How NOT To Steal The Thunder From Your Keynote Speaker.
If you don’t want to screw up the keynote speaker you just spent $15,000 on, then take a look a these four things that can make a huge difference on the way your speaker shows up and delivers a successful message to the audience.
Never ignore the written introduction the speaker gave you.
Not only did they spend countless hours making sure the introduction ties seamlessly into their message, it lets your audience know who they are, what golden nuggets they can expect to leave with, and what qualifies your speaker as an expert on the subject matter. Deciding to “wing it” and talking about the speaker’s main points, would be like going to a comedy club where the emcee summarizes all the jokes you’ll hear before they bring the comedian on. No suspense, no surprise. You have successfully thrown your speaker under the bus.
Never repeat “word for word” the written bio in the printed program (and still ignore the introduction they gave you).
For the attendees that like to glance into the program, they have already seen the speaker’s bio, have read it, and have a pretty good grasp of what they are going to hear over the next 45-60 minutes. Most of us have heard something like, “You’ll find Mr. Smith’s bio in our program. For those of you that have not read it, allow me to give you some background on our keynote speaker…” They proceed to read the bio from the printed program in its entirety. Unless you enjoy torturing your audience with information they already have in their hands (and taking away from the speaker’s time), don’t use the bio for the introduction.
Always give any feedback to the speaker or bureau if the introduction doesn’t fit with your production (or if it is just way too long).
In this situation, the speaker steals their own thunder via their introduction. I was hosting a conference where I introduced a five-minute video clip of the keynote speaker from the stage. I then had to run back to the production booth to read the “regular” introduction (which was five minutes long) as a voice over. For that extremely long voice over, the stage was empty. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any input on how the introduction was to go. Yes, it was really painful. The speaker and their PR firm designed the intro. More is NOT better when an audience is waiting to hear your speaker’s message. Without your input and advice on the introduction, you can waste up to 15 minutes of your audience’s time. Sometimes, there won’t be a “master of ceremonies” and all of the introductions will be done as a voice over (VOG). Most planners never want to read a blog or Twitter post that says, “How was the keynote?” “It was about five minutes long, but at least I know everything that’s on her resume.” Personally, I would rather sit down for some good old- fashioned electro-shock therapy than sit through an introduction that is too long. No single introduction will work for every audience. Consider working with your speaker on tailoring an intro that is specific for your group. Hey, they may have one just for you!
Don’t request a reel of all their media appearances to play as their video intro.
“Look how awesome our speaker is! For the next five minutes, we’ll show you all of the times he’s been on Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, The Today Show, and QVC.” Beware of using a media reel for your speaker’s introduction. If your speaker already has credibility, trying to build it more will just insult your audience. Besides, you already included that information in the program, right? Depending on the speaker, a video intro can make all the difference. In a conversation with John Truran from Keppler Speakers, he shared that videos, done correctly, re-create the moment for the audience. Imagine bringing up Apollo 13 Commander, Capt. Jim Lovell just after the audience has viewed highlights of the mission, or seeing Johnny Bench walk on stage right after his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Your audience will be taken back to that exciting moment in time and be ready to hear their message.
Steve Spangler, professional speaker and science genius (and a heck of a fun guy), posted a wonderful article on his blog about writing a great speaker introduction. Check it out here for some ideas coming from a speaker’s perspective. And yes, he is the man behind the Mentos Geyser Experiment.
Steve Spangler and his Mentos Geyser
A successful keynote requires a successful introduction. If you didn’t get one from the speaker, ask them for one. Or, you could just steal their thunder, wing it, and throw them under the bus.
Glenn Thayer is a professional presenter, conference moderator, voice talent, content delivery specialist, and on-camera spokesman. He can be contacted at (719) 473-6848 or via www.glennthayer.com.
Crossing Paths with The WorldGuy…
Friday, I was running down the trail at Pikes Peak (Barr Trail) with my brother when I saw a gigantic globe coming up the trail towards us.
To my surprise, it was WorldGuy (AKA Erik Bendl) and his dog on their trek to spread awareness and raise money for diabetes prevention and care. I got a quick interview with Erik right there on the trail.
Take a listen…
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Find out more about Erik and his cause at www.worldguy.org.
Mary Boone and Susan Radojevic at MPI WEC 2009
I had the privilege of being at WEC 2009 to listen in on the podcast recording of Mary Boone and Susan Radojevic talking about the Four Elements of Strategic Value (making the case for meetings). Give it a listen. You’ll be amazed at how much more effective meetings can be!
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For more information on Mary Boone, visit http://www.MaryBoone.com. For more information on Susan Radojevic, visit http://www.theperegrineagency.ca.
Betsy Myers at “Ask the Expert”
Here’s a clip from Betsy Myers right after her “ask the expert” session!
Glenn Talks To Ben Stein…
I had the chance to talk with Ben Stein at the MPI WEC 2009 about how conferences and meetings can help the economy. I love the fact that he “gets” the meetings industry, and he knows that it’s through meetings and conferences that we’ll see a recovery.
Connect with Glenn through social media
