There is nothing more challenging than performing poetry to an indifferent or belligerent audience but this experience can also teach you a lot. On Monday I had the pleasure of performing poetry with a varied group of professional poets and musicians at a sports bar. Here are some public speaking tips I learned for capturing an audience’s attention:
Ask for the audience’ attention
I learned a few public speaking tips including this one from an amazing poet who once told me to stop performing poetry for people unless they showed me respect. She told me that sometimes you have to ask for people’s attention. You don’t have to be rude about it, but you do have to be assertive. This is always a little intimidating for me so I always repeat a mantra to myself where I remind myself that I respect my work and others do too.
What you do before going on stage matters
One of the coolest things I ever did was take public speaking skills class because the first things that my teacher rid me of was my incessant need to apologize for my content, caused by my public speaking fear. He asked me, if you are not sure about what you are about to perform, why should someone else listen?
If you are performing poetry for a group of people who would rather be enjoying their drink and watching an ice hockey game, the worst thing you could ever do is indulge in your public speaking fear by apologize or act a little insecure as you walk on the stage.
Although you may be nervous, you have to appear confident. Don’t be arrogant or egotistic, but exude an air that you believe in what you do.
Be unique and trust your own style
I know everyone says be unique but this is the real key and I saw this on Monday where everyone had a different way of getting people to focus on them. For example I went on stage and outright demanded attention and actually asked 2 gentlemen to keep quiet and focus. A musician who came after me did not do that (even though they had started talking again)- instead she asked to share a story about why being there with them was a blessing to her and she was just grateful. Sharing a story it turns out was just as powerful as being assertive. Having your own unique style will often get people to sit up and listen. This taught me something: you can be soft spoken and exude confidence and command an audience; you can also be loud and outspoken and command an audience.
Be passionate in your delivery
After exuding all that confidence and asking for people’s attention, you have to back it up with something: your performance. Give it all you’ve got because you only have about 30 seconds before everyone goes back to talking and drinking.
Two tips I was given by my public speaking skills teacher:
1) Ditch jiggling earrings and bracelets when going on stage because they are distraction
2) Pause often during your performance and thank the audience after your performance
Here are some links to public speaking skills blogs that i find helpful:
Public speaking skills coach: http://coachlisab.blogspot.com/ (she is really great)
Executive speech coach: http://coachlisab.blogspot.com/
