by Robert Motton
 The
development of an ability to present not only information but an understanding
of the image that is created by any presentation is essential in working with
any audience. The presentation must use as many of the senses as possible to
allow the audience to have a greater chance of first understanding and secondly
retaining the information which you are going to present. Therefore there are two distinct areas to
presenting to an audience.
The
first is an understanding of the nature of creating an image and the second is
being as sure as possible that the image that you are creating matches the
aspirations and dreams of your clients.
This means that everything that happens to your audience must be as far
as possible designed by you and not left to accident.
Today
I'm going to give you some ways of approaching presentation from a theatre point
of view. Indeed theatre is the most
successful presenter of ideas and concepts. Theatre goes beyond giving information
to people in purely written or verbal form but also employs a number of other
devices to elicit a response from its audience. Here are some of the areas which should be
considered in any presentation.
Analysis of the
audience
Before approaching the development of a presentation to an
audience a speaker must analyse the audience to develop a profile of a typical
member. It doesn't matter if you are talking to one person or many, this allows
the tuning of the whole piece to match the aspirations of the client. One way of
analysing is to follow this SCHEPPT formula.
Social
How is
this audience structured socially?
Who are
the power brokers?
What do
they aspire to?
What is
important to them?
Education Level?
Cultural
What is
the ethnicity of the group?
What are
the customs for decision making?
What are
the taboos?
What is
culturally desirable?
Speech Pattern?
Economic
What is
the average wealth and income?
What is
the projected income?
Houses, Cars, Dress Sense?
Politics
What are
the local politics of the group?
Are they conservative, progressive, traditional?
Physical
What is the area they come from like?
Technical
How do
they cope with change?
How do
they cope with technology?
The
overall picture is important for your presentation to be accessible and
enjoyable. It allows you to use
humour which is acceptable and to tailor your language and conceptual base to
suit your client. You can
then go on to design how you are going to create the image which you desire for
this audience.
Every
time you stand in front of a group of people you are creating an image and
performing. An awareness of how you appear is essential to success. Initially the perception of you by the audience will be 55% on how you
look, 38% on how you sound, and 8% on what you say. However as you begin to gain
the audiences confidence, the look becomes less important and What you say
becomes much greater.
Voice
Your voice then is extremely important. Here are six
important parts of creating good speech.
1.
Tone
Use the
sound of the word to help create its feeling (onomatopoeia) slash, thud, solemn,
integrity.
2.
Tune
Normal
Range is two
and a half octaves.
Use the
essential tune of any phrase.
Falling
tune in 'Ladies and Gentlemen .....' gives authority.
Use
variety for each phrase or descriptive word to vary and contrast each
thought.
Let the
tune help the image. "Up the hill"
3.
Pause
Use
before something important to create attention.
Like a
billboard, gives punctuation.
Lead up
with a rising cautionary and then pause before a lower executive and then a
pause before you go on.
This
gives the audience time to see the picture and for you to read the
audience.
eg: Churchill -
trimmed, rhythm, use of pause and phrases
"the Battle
of Britain is about to begin."
"Hitler knows he will have to break us in this
island"
4.
Pace
Gloss
over unimportant things quicker
Important
things must be slower
Variety
is important.
About
120 words per minute average.
5.
Volume
Variety
Invite
people to listen by backing off volume
Use of a
microphone.
6.
Clarity
Lips,
Tongue, Teeth, Breathing, Vocal Chords.
Lazy
Speech, (Somethink, Nothink, Haitch)
Dipthongs (Wide, Side, etc.)
Movement
Movement
should reflect the statement.
Use
triangles.
Make
movements encompass all the audience.
Gestures
should match phrases in size, direction, length and speed.
Control
your Body Language- fidgeting, walking, getting up from a chair, stance, nervous
reactions. (O.K., Scratch etc.)
When to
look at audience.
T-T-Timing!
Mime
Paint
pictures for people that they understand.
Use mime
to create not only an image but also a feeling.
Your
face says as much as your words about attitude.
Use a
range of facial expressions.
Push
yourself past 'normal' gesture.
Use your
body to highlight ideas.
Part of Total package
Characterisation
Be
careful about putting yourself "on the line."
Create a
character which you can control, hide behind and stay
objective.
Uncontrolled
emotional reaction is dangerous.
Smile.
Maintain eye contact, look around your audience.
Attitude
Positivity
Intensity
Enthusiasm
Emotion
Energy
Costume
Costume
should reflect what you're talking about.
Costume
should initially help audience to create an image
initially.
Using
costume to put together ideas.
Your
dress says a lot about your attitude to life.
Costume
can often help to add something different to your
performance.
Think about style, colour (conservative or
other).
Hair
Style,
Neatness, Length, Colour.
Facial
hair (shadow).
Other eg. Nose and ear.
Teeth
Straight
White
Make-up
Importance
of eyes and mouth.
Distance
is important (10 metres limit).
Base to
remove skin blemishes and shine.
Be aware
of lighting.
Be careful of street makeup.
Staging
Audience
view Left to Right, Front to Back, Down to Up.
Entrances
and exits.
Levels
of audience and speaker. Above, Below, Level.
Stage locations.
Lighting
Colour,
Intensity, Direction, Type.
Audience.
Highlight
therefore control view.
Change
to help idea.
Atmosphere
control by lighting.
Sun location.
Sound
Use of
sound before to set mood before or after.
Microphone
levels (bounce from walls).
Mics
offer variety.
Low bass
high treble.
Microphone
legs.
Microphone
technique (popping, Height, Type).
Hand held elbow lock.
Scenery
Setting
of stage.
Using a
lectern or behind table.
Use
scenery to highlight ideas. eg. Photos, Posters but watch
control.
Colour
of scenery as per other decisions eg. Costume.
Interesting
scenery, Paintings, Roadways, Aeroplanes.
Use of
curtains.
Slides
and overheads (KISS) and practise timing.
Paint their picture. (Eg Retirement home)
Props
Hand
props to tell the story.
Create
the Character.
Symbolise your idea. (Puppetry).
Auditorium
Heating
or cooling.
Entrances
for you and for audience.
Time for
entry for you and for audience.
Floor
Type.
Size
Staging available.
Things
that stop people performing well.
Lack of
subject knowledge.
Self
Consciousness
Fear of
mistakes
Appearance
Sound of
their voice
Movement
Bad
previous experience
Lack of
knowledge of technical equipment
Size of
the audience
Unfamiliar surroundings.
Well Before
Write
the date down.
Arrive
early or visit before planning (photo of venue).
Ask
where to park.
Take an
umbrella.
Check
about technical equipment. (Mic, Lights, Lectern etc.)
Write
out your introduction in full, double spaced and large
type.
Number
your cards.
Write
speech triple spaced in phrases in bold type.
Practise with your video.
Just Before
Move
your seat out.
Plan
route to stage.
Toilet.
Hair.
Clothes.
Don't look until you're ready.
After
Finish
and move.
Don't
peter to a finish, upward inflection.
Don't
spoil by long thank you.
Move off quickly and be invited back for
questions.
Let nothing happen by
accident!
Let
everything happen by design!
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