How to Grab the Crowd's Attention on Stage

Going on stage before a crowd can be a daunting undertaking as the fear of public speaking is one of the most common fear shared by people. However, once you've gotten over your stage fright, you still need to ensure that the audience is receiving what it needs from your presentation, speech or other crowd-addressed action. Although the audience bears part of the responsibility to listen and pay attention, an effective presenter takes steps to grab the audience's interest.

Instructions

1. Tell the audience a story. People love to hear engaging stories, and starting your speech with one is a way to grab attention right away. Stories can even be interspersed throughout your speech and work especially well to break up long stretches of lecture or otherwise dull information. Although there are countless stories you can choose to tell, personal stories often do well to put a human face on the message you are relating. Always make sure your stories are germane to your presentation.

2. Ask a question. Whether rhetorical or otherwise, questions engage the audience and moves attendees from passivity to activity as they engage their thinking process to answer your question.

3. Use humor. Make sure the jokes are appropriate and do not make the audience uncomfortable due to either their content or proclivity. Humor works well with storytelling as well.

4. Mention a news item or other current affair that is relevant to your message. This can pique the audience's attention by bringing up something they may already have a strong opinion on. Even those who may not have heard of the news item may still have their interest aroused to hear of something that is happening now and could possibly affect them.

5. Cite a quotation. Quoting a well-known figure can help to grab audience attention as it appeals to an authority who has already established himself as a person of interest. It can also lend credence to your message if the quote is relevant.

References

• Phobias and Fears: Symptom, Treatment, and Self-Help
• Delivering Powerful Speeches; Carolyn Kerner Stein; 2005
• Straight Talk: Oral Communication for Career Success; Paul R. Timm, Sherron Bienvenu; 2010