From Magician To Speaker Part 10
By Quentin Reynolds

Tips On Giving a Better Presentation

In showbusiness, especially theatres, the perfromers don't mix with the audience either before or after the show. Actors have their own private bar known as the Green Room, reserved for theatre staff and selected friends.

When you perform at more informal situations, avoiding the audience contact before or after your performance isn't usually an option.

Turn that to your advantage. Make friends with your audience. Chat to them about their concerns, about the venue and the organisation.  You never know what useful information might crop up that you might be able to use.

More importantly you have at least a few friends in the audience.  In 1999 I attended a Brian Tracy seminar in Dublin with 900 people in the audience. I noticed him before the event started and went over to introduce myself and tell him how much I had enjoyed his audio
programmes over the years. That's all. It was the first time we met and we only spoke for about a minute.

He must have noticed me sitting near the front and during his presentation, in making a point he referred to me and said, "Just as I was saying to Quentin before we started."

Not only did it make me feel good but it also had a positive effect on the audience. It showed them that he is approachable and friendly.

Staying around for a little schmoozing after your presentation can do wonders for your bank balance. That's when people will come and talk with you and suggest they might book you
for their event. By all means give out business cards but better still get their contact information so's you can follow up with them.

Never assume that people know who you are or will remember you. When you meet someone and shake hands always state your name.  In your stories mention your name... "She said to me ...look Quentin..."

Make sure you arrive in plenty of time at the venue. Get the feel of the room, the layout, the visibility angles, the sound. Will curtains be drawn or is there a possibility that the sun will shine into the audience's eyes? What's the lighting like? Walk the stage area. How big is it? Do you
move around a lot? Do you stay on the platform or do you occasionally walk down into the audience?

If you are a man, do not carry loose change or keys in your pockets.

A good professional speaker's talk will be the same 96% of the time. Give yourself that 4% leeway for changes, freshness and any impromptu comments you might make.

Never read your talk. You can have a table with a sequence of tent cards on it. Each card has a key word for your next sequence.

If you use magic in your talk, I recommend you keep it to one effect and have that near the finish - but not the finish.

You must be clear what is your message. What is the one point you want to get across? As a magician you may be giving the talks in your community purely to generate business for your shows.  That's fine and that is the real reason you are there. But if that is blatantly obvious to your audience you'll come over like an pushy car salesman.

Far better to have some message in your talk like lessons you learned entertaining three years olds. But during your talk you have the opportunity to mention your magical skills and talents, so the sales pitch is very low key and the audience think booking you is their idea.

For example you might say something like... "Let me tell you what happened last week when I perfromed at Mary and Joe's wedding." Now you are telling them you are available to perfrom
at weddings.

Tape your presentations. You need to remove all the ums and ahs.  Every so often there is a tendency to add non-words to your shows or talks. Words like "you know", "like", "OK".

If you're a tad lazy and don't rehearse much you must at least know your opening and closing 60 seconds, forwards, backwards and inside-out.

© Quentin Reynolds. Quentin Reynolds works as both magician and speaker.
You can read about one of his programs at http://www.PsychicGameShow.com

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