Anxious before a big talk? Pacing around backstage nervous you’ll forget your words? No clue how the audience will receive you? I totally get it! With 50ish events per year under my belt, believe it or not, I have the same concerns and fears.
Here are my top 3 speaking tips to engage with the audience and I genuinely hope it helps you too. Read it and hit me with your top tips below
—-
This isn’t rocket science, but this is what I practice.
TIP #1 – BODY LANGUAGE
How important is body language on stage? Extremely! So much of communication has absolutely nothing to do with what you are actually saying. To dominate a stage and capture the attention of a large audience, it is vital that your body language is positive;
- Stand Tall – own the stage
- Head Up – engage your audience
- Chest Out – exude confidence
- Hands Out – be welcoming
TIP #2 – STAGE PRESENCE
First impressions matter.
Your entrance on stage sets the tone for the rest of your talk even before you’ve said a single word. The audience feeds off the energy you provide as you walk out. It is your stage, own it. Make sure to face the audience all of them (even the people hiding in the back rows). Standing central is important, but don’t be afraid to walk around.
TIP #3 – AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
How many times have you lost interest in a speaker at an event?
The reason countless speakers lose their audience is because they don’t effectively engage them. Simple tricks like asking questions and collective voting are great methods to hold audience attention. If you sense low energy in the room, get the blood flowing – make them stand, move around a little, have some fun with them!
—
Hope these tips are helpful. Feel free to share yours below. What do you do to dominate the stage?
Dan Ram ignites the stage as an in-person event and virtual event MC/ Moderator & Speaker at over 100 events a year. He has shared the stage with international luminaries including President Barack Obama, Sir Richard Branson, Reid Hoffman, Nico Rosberg, and Grammy-winning artists and celebrities. He has also been recognized as a Top 40 under 40 leader 2020 as well as a Top 100 Yale Alumni in Technology 2021. Level up your communication skills through his course and mastermind “Speaking Success”. His passion is to inspire people with his motto ‘Start Now Start Simple’ in building a future we all want to live in.
Thanks for these tips Dan! Another tip to dominate the stage would be if you have the opportunity to give the same talk multiple times. The more opportunities you have to share the same particular speech the more opportunities you have to take your domination of the stage to higher levels. 😉
Yes Jake. One danger in that scenario is that audience will be able to predict the talk and so wont feel connected. Even with same speech its good to add and remove parts to make it interesting.