Can You Hear Me At The Back?
It's a strange feeling. These shows are big logistic exercises. What music goes where? Which video to play in here? Where should the speakers stand? This uses all the technical skills I have garnered as a theatre director but one. At no point does it call on any ability to arouse or stir emotion.
Why speak in public?
These days when information can be disseminated at the touch of a button, why put ourselves through the terror of speaking in public at all. Why not just send a document?
And terror it is for some. Part of my job here ( and as a director) is handholding. Giving the speakers a confidence to face their audience and deliver the message.
For many it's just a data dump. Spewing out fact after fact, figure after figure for their audience and never once addressing the emotion.
When we speak, we can change how people feel. Often by how we say something more than by what we say. Tone, feel, delivery and behaviour are all a much stronger message than most content.
Think of Hitler. The power of his oratory. Think of Thatcher. Both delivered what for many were hard and unacceptable messages, and yet both are spellbinding to watch and to listen to. Obama is a current master of delivery. Clinton was too. Engaging their audience by how they deliver the message and not always by what the message is.
This is the most rewarding part of working with the speakers on a huge event like this. Helping them to take their real selves onto the stage. Encouraging them to think about how they can make people feel by how they speak rather than just dump information on them.
The joy of a good speech, of hearing someone who is impassioned by what they say, of hearing someone who has the power to move you by how they speak, is a truly wonderful thing.
And for the speaker it's a sure fire key to success
Sent from my iPhone
Comments
Post a Comment