The average attention span of an audience is about 5 minutes. Then we drift into daydreaming if a normal “show and tell” is given.
Humor (see other posts) is a vital tool. The other critical one is Storytelling. In a 45 minute academic presentation at least 10-15 short stories can be used to embed the core aspects given.
Great local examples are the budget speeches by Trevor Manual and Brain Gilbertson's presentations using the Cello as a metaphor. Using physical metaphors always have a great surprising impact.
The beginning is what matters and can be self effacing humor, (Steve Jobs at Stanford:" this is the closest to graduation I ever been"), others can be, a question, a factoid, Retrospective/prospective: Forward and backward, Anecdote, quote, Aphorism: familiar saying or an Analogy
Endings are even more critical. Leave them wondering, a smile and a tear, an inspiration.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Humor development. Action Plan
Humour is critical in a presentaion, yet the most difficult form of public speaking.
We received some 16000 words over almost 40 pages single spaced. What is the oddities in there that can be looked at from a different angle to spice up the presentation?
Action plan:
Four of our collaborators are also members of Toastmasters. The will jointly develop a 720 word speech for the upcoming Toastmasters National Humor competition on 9 September. All four of us can use it in a way fitting our style. Something like "The age of Stupidity.."
In such a speech it is expected to take a serious topic, highlight it with humor to convince the audience to action. Humor in its purest form.
Some 15- 20 one liners focusing on Knowledge will be developed. The same material can then be used for the UJ presentation.
It will be published on the blog while is in progress for help and comment.
HUMOROUS SPEECH CONTEST -- JUDGE'S GUIDE
Suggested Point Values
Judging Items Excellent Very Good Good Fair Remarks
Speech Development 15 14-11 10-6 5-0 Structure, opening, body, support material
Effectiveness 15 14-11 10-6 5-0 Excitement created, suspense, the unexpected twist, surprise, connection of humorous events, achievement of purpose
Speech Value 15 14-11 10-6 5-0 Ideas, originality of thoughts and material
Audience Response 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 Attentiveness, laughter, interest, reception
Physical 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 Appearance, body language
Voice 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 Flexibility, volume
Manner 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 Directness, enthusiasm, assurance
Appropriateness 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 to speech purpose and audience, reflecting good taste
Correctness 5 4 3 2-0
Grammar, pronunciation, word selection, use of dialect, vernacular
Total Points (100 points possible)
We received some 16000 words over almost 40 pages single spaced. What is the oddities in there that can be looked at from a different angle to spice up the presentation?
Action plan:
Four of our collaborators are also members of Toastmasters. The will jointly develop a 720 word speech for the upcoming Toastmasters National Humor competition on 9 September. All four of us can use it in a way fitting our style. Something like "The age of Stupidity.."
In such a speech it is expected to take a serious topic, highlight it with humor to convince the audience to action. Humor in its purest form.
Some 15- 20 one liners focusing on Knowledge will be developed. The same material can then be used for the UJ presentation.
It will be published on the blog while is in progress for help and comment.
HUMOROUS SPEECH CONTEST -- JUDGE'S GUIDE
Suggested Point Values
Judging Items Excellent Very Good Good Fair Remarks
Speech Development 15 14-11 10-6 5-0 Structure, opening, body, support material
Effectiveness 15 14-11 10-6 5-0 Excitement created, suspense, the unexpected twist, surprise, connection of humorous events, achievement of purpose
Speech Value 15 14-11 10-6 5-0 Ideas, originality of thoughts and material
Audience Response 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 Attentiveness, laughter, interest, reception
Physical 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 Appearance, body language
Voice 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 Flexibility, volume
Manner 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 Directness, enthusiasm, assurance
Appropriateness 10 9-7 6-4 3-0 to speech purpose and audience, reflecting good taste
Correctness 5 4 3 2-0
Grammar, pronunciation, word selection, use of dialect, vernacular
Total Points (100 points possible)
Let them laugh: the theory
Laughter, especially early in a presentation works wonders.
Humor is not a joke, poking fun on myself, looking at life from a different angle and suitable even at a funeral.
It is never Blue, on other cultures, disability, other people, but is looking at life from a different angle. It is hard work and a good formula is : Attitude + Setup + Actout
Attitude is serious: “It is hard/bad/sad/difficult .weird .. that..
Setup is leading the audience into a direction that is understandable and familiar.
Actout is to put it on it’s head with a twist in the tail.
For example when Nathaniel climbed the mountain:
“its hard to climb Kilimanjaro. Days on end, long drops in the camps, a never ending mountain. Then..as you very well know, here in Africa things are not maintained well, at the third day it all broke down when we ran out of …Oxygen.!”
Jokes are out and not appropriate. Real Humor is the most powerful weapon as the mind’s ability rise 3 fold when we laugh.
The most powerfull if we can aim it at ourselves. “Being blonde has certain drawbacks….when I always enter my Pick n Pay then ….”
“I wish I could be like a can of Guiness; tall dark and handsome”.
Humor is not a joke, poking fun on myself, looking at life from a different angle and suitable even at a funeral.
It is never Blue, on other cultures, disability, other people, but is looking at life from a different angle. It is hard work and a good formula is : Attitude + Setup + Actout
Attitude is serious: “It is hard/bad/sad/difficult .weird .. that..
Setup is leading the audience into a direction that is understandable and familiar.
Actout is to put it on it’s head with a twist in the tail.
For example when Nathaniel climbed the mountain:
“its hard to climb Kilimanjaro. Days on end, long drops in the camps, a never ending mountain. Then..as you very well know, here in Africa things are not maintained well, at the third day it all broke down when we ran out of …Oxygen.!”
Jokes are out and not appropriate. Real Humor is the most powerful weapon as the mind’s ability rise 3 fold when we laugh.
The most powerfull if we can aim it at ourselves. “Being blonde has certain drawbacks….when I always enter my Pick n Pay then ….”
“I wish I could be like a can of Guiness; tall dark and handsome”.
An Audience's emotion and needs
To leave people happy and feeling well that they got their money’s worth, we need to satisfy all of the following needs:
I do want to be hurt, and need physical comfort, I am part of the group, I am worth something, I do worthwhile things, I want to LEARN new things, I want beauty around me, order, discipline, I want to share, give away, mean something, I want you to care for me, I believe in a higher power, I want to accomplish greatness, I am angry against, yet want to forgive, I am better than others, I am bored and need excitement, I am afraid of …, need to resolve it, I love to laugh, play and have fun.
The audience is KING. We are merely their servants. Our needs, oddities, gripes are of no significance. They will remember what we offered them, the emotion, the laughter, and the tears with a smile.
They will go through the following emotional states:
Shyness: “I have no opinion, I will make a fool of myself today”. It is shown by withdrawal or loud talking. Hiding behind tables and in positions where there is little eye contact. Action: Give strong leadership, rules and regulations. Expect no little reaction contributions Let them draw, write, think on their own.
Aggression: “I have an opinion, and it is definitely different from yours”. A fighting spirit, crossed arms, disbelief, cliques , ganging up against the facilitator. Action: This is normal for groups to find themselves. If they want a fight, take them head on with aggressive body language.
Comfort: “I have an opinion, but it is of lesser importance than that of the group”. Smiling, sitting back, listening intently, yet not contributing. Action: Smile back, steer gently in a direction.
Exuberance: “Its great out here, the group is greater than me, lets get this done!”.
Sadness: “It can not be over, impossible..” Sadness, sharing business cards, reluctant to leave, when can we do it again? Action: Group photo, touching story, group hug..
We need to get to point 4 in less than 5 minutes
I do want to be hurt, and need physical comfort, I am part of the group, I am worth something, I do worthwhile things, I want to LEARN new things, I want beauty around me, order, discipline, I want to share, give away, mean something, I want you to care for me, I believe in a higher power, I want to accomplish greatness, I am angry against, yet want to forgive, I am better than others, I am bored and need excitement, I am afraid of …, need to resolve it, I love to laugh, play and have fun.
The audience is KING. We are merely their servants. Our needs, oddities, gripes are of no significance. They will remember what we offered them, the emotion, the laughter, and the tears with a smile.
They will go through the following emotional states:
Shyness: “I have no opinion, I will make a fool of myself today”. It is shown by withdrawal or loud talking. Hiding behind tables and in positions where there is little eye contact. Action: Give strong leadership, rules and regulations. Expect no little reaction contributions Let them draw, write, think on their own.
Aggression: “I have an opinion, and it is definitely different from yours”. A fighting spirit, crossed arms, disbelief, cliques , ganging up against the facilitator. Action: This is normal for groups to find themselves. If they want a fight, take them head on with aggressive body language.
Comfort: “I have an opinion, but it is of lesser importance than that of the group”. Smiling, sitting back, listening intently, yet not contributing. Action: Smile back, steer gently in a direction.
Exuberance: “Its great out here, the group is greater than me, lets get this done!”.
Sadness: “It can not be over, impossible..” Sadness, sharing business cards, reluctant to leave, when can we do it again? Action: Group photo, touching story, group hug..
We need to get to point 4 in less than 5 minutes
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