user/mikebonifer?feature=watch

Eye Contact

There are many ways that a person can use eye contact to make a presentation become more effective.

As we saw in the video, here are some points listed by Sheri Jeavons.

• Eye contact reduces nervousness
• Connect with one  person for a thought. This can then help you:
• Gather thoughts
• Think clearly
• Help remember what to say
• Avoid jumping eyes

Eye contact can also be used for you to determine if the audience is understanding what you are presenting. If they do, then you would continue. If they don’t, you can explain it with a different example.

Eye contact can help you to better control the room when you are presenting, because it allows you to remove the nerves and helps you to feel more comfortable in the environment. This will then help you to deliver a more effective presentation.

Remember, try not to let your eye contact get too awkward with the audience so they don't feel like it is a staring contest!

WHAT DO YOU THINK:

• Do you agree with how effective eye contact can be? Any negative thoughts?

Jeavons, S. (Director). (N.D.). Effective Presentation Skills: Using Eye Contact to Connect with Your Audience [Motion Picture]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSZfqCBUpOs

Drama!

Drama is a key tool used to initially grab and retain audience attention. One technique that you can use to gain and keep audience attention is by doing what Marty Huggins did. It can be viewed on my first post (“Introduction to Blog”).

Andrew House opens this presentation at the Play Station 4 E3 Conference: please watch 3:30-4:55 specifically:

Please fast forward the video to 3:30- 4:55

Pay attention to how Andrew House opens the presentation. He uses:

Milestone References: Using terms like “Today Marks” adds a dramatic feel to the presentation, making the audience feel that they are witnessing something life changing.

Background Information: Giving quick insights into the business or product can grab audience attention as they are able to reflect on it. Example: in the video, Andrew House talks about Sony’s portfolio (blockbusters, technology innovations) which can get the audience to say things like “remember the…” or “that was a cool…”.

Audience Focused: He got the audience attention by speaking out on how the new Play Station goal was to enhance the gamer experience.

Dramatic Elements:

• Long pauses after key statements
• Pitch in voice
• Charismatic approach

Some other Dramatic elements can include different uses of emotions and hand gestures to add emphases to the presentation.

Electronic Entertaiment Expo (Director). (2013). PlayStation 4 E3 2013 [Video Conference]. Retrieved  from YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiNGZMx2vhY

This Video is owned by Playstation.com and can be viewed via the Play Station YouTube channel

A Promise.

It all starts with Question, Statement or simply A Promise! 

A Promise will keep the audience expectant

            By the end of this presentation you will:

                                      “Be able to grow you sales by 50%”
                                      “Be able to train each and every dog”
                                      “Be able to …”

“Be able”: these words stimulate people to pay more attention, ask questions like "how?" and "why?", and keeps them on the edge of their seats!

BUT HOW?

When doing a presentation- depending on whatever it is, your number one goal would be to “sell yourself” or the product at hand, and the only way that is possible is making sure that you are appealing to you audience. The only other plausible way is by telling them they will "BE ABLE TO".

Why would they want to pay attention to you? Unless they are paying for the presentation! But most people are dragged to presentations from bosses, colleagues, and even friends.

Think about it: when you were in school and they had speakers come in and talk to the whole school, did you really want to go? I bet sometimes you’d run to the bathroom for long periods of time. But when did you not go? (Other than when the teacher said NO!) When the speaker was able to promise you something?

The Promise is KEY in Gaining and Keeping Audience Attention

But remember: a good promise is only good, unless it is kept! It can be easily forgotten if your presentation doesn't match up to it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

• Do you agree with the idea of a promise?
• Is there an alternative to the promise, question or statement?

Kwan, C. (Director). (2011). How to Start a Presentation Using an Attention Grabbing Question or Statement [Video Blog]. Retrieved June 10, 2013, from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ndrIvSw1xTc

Introduction to the Blog

Experienced Speakers know how to gain and retain audience attention, but it isn't as easy as they make it seem!

I have 9 techniques that, if mastered correctly, can help you gain and keep audience attention.

The Campaign (2012) is a comedic  movie about two rival candidates and their upcoming elections. Here is a quick video on what NOT to do to gain audience attention...

What Do You Think?

• Do you think that Marty Huggins is right about telling an "interesting" story?

Please comment, ask questions, share videos and tips that may help in making us more Experienced Speakers.

Roach, J. (Director). (2012). The Campaign [Motion Picture]. Retrieved from: YouTube

                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BesAXNcHYKc