Is there a difference between an after-dinner speaker and a comedian? There are certainly similarities – after all – they both “speak”, and both should aim to be funny! Yet there is a subtle difference… and it has nothing to do with which is “better” – it’s a case of which is is more suitable – given the type of event and the requirement of the organisers.

I am referring specifically to corporate events like sales conferences, AGMs, Awards and annual dinners of Associations and Institutes – and not to “sportsmen’s dinners” where “after-dinner speaker” can be a very loose description!

So what is the difference?

If the aim is simply to provide entertainment then a good comedian is certainly an option worth considering as an after-dinner speaker. However someone telling a string of unrelated “jokes” runs the “heard it before” risk – especially as many comedian/speakers tend to use “popular” stories that “do the rounds”. In addition, many comedians do not appreciate corporate sensibilities and will either use bad language or inappropriate material. Sadly at a recent Business Association dinner at which I was guest speaker their Chairman told me they now have a policy of never hiring comedians as after-dinner speakers after several bad experiences in the past. Caveat emptor!

The difference as I see it is that a “speaker” will have a “theme”, or stories to tell based on their experiences which will include insights or opinions which are (hopefully!) thought provoking and “interesting” ….  as well as being funny! They will usually base their speech around an area of expertise – whether this be related to their occupation or their achievements.  Thus many “speakers” are sportspeople, adventurers, business people or simply people who have had experiences that they can relate in an entertaining way. (Whisper it quietly – many “speakers” would like to be comedians – and often attempt to model their style and delivery! There is nothing wrong with that of course – both comedians and speakers can learn from each other.)

Another key difference is that a good “speaker” will usually attempt to make a speech relevant to the audience, and should do their homework before each event so that they can personalise their remarks to include topical references to the location and audience. Many comedians  who market their services as “after-dinner speakers” will perform an “act as known” with little or no relevance to the audience. Very often they will simply appear to perform at the end of a dinner – similar to a cabaret.

A good after-dinner speaker should also be a part of the event from the start – and even before! Not only should they research the event and the audience (and speak to the client if necessary), but should always ask to attend the dinner – ideally seated next to a senior person who can continue to brief them during the meal.

On the differences between stand-up comedy and humorous speaking, American speaker and “humorist” Rich Hopkins puts it like this:

“I see four distinct differences that keep these two skill sets separate:
1) Intent: Stand-up comedy’s goal is to create nothing but laugh after laugh. Humorous speaking will focus on an overall message, life story or call to action, which is punctuated by comedy.
2) Rhythm: Effective stand-up comedians look for laughter 4-8 times per minute, whereas effective humorous speakers may have some minutes with several laughs sandwiched around several minutes with some or no laughter, depending on the topic, setting, and overall message.
3) Appropriateness: Stand-up comedy commonly steps over normal bounds of decency in both topic choice and language usage. Humorous speakers rarely have that luxury.
4) Expectations: Stand-up comics face a crowd demanding they be not just funny, but rolling on the floor funny. Speakers use humor to soften reality, provide a light moment, and give their audience an opportunity to relax, and allow the important points of the speech to sink in.”

So it’s all down to which is more suitable for the event in question. A speaker who tries to incorporate a thoughtful message can often fall flat when an audience wants nothing more than a good laugh. Likewise a comedian or cabaret performer can be inappropriate at a business event where the audience is looking for something more than just comedy.

I have often wondered if all the pre-event research I do is worth it – and whether I should just have a comedy speech I can repeat ad hoc – “off the shelf” as it were! However I recently received this comment from an attendee at a dinner I had spoken at – forwarded to me by the organiser (following annual dinner of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Yorkshire):

“…the after dinner speaker was one of the best I can remember at the dinner. What I liked, apart from his relaxed attitude and his phenomenal memory was the fact that he had done some homework to make his talk relevant to his audience. Too many speakers do not do that. ” Jim G.

The organiser commented: “Bearing in mind Jim has been to every dinner for the last 20 odd years his praise must mean you were excellent!”

So that’s why I do it! (Always nice to have such feedback from members of the audience – not just the organisers!)

In a nutshell then – if your aim is simply to entertain or get laughs – hire a comedian or speciality act. If it is a corporate event where a blend of message, insight and humour is more appropriate – hire a “business friendly” speaker who is a “humourist” rather than a comedian.

If you are a comedian or speaker – have you an opinion on this? I’d love to hear your views! The same applies if you are an event organiser or speaker bureau  – do share your success (or disaster!) stories …  hopefully with names withheld if the latter!

If you are looking for an entertaining keynote or after-dinner speaker – please get in touch to discuss your event!

Office:  +44 1453 828568
Mobile: +44 7774 675222
email: john@johnsimonett.co.uk
website: www.johnsimonett.co.uk

(This is an edited and up-dated version of an earlier post)

AFTER DINNER SPEAKING: Cinderella or Ugly Sister?

That may be a provocative title for an article – but from personal experience there is no doubt that After-Dinner speakers are often considered the poor cousins of the “business speaking” world!

Why should this be? Well for a start, the majority of business speakers are trainers, consultants, motivational speakers and keynoters. Very few  would consider themselves after-dinner speakers.

One reason is that the environment in which the after-dinner speaker performs is not an orderly, classroom style conference setting – with an attentive audience and the comfort of PowerPoint slides to aid your presentation! You’re on your own in front of what can often be a challenging, easily distracted and potentially unruly crowd – whose feedback should be laughter but can also be a rising buzz of conversation if their attention is not held! I know of one speaker who says he “would never speak in a room where alcohol is present” – in which case the after-dinner market is definitely not for him!

In addition, speaking after dinner is not the time to impart knowledge – it is a time for humour, laughter and relaxation. While it is possible to have a “theme” to weave a speech around, audiences who have wined and dined are not looking to be informed – mainly entertained. As such speaking in the after-dinner slot can be perceived as lightweight, fluffy and inconsequential by most “content-rich” business speakers! (Though of course all good speakers should use humour in their presentations – if – as the saying goes – “they want to get paid”…)

Yet the after-dinner market is a huge and potentially lucrative one which all speakers should consider developing as a part of their offering. There are of course some pitfalls to be aware of before you can think of adding it to your portfolio, but if you have the aptitude and aspiration to try it then you will be able to add another income stream to your speaking career!

AFTER-DINNER SPEAKER OR COMEDIAN?

So what are the skill sets you need – and do you need to be a comedian? In fact – isn’t an “after-dinner speaker” just a glorified comedian by a more dignified name? Many comedians market themselves as after-dinner speakers – yet there is a subtle difference – and it’s not a case of which is “better” – more a case of which is more appropriate for the event. We all love to laugh and a good comedian can be a real asset – yet sadly at a recent Business Association dinner at which I was guest speaker their Chairman told me they now have a policy of never hiring comedians as after-dinner speakers after several bad experiences in the past. Caveat emptor!

With an emphasis on humour and entertainment you may think you need to be a “joke teller” – not so!  In fact the wonderful Jeremy Nicholas offers a great bit of advice for after-dinner speakers: “don’t tell jokes”! (By the way – if you want to use humour in your talks – whatever type of speaking you do – you should contact Jeremy for one to one coaching – or book him to speak at your event).

Telling traditional jokes (set-up, punchline, topper) runs the “heard it before” risk – especially as many popular jokes and stories “do the rounds” (the exception being “one liners” – which are short enough not to lose the interest of the audience – as you might do during a long joke where the punchline is known!). Bob Monkhouse makes a good point in his excellent book “Just Say a Few Words” on speaking with humour. He says that an old joke can be given a new lease of life if restructured and applied in a topical way to a person or event. Thus an “old joke” should be thought of as a “classic joke” and used in a way that lets the audience know you acknowledge its heritage and you give a reason for revisiting it!

So while it IS possible to restructure an old joke to fit a topical (or event-specific) situation – in general they are best avoided.  Your humour should be personal, based on your experiences and your “research” about the audience. Basing a speech on yourself guarantees it will be original!  Any “message” should be kept light – just enough to add some substance without getting too deep. My own personal feeling is that the ratio of humour to message should be 90/10 in an after-dinner speech.

A speaker who tries to incorporate an in-depth message can often fall flat when an audience wants nothing more than a good laugh. Likewise a comedian or cabaret performer can be inappropriate at a business event where the audience is looking for something more than just comedy. A thoughtful blend of the two is what is required – delivered with panache, style and good taste!

Another key difference is that a good “speaker” should make a speech relevant to the audience, and should do their homework before each event so that they can personalise their remarks. Many comedians  who market their services as “after-dinner speakers” (as well as “speciality acts” like magicians, ventriloquists and mind readers) will perform an “act as known” with little or no relevance to the audience. Very often they will simply appear to perform at the end of a dinner – similar to a cabaret.

For this reason a good after-dinner speaker should be a part of the event from the start – and even before! I always issue a briefing sheet, and ask for a guest list and table plan so I know everything there is to know about the organisation, event and audience. I always ask to be seated next to a senior person who can continue to brief me about the audience and the event during the meal.

Many “speakers” are sportspeople, adventurers, business people or simply people from professions who have had experiences that they can relate in an entertaining way. (Whisper it quietly – many “speakers” would like to be comedians – and often attempt to model their style and delivery! There is nothing wrong with that of course – both comedians and speakers can learn from each other.)

Thus many of the speakers on the “after-dinner circuit” are known just by their professions…. there’s the Prison Governor from Glasgow, the Air Traffic Controller from Birmingham, The Bank Manager from York, the Chest Surgeon from Bury, the Gynaecologist from Hull and the Scrap Metal Dealer from Skegness! As diverse a selection of professions as you could ever imagine! All base their humour – loosely – around their profession – though if truth be told there is a certain amount of “artistic licence” employed in the interest of making their stories funnier – and why not!

So you don’t need to be a comedian – but you do need the right humour fundamentals. I would say you will know if you have the aptitude to be an after-dinner speaker if you have “funny bones”. By that I mean a humorous outlook, a quick wit and a likeable warm personality. If you are more the serious, intellectual type you may need to lighten up a bit first!  The good news is – humour can be learnt – seek out a good “humour coach” (like Jeremy Nicholas), or enroll on a comedy course – scary, but there’s no better way to learn to swim than jumping in at the deep end!

After-dinner speaking is a huge responsibility as it is often the very last part of an event – and thus one the audience will remember – hopefully for the right reasons! There is nothing better than holding an audience “in the palm of your hand” – involving them all and making them laugh – it’s a drug! Try it!

If you are a speaker and have a comment on the above – please leave me some feedback!

Bibliography
Here are some of my favourite books – packed with wisdom and advice “from the speaking trenches”!

“Just Say a Few Words” by Bob Monkhouse
“Janner’s Complete Speechmaker” by Greville Janner QC, MP
“The Public Speaker’s Bible” by Stuart Turner
“Humour and Eloquence in Public Speaking” by Edward Hegarty
“One Liners for Business Speeches” by Mitch Murray”
“Stand and Deliver” by my good friend and Speaker Agent Alan Cleary
“The Complete Public Speaker” by the one and only (and my speaking hero) Gyles Brandreth

Today being Hallow’een prompts me to write about the time a skeleton once delivered a sermon from the pulpit of Gloucester Cathedral… in front of 500 witnesses! Yes really! I know – because I was responsible for it happening! Yet this is not a just blog about that strange occurrence …  it is actually a blog about “being memorable”… !

First – some background….

In the early eighties I was Head of PE at The King’s School , Gloucester. The school was one of the seven “King’s Schools” established by King Henry VIII in 1541 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. King’s Schools were often associated with Cathedrals, with King’s Gloucester being no exception –  having close ties with Gloucester Cathedral, one of the Anglican faith’s great outposts, and a pillar of the Church of England. Much of school life centred around religion, and daily worship took place for the whole school every day with morning assemblies being held in the Cathedral. While being a beautiful and spectacular setting, it was nevertheless ironic that a member of the staff should be a self-confessed free-thinking humanist, rationalist and atheist – i.e. me!

Because of its close ties with the Cathedral, the school had a “chaplain” who oversaw daily worship and the general spiritual well-being of the pupils. Although he was the principal leader of morning “chapel” – he would often ask other members of staff to take charge and help him out by likewise leading a service – usually with a traditional format – prayers, a bible reading, a hymn and a “sermon” based around a moral message from the day’s religious text. It was inevitable I would be asked to help out!

Luckily for me…  the chaplain and I got on well…  we were the respective coaches of the school 1st  and 2nd Rugby teams – and consequently spent a lot of time together.  Not only that – but he was a progressive and forward-thinking member of the staff, open to new ideas and ways to engage the pupil’s interest and stimulate discussion. So when I said “OK – I’ll lead a service – but I’m not religious – so it won’t be what you’re expecting” he said “That’s fine – as long as it has a “moral” and makes them think – I’ll trust you!”

I started from the standpoint that the “traditional” services had no effect on the pupils – it seemed to me they switched off their critical faculties when faced with the same-old same-old  rhetoric they had heard before. No-one seemed to speak afterwards about the topics raised at morning chapel. So I decided it was time to push the boundaries and do something that would shake them up! Thus it was that I became known for delivering what could only be described as “wacky” services. Three in particular stand out.

My first attempt was based on my interest in magic – I decided that I would do some tricks in the pulpit! So – in my track suit (ready for my first PE lesson) I mounted the steps with some rope, scissors and a pack of cards…. and yes – some trepidation – knowing that a few hundred years ago I could have been strung up for heresy, blasphemy and sacrilege – or all three!

I performed some tricks as best I could – and took as my theme the “miracles” of Jesus… putting forward the possibility that they may have been early forms of the illusions we see entertainers perform today. “Could Jesus have been the first member of the Magic Circle?” I asked them to consider (while waiting for a bolt of lightning to strike me down!). After all – when you see the amazing feats of “psychological illusionist” Derren Brown today – this is not such an outrageous question to ask!  (Well – back in 1983 it was – especially from the pulpit of one of Christianity’s great strongholds!). Suffice to say – there was an enormous amount of discussion afterwards – not only from the pupils – but also from the staff!  I knew I was on to something – so my next foray into the pulpit pushed the boundaries even further!

The Lent term was nearly over, and the Easter holidays beckoned, at what is a time of great significance for the Christian faith, so I decided to take the skepticism of “Doubting Thomas” as my theme.

Picture the scene …  Mr. Simonett is in the pulpit….  he announces the first hymn and the pupils dutifully look it up in their hymnbooks … the great organ starts to play and the first verse is piously sung.  Suddenly – during the second verse…  a gorilla steps out from behind one of the stone pillars and shuffles to the centre of the main aisle – faces the congregation – beats his chest – and slowly walks off to the other side and out via a side door! Bedlam ensues! The kids were giggling and laughing – the singing of the hymn forgotten – though the organist (who was not in on it) played on!

I completely ignored it as if nothing had happened – and after the hymn asked one of the prefects to give the reading – which featured the description of Doubting Thomas at the time of the resurrection (Easter – geddit?!) – who famously refused to believe Christ had risen from the dead because he hadn’t witnessed it himself. (Good for you Thomas!)

So after the reading – I asked “did any of you see anything unusual during the hymn?” Of course a forest of hands went up! “Well” I said, “What I want you to do when you go home is to drop into a conversation with your Mums and Dads about what happened in school today is that during morning chapel a gorilla walked across the front of the Cathedral during the hymn! Then come back tomorrow and tell me if they believed you!” My point being (and cleverly made I thought!) was that – like Doubting Thomas – sometimes things that seem impossible could actually be true….  and just because you haven’t directly experienced them yourself doesn’t mean they didn’t happen – you have to seek evidence for your beliefs!

The response was amazing – the next day I was inundated with pupils coming up to me telling me the reactions of their parents…  some who didn’t believe them – and some who did – especially those who had asked if it was “one of Mr. Simonett’s services” – my reputation by now had started to precede me! (By the way…  the “gorilla” was a colleague from the PE Department who had been press-ganged into helping me out – in a fancy dress costume I had hired – and thus equally culpable of heresy!)

Emboldened by this…. in my last term as a teacher at King’s I decided to go out with a bang…..

I was racking my brains for “something spectacular” for my final service… and it came to me during a biology lesson (I also taught Human Biology) in which I had been using the life-sized plastic skeleton to discuss the workings of the human body. It struck me that it would make a great prop in a service! This was only the germ of the idea – at first I just thought it would just create interest – but I had no “motivation” or moral story to use it with.

Then I came up with the idea of it being an “old boy” of the school – who had wasted his opportunities at school – and look what had become of him! Then – bingo – because the jaw was attached to a spring that would close the mouth if you opened it… I thought – why not find a way to animate it – make it talk – and give the sermon?  I just had to find a way to do this unobtrusively…! Nylon fishing line was the answer! So I bought some of the thinnest fishing line available – and attached it to the bottom  jaw – pulling the line made the skeleton appear to speak…. so far so good. Then it came to me that in fact – the nylon line could turn it into a virtual “puppet”!

So picture the scene once more: The congregation is hushed in reverential silence under the soaring vaulted ceiling of this centuries old centre of Christian worship. Mr. Simonett walks up the steps to the pulpit, in his track suit. It’s his last service….  Summer Term 1985. Hymn. Reading (can’t remember what!). Then me: “Boys and Girls – today I have asked an old boy of the school to give the sermon on my behalf. Here he is”. With that I bent down and picked up the skeleton (which had been lying on the floor of the pulpit) and hooked the top of the skull onto it’s metal frame which I had positioned behind me, wheeled it forward, and flopped the two bony arms over the ornate bible stand, a bit like the Prime Minister at PMQs! I said nothing more – just went back down the steps – leaving the skeleton “in charge”!  To say there was bedlam in the Cathedral is an understatement…  a great buzz of conversation went up – with the kids wondering what the hell was going on!

As the buzz died down…. there was a dramatic pause – then suddenly … the skeleton moved! It turned to the left and looked at one side of the audience for a few seconds – then turned to the right to look at the other half! I can still hear the laughter that this bizarre sight created! Then…  it started talking – with the jaw moving up and down – and in a creaky, spooky voice told them how he had failed to make the most of his time at school – and that they should all realise that time is precious and they would soon be moving on…  and to make the most of their preparation for life in the wider world…  otherwise you could end up like him!

Yes you guessed it – it was all done with the help of my trusty PE Department colleague again! I had control of the jaw with one hand, with a nylon thread running down the stairs to under the pulpit where I crouched with the pulpit microphone in the other hand – timing my script to pulling on the thread to make the skeleton “speak”! My colleague was tasked with making the skeleton “move” – with two threads attached to the shoulders so pulling on one made it turn to the left – and vice versa! It was all rehearsed late the night before – after Evensong – with the two of us hoping none of the Cathedral staff would ask what we were doing in the pulpit with a skeleton!

My script was played for laughs if I remember – full of dreadful puns and plays on words to do with bones and dead bodies! (The only one I remember was related to the Australian rugby playing brothers of the time – Mark and Glen Ella…  my opening words being – in my best imitation of a spooky quavering voice – “Good Morning Boys and Girls….my name is Pat Ella….” (I doubt any of them “got” the pun – given the consternation that pervaded!). The best compliment I had was from the Headmaster himself – who said to me afterwards “John – that was brilliant. It’s the only time I have ever felt like leading a round of applause for a sermon in the Cathedral!”  As it happened – he didn’t – but it was praise indeed!

So was it a powerful message? Err… no. It was a “bit of fun”. Was it memorable? You betcha! To this day I meet former pupils – say in a supermarket – in their 40’s – with kids in tow – “hello Sir!” they say (don’t call me Sir – please!) “How are you?” they continue…  and often “I still remember your skeleton sermon – how you got away with that we never knew!”  They’re right – in today’s world of social media – someone would have taken a picture with a smart phone and tweeted it – and I would have faced the sack – and eternal damnation!! But at least it would have been memorable!

And that’s my point.

Maybe there were the beginnings of my quest to be a “memorable” speaker in my post-teaching career. Not just a competent, slick and professional speaker – that’s what an audience expects – but a memorable one! One who’s different, one who finds ways to engage an audience’s imagination, one who pushes the boundaries  – and one who’s not bland or boring! In fact it applies to everyone – we should all make the most of every opportunity to create “moments of magic” that will linger in the memory long after the event. Sometimes these are called “flashbulb memories” – usually associated with major news events where we all remember “what we were doing at the time we heard about it”…. but why not try and create such moments ourselves?

I love the slogan of an American I.T. company at whose conference I was lucky enough to be asked to speak at in Cyprus – they are called Extreme Networks – and their slogan is simply “Be Extreme!”. That’s a good motto to live by – don’t be bland – be memorable – Be Extreme!

It’s a theme I will examine in future blogs!

If you are looking for a speaker or conference host who is “memorable” and can ensure the success of your next event – please get in touch!

Office:  +44 1453 828568
Mobile: +44 7774 675222
email: john@johnsimonett.co.uk
website: www.johnsimonett.co.uk

Likewise – if you are a King’s School Gloucester pupil from the 1980s and can remember any of my “whacky” services – please leave me a comment below!

OK before you think I’m weird – some sort of masochistic pain freak… let me explain!

For a start – modern dentistry is (virtually!) pain free… and the fact is I share with my dentist Imi an interest in public speaking, and I am always stimulated by our brief discussions – before my mouth is numb and filled with swabs, vacuums and drills! I told him I had used a discussion we had had on a previous visit as a stimulus for a series of blog posts on “nerves when speaking” (basically I get nervous, he doesn’t!) – see here.

Anyway – after today’s visit to have some fairly complex root canal work done – he said “go on then – do a blog post on root canals”! Challenge accepted Imi!

Well this is not exactly about root canals …  but is stimulated by the way you work!

The title of this post may seem strange…. but as a speaker I study and learn from other performers, and indeed other professions not related to entertainment. After all – a dentist is “performing” with great skill as well!

I believe the secret of all great performers – actors, comedians, musicians – as well as other professions like dentists, lawyers and  doctors – lies in an almost undefinable quality – combining confidence, experience, charisma and an utter command of the knowledge and skills required in their chosen field. It is what defines “professionalism” – whatever the actual “job” of the person is.

The reason I mentioned Michael McIntyre as an example is because I can remember when he first burst on the scene as an unknown yet “fully formed” comedian – or so it seemed. It was in a Royal Variety performance in 2006 – where he commanded the stage and delivered a funny, engaging performance, full of his trademark observational comedy about the minutiae and “everyday quirks” of modern life that we now know him for. The thing is – looking back, his actual material seems very trivial and inconsequential – something that his fellow (and less successful!) comedians have criticised him for.  However it is not so much his material that impressed me – but his utter confidence and “chutzpah” – totally at ease on stage and grabbing the audience by the scruff of the neck! I remember thinking “Wow – where did he come from”. Of course the truth is – he had spent many years as an unknown on “the circuit” honing his skills – and his charisma, confidence and stage presence were the result of many previous performances learning his craft. (If you have time you can watch his debut performance here.)

Likewise – I am a friend of Mike d’Abo – lead singer and songwriter of the sixties rock band Manfred Mann – still touring and performing as The Manfreds. I have seen Mike do his stuff many times and what always impresses me is the slickness of the band’s performance, the way they strut their stuff – there is almost a swagger about the way they move and perform. It communicates to the audience “We know what we are doing. We are in control. We have done this thousands of times. We know our material inside put. You are in safe hands”. Mike in particular is great at “working the audience” and puts his heart and soul into his delivery of many iconic songs from the sixties. (see here)

Audiences can sense when a performer is in charge – knowing they can relax and enjoy the show. As a speaker I know the same thing applies. Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Outliers” elaborated on the principle of the “10,000 hour rule” – stating that true mastery of any profession can only be attained after 10,000 hours of study, deliberate practice and performance in order to become “world class”.  The good news is that there are short cuts – which lie in the concept of “modelling” – that is, studying and adopting the behaviour, body language and mannerisms of other performers and incorporating them into your own performances.

In another of his seminal books (“Blink” – The Power of Thinking Without Thinking) Gladwell also analyses the way in which we often make decisions in milliseconds (literally in the “blink of an eye”) – based on non-verbal cues such as body language, appearance and general attitude – and which often prove to be correct. All great performers have this ability to influence their audiences – even before they “do” anything! It is almost a “magical” quality! Which is why I take inspiration from Michael McIntyre (and most comedians), Manfred Mann (and most musicians) – and Imi my dentist!

In effect – the performers mentioned above have built their careers not just by learning the skills required for their craft, but they have continued to hone and refine them by practising them in performance in front of live audiences (which include my dentist!). The experience gained from thousands of such performances is what produces a true “expert”. Not for nothing did Aristotle say “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” He knew repetition was the key to acquiring greatness in any walk pf life.

However repetition by itself is not the route to success. As  my P.E. lecturer at College made us realise – the generally accepted adage “practice makes perfect” is not a truism. Undirected or misguided practice does not produce excellence. He told us to always use the phrase “Perfect practice makes perfect”. In other words – make sure you are practising the right thing the right way – and if you’re not sure – seek expert help!

So what has my dentist’s root canal work got to do with this?  Simply put, Imi’s work is so sure, skilful and precise, his knowledge and analysis so great, his communication skills so fulsome and his manner so confident – that I can relax, knowing – as I said above – “I am in safe hands”.

That has to be the ultimate aim of any professional – whatever the actual job they do!

If you are looking for a speaker or conference host who has the confidence to ensure the success of your next event – please get in touch!

Office:  +44 1453 828568
Mobile: +44 7774 675222
email: john@johnsimonett.co.uk
website: www.johnsimonett.co.uk

The death of Ronnie Corbett announced today (March 31st, 2016) brings to an end one of the most popular and endearing comedy double acts the UK has ever known. Alongside his partner Ronnie Barker, The Two Ronnies show ran for 16 years on the BBC and regularly drew audiences of 17 million.

So what was it about him that endeared him to UK TV audiences?

As I see it, he embodied the three elements of any successful performer – or speaker: Likeability, Stage Presence and Material.

Likeability:
I do not know of anyone who disliked Ronnie Corbett. Do you? He exuded a warmth and friendliness that made him appear down to earth, natural and easy-going. It’s hard to pin down exactly what he did to achieve this – but it has to do with that big grin and idiosyncratic chuckle, the ever-present twinkle in his eye and the whimsical, self deprecating persona that he portrayed so well. Never appearing to take himself too seriously, Ronnie was the genial Uncle or the bloke in the pub that everybody wants to know,  with a ready smile, a merry quip or a funny story to tell that cheers everybody up. The sort of person who makes you feel comfortable, who is always welcoming and who makes you feel good to be with – in other words a “life enhancer”.

Stage Presence:
Ronnie was the perfect illustration of the fact that physical stature has nothing to do with stage presence. At 5ft 1 inch he was one of the smallest men in show business, yet he described his stature as “the cornerstone” of his success and said he had taken “full advantage” of it. His confidence and assuredness let everyone know he was “in charge” and that we were in safe hands. He had a remarkable ability to create an intimacy with a TV audience that made it seem he was just chatting to you at home – as demonstrated by his rambling stories “in the chair” that featured in every show.

Material:
I put this last as most people think that a comedian is made by his “material”. Not so – Likeability and Stage Presence come first – in my opinion! If an audience likes you – and is comfortable in your “presence” – then the “material” is much easier to deliver! In fact – Ronnie is the perfect example that material is not in fact the be-all of comedy, as much of the material he used could be described as “corny”. Yet his charm and delivery of it made this a strength, not a weakness. We loved him for it! Few comedians could deliver his material and get the reaction he did. What made him so appealing was his own obvious delight in spinning a yarn, involving many asides and diversions, and getting many laughs along the way before the “punchline”. A rare skill indeed. I heard his producer speaking today on Radio 5  discussing the infamous “Four Candles” sketch, and he commented that as a “script” it wasn’t very funny to read. However – even though Ronnie Barker delivered the lines which revealed the “Fork Handles” misinterpretation – it was Ronnie Corbett who carried the sketch, with his reactions, impeccable timing, facial expressions and body language making it a “classic” and one of the all time great comedy TV routines.

So material is important yes – but there is far more to a successful performance as a comedian – or as a speaker – than just having good material!

Finally – a personal recollection of working “with” Ronnie. In the early part of my career as a speaker (mid 90’s!) I was compering a corporate evening at Blenheim Palace where Ronnie was booked as the after-dinner speaker. I can remember meeting him beforehand – which was interesting in itself – as I am 6ft 5 inches tall he only came up to just above my elbow! After agreeing the wording of his introduction I duly announced him to the gathering. The event was in the Long Library at Blenheim and with no stage Ronnie stood at the far end of what is a long narrow room – never the best layout for a speaker – especially one who would not be easy to see from tables at the back! This photo shows the setting:

Ronnie’s opening words immediately created a rapport with the audience: “Ladies and gentlemen – I am delighted to be your speaker this evening but I must confess I am always nervous when standing in front of such a massive organ”….  As you can see the Blenheim “Organ” is the main feature of the Long Library – and Ronnie’s unerring instinct to feature it in his opening remark got him off to a great start – though not the greatest “joke” it was topical and relevant to the event and endeared him to the audience. While I do not remember the material he used – I do remember watching the audience and seeing them constantly smiling – and laughing – and utterly absorbed in Ronnie’s speech.

So RIP Ronnie. Small in stature but a giant in your field . You will be sorely missed.

As discussed in a previous post – most people are more afraid of speaking in public than death! If you want to know how to appear confident, poised and nerve-free – read on!

OK admission time!  Note the word “appear”! The fact is – it is good to have a certain amount of “nervous energy” before any performance – sporting, entertaining or speaking! What we call  “Nerves” is simply the result of adrenaline getting you ready to do your best – it is your friend – and you should be grateful for it! (Tip: use the word “excited” to describe your feelings – which is more positive than “nervous”! Re-framing your anxiety into something positive and exciting, and focusing less on the potential for things to go wrong can work wonders for your confidence!)

So what is the solution to “appearing” confident and nerveless? Simple! Just “pretend”you are!

Sorry if you were expecting a miracle “cure” for nerves – but this technique works just as well!  The good thing is…  “pretending” you are confident can get you through a seemingly difficult speaking engagement – and the more you pretend, the more you will learn how to do it for real!  The audience will not know the difference if you pretend well enough!

Here’s how to do it:

Firstly: watch and study good speakers, especially comedians and entertainers. Watch their body language, see how they have a “swagger” to the way they walk on stage and how this communicates confidence, poise and utter comfort in what they do. They “own” the stage! Malcolm Gladwell in his book “Blink” says we make a judgement about a person in miliseconds….  based on non verbal cues – especially body language. Have a picture in your mind of the way successful performers behave – absorb their characteristics and “model” them!  Adopt their confident behaviour – their “chutzpah” – and you are off to a flying start before you even utter a word! Be enthusiastic: enthusiasm is infectious and makes an audience relax and want to join in – knowing they are “in safe hands”. While you may be terrified – your audience will be fooled into thinking you’re not if you imitate the persona of a confident speaker well enough! I often say to myself before I’m introduced “be bouncy, sparkle and SMILE”!

Something else to remember is “you’re on before you’re on”! From the moment you arrive all your interactions with your client and their guests must communicate your charm, warmth, poise and professionalism. This is especially important if you are attending the dinner as a guest before speaking (which I always do, as this is when I can chat to my fellow guests and pick up information that I can add to my speech). This means the audience have up to two hours to observe you – and they will – knowing you are the “guest speaker” so their curiosity is piqued!  So don’t look and behave like a miserable sod! Make sure you also adopt positive body language at the table during the meal! Smile, chat to your fellow guests – and try not to look too serious – which can easily happen if you are mentally rehearsing! Another tip I picked up from Alan Wright (North East radio presenter and after-dinner speaker) is that if you are only drinking water (I never drink alcohol before speaking) you can look a bit boring – as if you are not “joining in” the festivities! He suggested having a glass of red wine in front of you as it shows up better than white wine – and a glass of water next to it for you to drink!

Secondly, know your material. I am not describing a technique to make you appear to be an expert in something when you’re not – that would be dishonest! As described further on – it is a method to help you in coping with nerves and confidence – not in embellishing your actual content! In particular – your opening is crucial to set the tone and establish a rapport. You must research, write, learn by heart and rehearse the first 30 seconds of what you are going to say so it is flawless and second nature! ! Once you are up and running and the audience has decided you know what you are doing, they will accept you and relax – and so will you!

Thirdly, in your pre-event preparation, VISUALISE the talk. See it going well – as vividly as you can. Make it seem real! It has been said the brain finds it difficult to differentiate between a vividly imagined experience and the real thing.  So visualise a successful talk – with everyone loving what you do, laughing in the right places and hanging on your every word!  Vividly use your imagination to “see” yourself speaking confidently and with total control…. engage as many senses as you can to picture the room, the audience, their reaction, the lighting, the smell, the temperature – everything! Employ as many visual and physical cues as possible. I do this almost from the instant I receive an enquiry for a speaking engagement – often months before!

As the date approaches I do it with greater intensity, and when I actually arrive at a venue I go straight to the room and study the layout so I can get my imagination working on a successful performance. Here’s the thing – by visualising a successful speech – several times (the more the better) – you are in effect doing the speech in your mind.  This means when you come to do it “for real” – you will have already done it where it has gone “brilliantly” – in your imagination!  Thus doing it for real won’t be for the first time!

French pharmacist, hypnotist and pioneer of the use of “autosuggestion” Dr. Emile Coué had this to say:

“We possess within us a force of incalculable power, which, when we handle it unconsciously is often prejudicial to us. If on the contrary we direct it in a conscious and wise manner, it gives us  mastery of ourselves.” He believed that in any conflict between the will and imagination, that our imagination is always stronger. It is therefore probably true to say that the undeniable power of hypnosis and hypnotherapy have more to do with helping people to unleash the power of their imagination, rather than “mumbo jumbo”.

“Mental practice” is a form of autosuggestion, and although it is a well known tool for athletes and sportspeople, it is just as effective for speakers. I find this works especially well just before you nod off to sleep – run through the speech – imagine it going well – and it will seep into your mind as something you know and are comfortable with. It primes your sub-conscious to work on it while you slumber! The same applies to when you wake up – in that dozy period before you get up – wallow in the imagined laughter and applause!

A note on body language:

Harvard Psychologist Amy Cuddy in her TED talk (the second most viewed of all TED talks) describes how our physiology and behaviour affects our attitude, and can cause changes to our brain chemistry. Her research showed that simply adopting powerful body language can significantly increase the testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain. Cuddy suggests that our attitudes often follow from our behaviours, as opposed to the other way around. That means assuming the body language of a powerful person can make you feel confident. She outlines the concept of the “power pose” – making your body as large as possible, and how adopting a position with arms outstretched for a few minutes before you’re  “on” can greatly affect how you feel – and how you perform!

What’s more, Cuddy says, adopting the body language of a powerful person changes the way other people see and act toward you, which in turn reinforces your confident behavior. Despite the controversy surrounding her findings (relating to failed “replication” tests carried out by other researchers) I know from personal experience that standing tall, plastering a smile on my face, using expansive gestures and looking the audience in the eye makes me feel good – and feel confident! This communicates to the audience in ways I don’t understand – but it works!

You can read Cuddy’s response to the criticism HERE.

As Cuddy sums it up: “When our body language is confident and open, other people respond in kind, unconsciously reinforcing not only their perception of us but also our perception of ourselves.” She describes the principle in a variation of the well known phrase “fake it til you make it” – her take being “fake it til you become it” – in other words if you impersonate a more confident speaker by acting the part, you will eventually become the part.

The problem with the word “fake” – I feel – is that it seems to indicate a dishonest pretence of competence. Unfortunately … it might just be that you are NOT not in fact suitably qualified, knowledgeable or experienced enough for the task in hand!  In which case I’m afraid no amount of positive body language can give you expertise! You must study, research and “know your subject”. This was addressed by author Roger Hamilton in a blog post called “Fake it until you make it.” – Why is this the worst advice EVER?

However I feel this is to misinterpret what Amy Cuddy is saying. Her advice is more to do with acquiring confidence in the delivery of material that you already have knowledge of and are competent to present, as well as to give you confidence in stressful situations such as job interviews where you have the necessary skills for the job – but may lack the chutzpah to convince an employer of this!

The technique as described is designed to impart confidence rather than competence. So, this means “Fake it (i.e. confidence) til you become it” is perfect advice!  I prefer to describe it as “Assume it til you own it” – as “assume” is a milder version of “fake” – without the negative connotations! “Own it” refers to acquiring the competence through study and hard work! You can read blogger Jeffrey Davis’ views on this here: Confidence: Make it. Don’t Fake It

He attributes the origins of  the “fake it” principle to a quote by Aristotle, who observed that “Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a certain way” – if you’ll forgive the inherent sexism of the Ancient Greeks! In another take on the subject Aristotle also famously said “we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

American psychologist William James was the first psychologist of the modern era to describe how behaviour and actions influence mood, describing it as the “As If” principle. Namely – behaving “as if” you had the desired qualities you would eventually assume them – which is exactly what Amy Cuddy is saying! This was also developed by Richard Wiseman in his book  “Rip It Up“.

The effects of powerful body language are further examined in Amy Cuddy’s brilliant book “Presence” – where she elaborates on the “power pose” concept outlined in her TED talk mentioned above. Despite the controversy surrounding the significance of her findings…  if it works – it works – and that’s good enough for me! 

Here are 3 recent screen captures from my TV of some British performers who have either read it – or are adopting their Power Poses naturally! From Top Right going anti-clockwise: Russell Kane, Miranda Hart, Jimmy Tarbuck …. plus… from my archives – me!!  I am glad I am practicing what I preach!

Want to speak with confidence? Try it!

Are you a speaker who has experience of “coping with nerves”? If so please share your observations in the comments box below!

If you are looking for a speaker or conference host to ensure the success of your next event – please get in touch!

Previous post: Stage Fright or Stage Fight?  The effects of adrenaline

Next post: Ronnie Corbett: Lessons for Speakers  Musings on hearing of the death of the great Ronnie Corbett in March 2016.

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In prehistoric times two hormones geared us up for action – either to fight off enemies and predators – or to run away from the danger they posed. Known as adrenaline and noradrenaline (or epinephrine and norepinephrine) they are “neurotransmitter” chemicals without which we would have died out as a species. Their evolutionary effects are still with us today – though as performers we are no longer required to “fight or flee” for survival!

Though both are similar, adrenaline is the more commonly recognized of the two, though both are released during a fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline acts on almost all body tissues, whereas Noradrenaline’s action is more specific – it causes vasoconstriction (a narrowing of the blood vessels) so is useful for maintaining blood pressure and increasing it in times of acute stress.

The effects of both are responsible for regulating the body’s response to stress – creating the symptoms we call “nerves”. As a performer I believe an understanding of the role of these chemicals can help us cope with their effects and ensure that they are our friend and not our foe – which was of course their original purpose!

So what do they do – and why? Put simply, their aim is to assist the body to mobilise energy to enable our muscles to respond to a perceived threat. This happens fast – and creates a chain reaction that is impossible to resist – though you can “work with it”. Your parasympathetic nervous system causes your adrenal glands (located on the kidneys) to release large amounts of adrenaline into your system, in what is often called an adrenaline dump, rush, or surge. The good news is you can learn to love it – and become an “adrenaline junkie!”

Here are the most common functions of adrenaline – and its side effects for a speaker.

a) Breathing, Heart rate and Blood pressure increase, to supply the body with more oxygen for the muscles and organs. This in turn causes the body to overheat and sweating becomes apparent on face, palms and armpits. Wearing a dark shirt or jacket will help conceal this!

b) Blood vessels constrict in the extremities (Vasoconstriction) to redirect blood to the major muscle groups and away from energy consuming bodily functions (see (e) below). The vessels supplying the muscles dilate to cope with the increased supply (leading to a pale face, and often a feeling of cold fingers, toes, nose, and ears.)

c) Pupils dilate, making it harder to read anything up close (like presenter notes) but improves long range visibility, making you more aware of your audience’s facial expressions and body language

d) Skeletal muscles become tense and ready for action. Your motor neurons “gear up” to respond to the impending threat – and this “excitation” leads to shaking and trembling – which is particularly noticeable in the hands. The “shakes” are made more obvious if a speaker is holding a piece of A4 paper with their notes on – which amplifies the vibrations! This is why it is better to use record cards – or place notes on a lectern.

e) The digestive system shuts down (including production of saliva). Vasoconstriction diverts blood away from the digestive system to more “essential” functions. This can leave the body with the effects of a dry mouth, nausea and dizziness. The presence of food in the stomach conflicts with this digestive shut-down and exacerbates the feeling of nausea – causing the churning sensation in your stomach that we call “butterflies”. Emptying the stomach solves the conflict – which is why many performers and sportspeople “throw up” before performing! Getting “butterflies” is unavoidable – the trick – as the saying goes – is not to fear them – but to get them “to fly in formation”! Never speak on a full stomach – eat a light, easily digestible carbohydrate-rich meal well before your event (see f.) below). Dry mouth? Always have a glass of water handy and take a sip at an opportune moment!

f) Metabolic rate increases and assists in breaking down the body’s stored energy in fat cells. Glycogen stores in the liver are metabolized to provide instant energy, spiking blood sugar and blocking the appetite receptors in the brain, reducing the urge to eat. The combined effects of  e) and f) explain why many after-dinner speakers never eat their meal – me included! (Solution: eat several hours before speaking at a dinner – and choose light menu options like soup or fish – not steak!). You need your brain to be receiving the maximum blood flow of oxygen – and not having to compete with digesting a heavy meal! Drink water – not alcohol  – which can further affect your ability to think clearly!!

g) Though unlikely to affect a speaker …  adrenaline affects the sphincters controlling the bowels and bladder, causing them to relax – leading to well documented instances of involuntary excretion in extreme situations of fear and shock (for similar reasons to vomiting – i.e. ridding the body of unwanted matter).

While the above are the main physical symptoms …  there are also emotional symptoms, which one writer described as “having racing thoughts, feeling incompetent for the task, embarrassment or fear of forgetting what to say. The individual can feel that the room is closing  in on them, their throat constricts making breathing and speaking difficult, and the beating of the heart is so fast it’s like having a heart attack. In more severe conditions, the brain “freezes” (actors and speakers call it “drying”) and the individual feels giddy and lightheaded.”

Anyone reading the above would be entirely justified in asking why on earth a performer would choose to do a job with the potential for such severe side effects! The fact is however – that when you learn to channel these symptoms into improving your performance, the feeling is one of exhilaration – a true life-enhancing drug rush! Its a case of “feel the fear and do it anyway” – I love it! Luckily I don’t have to throw myself off a mountain to experience it!

Also of interest to speakers is an article on the effects of adrenaline by blogger Ashish Arora – who describes the effects of the “flight or fight” syndrome on memory – and throws some light on the reason for the feeling of “butterflies” in your stomach when nervous – see here: https://visme.co/blog/memory-lapse/

In my next post I shall examine some strategies for working with – and not against – the power of adrenaline, and will be giving you my top 10 tips to harness it’s amazing capacity to improve and enhance your performance – as it was designed to do!

If you are looking for a speaker or conference host to ensure the success of your next event – please get in touch!

Next post: How to appear confident, poised and nerveless – guaranteed!

Previous post: Do you get nervous before you speak?  The age old question! Answer “Yes”! Read why it’s good for you!

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This is one of the most commonly asked questions I get when people find out I am a “speaker”! If you are someone who dreads having to speak in public, fear not – you are in good company – “Glossophobia” is a very common condition!!

Wikipedia states: “it has been estimated that 75% of all people experience some degree of anxiety/nervousness when public speaking. In fact, surveys have shown that most people fear public speaking more than they fear death”(!) (The exclamation mark was mine!).

So how do I answer the “nerves” question? Even though I have probably spoken in public thousands of times… the answer is always the same:  “YES – I always get nervous”! I usually qualify this by saying that I prefer the word “excited” rather than “nervous”. Though the symptoms are the same, “excited” is a much more positive word – and indicates welcome and pleasurable anticipation rather than fear! Yet I know of several people – some who are not professional speakers – who do not experience any stress at all when faced with making a speech, and who welcome the opportunity to do so!

In particular – on a recent visit to my dentist I found out he was off to Edinburgh to be Best Man at a wedding. Knowing that a Best Man’s speech is often one of the most daunting to deliver I commented “you must be nervous” – to which he replied “no I’m not actually – I have done several and I really enjoy them”!  This is a rare person indeed! (Though I am not surprised – for not only is Imi a brilliant dentist – I have always known him to be a naturally confident person, chatty, articulate and friendly. All of which contribute to what I feel is an essential attribute of a good speaker – “likeability”! This is explored in a later post – see here.

When people express surprise that I still get nervous having been a professional speaker for many years I always say that I welcome it – and that “if I’m not nervous I’m not ready”. I regard “nerves” as my friend – ensuring I am focused and not complacent, and gearing up my brain to be sharp!

However – as above – I usually prefer to say that I get “excited” – which is a more positive word – rather than “nervous” – which has negative connotations. Re-framing anxiety into something positive and exciting is a better way to acknowledge your feelings, and helps you focus less on the potential for things to go wrong. “Excited” hints at an eager anticipation of something enjoyable – rather than something to be feared – though the physical symptoms are the same!  Barry Cryer – veteran comedy scriptwriter and one of the UK’s best known after-dinner speakers calls it “creative apprehension”!

Performance psychologist Gene Moyle says re-framing the situation (treating feelings of anxiety as excitement) can actually have a significant impact on changing the chemical make-up of the brain.

It may seem strange, but many experienced actors, comedians and musicians suffer from nerves – even those we normally think of as having a super confident stage persona. “Stage fright” – as it is better known – has affected performers like Barbara Streisand, Sir Laurence Olivier, John Lennon, Adele, Mariah Carey, Michael Gambon and the uber-cool Robbie Williams – who cancelled his record breaking Stadium tour in 2006 due to severe stage fright… and didn’t tour again until 2013.

Another term for stage fright is “performance anxiety”, and it can often lead to the performer being physically sick before each performance. Sir Laurence Olivier was well known for vomiting before his stage appearances – and not just on the opening night – before all of them! (Read my next post to find out why – follow the link below!)

Sportsmen and women are not immune – in my own sport – Rugby Union – legendary Welsh fly-half Neil Jenkins was famously known for throwing up before big games, as was Welsh Captain and No. 8 Ryan Jones. In February 2017 Gloucester and Scotland scrum half Rory Lawson admitted in an interview on Radio 5 before the 6 Nations tournament that “he felt ‘much sharper’ as a result of throwing up prior to every game.”  You can watch the clip HERE.

I remember from my own playing days at Gloucester one of my team-mates who would disappear to the toilets shortly before kick-off … only to reappear a few minutes later looking pale and tense – and we all knew he had “been for a puke”!

This never worried us – we knew it was his own way of dealing with the pressure of 10,000 fans awaiting our arrival on the pitch.  Interestingly he was a class player famed for his deadly accurate, ice-cool goal kicking, whatever the conditions. His “nerveless” pressure kicks proved to be match winners on many occasions!

Strange isn’t it – from an extreme physical reaction like vomiting due to nerves … leading to consistently immaculate performances described as “nerveless” – what on earth is going on!!

In the next few posts I will examine the phenomenon surrounding “performance anxiety” (aka “nerves”) to find out what is happening in our body and the reasons why. I will look at the symptoms (including vomiting!), their physical causes and then suggest some tips for controlling them – or at least harnessing them to improve performance rather than ruin it! As the well-known saying goes: “it’s OK to have butterflies – as long as you get them to fly in formation”.

So what are the symptoms – including butterflies – and their causes? Find out in my next post!

If you are looking for a speaker or conference host to ensure the success of your next event – please get in touch!

Office:  +44 1453 828568
Mobile: +44 7774 675222
email: john@johnsimonett.co.uk
website: www.johnsimonett.co.uk

If you are a speaker who has experience of “coping with nerves” – please share your observations in the comments box below!

Over the years I have developed quite a reputation on the speaking “circuit” as someone who has a “good memory” for names…  I always deny this!  I prefer to say I have a “good imagination” – and that I use a “system” – allied to hard work to make it look easy! The truth is … anyone can remember anything if they a) pay attention b) use their imagination to encode the information and c) review it frequently.

I will develop the techniques I use in more detail in future blogs – but here is how I used the above to learn the names of all the delegates at a recent conference in Lisbon, attended by delegates from 20 countries – before I had met them!

I had been invited to act as conference host, and in my pre-event preparation had been sent a delegate list. While I always read these to be familiar with everyone’s name – on this occasion I saw that the names were all accompanied with a thumbnail photo. As a challenge – I decided I would undertake to commit them all to memory before the conference! Totally unnecessary of course … and certainly not in my job brief – but I always enjoy pushing the boundaries and “adding value” wherever possible – which is part of my “under promise – over deliver” philosophy!

I used a technique that I had read about – and seen on a documentary – which the legendary Scottish rugby union commentator Bill McLaren would use to learn the names of all the players and replacements involved in a match.  Bill would write each name on a separate blank card –  together with any information about the player – and on the other side he would write their playing number.  He would shuffle the cards so they were in a random order and then deal through them with only the numbers showing and try to recall the player’s name and details on the other side. By constant repetition he would eventually come to know instantly which number referred to which player – together with the biographical information relating to their physique and playing career. Thus when he was commentating he could seamlessly describe a passage of play without hesitation. To the viewer it seemed “effortless” – but in reality it took great effort and hard work to make it seem so! Sadly Bill passed away in 2010.

Bill also used to write out all the information on one large sheet of paper – colour coded – so he could also see it all at a glance. Today we would call it a “spreadsheet” – however his family simply referred to them as “Bill’s Big Sheets”. Replicas of these are collector’s items, and are sold to raise funds for the Bill McLaren Foundation – a link to which is at the bottom of this post.

So what I did was to cut out all the thumbnail pics of the delegates – and on the other side write down the name, country and company of the person pictured.  Then I would deal through them looking at the faces and try to remember their names. (I used some memory techniques to make this easier – see later posts for details!) It was slow at first – but gradually I built up speed so that I could deal out the pictures without hesitation (like my hero Bill!) and call the names as I did so!  I repeated this over a few days – and in moments of “dead” time – in the passenger seat travelling to the airport, waiting in queues, in flight and so on.

By the time the conference started – I knew everyone!  I used this subtly …  and did not make a “thing” of it. So when (for example) we were doing Q&A and someone put their hand up – I would mention their name – and where they were from – and then proceed as normal with the question. I would also use their names if I met them around the conference venue – at coffee time, in the lift, and at social events. Gradually it dawned on everyone that it was not just a few names I knew – but everyone – and as you can imagine this became quite a talking point during the conference! So thanks Bill!

Here is an extract from the Bill McLaren Foundation website:
“Bill was the best commentator the game has ever seen … his commentary genius was no ‘fluke’ as he spent hours in preparation learning everything there was to know about the game, players, referee, groundsman, team doctor, stadium and so on.

On the run up to every game Bill would start with a large blank piece of paper to which he added every detail to the match. In his office at home Bill created a database of players, officials, grounds etc and added this detail to create the work of art that his family call ‘Bill’s Big Sheets’. If Bill had no or little information he would often phone a player at home asking for height, weight, names of brothers and sisters, nicknames, and even what your favourite food was. Even if a phone call was not possible Bill would attend training sessions putting faces to names and also provide the player data with a impromptu interview with the famous Hawick Balls used as a bribe.”

Former Scottish International John Beattie (now a BBC presenter) also wrote the following in a tribute following Bill’s death in 2010:

“…Then his eyes went back down to his homework and that pack of shuffled cards that was his tool to make numbers become names; “Vaccari to Troncon…” It was astonishing.

a) Summing up: while it is the norm for a senior person from the organisation to make some concluding remarks, the host should also be prepared to comment on what has been discussed at the event, and mention any salient points that have been made by the speakers. All it takes is to be an “active listener” and to make some notes – jotting down any key phrases or sound bytes which can be incorporated in your closing remarks, as well as reinforcing any “calls to action” that have been made by any of the speakers.

b) Thank-yous: while long lists of thank-yous can be tedious – it is essential that key people are mentioned and thanked – these would typically include the conference “team” who have put the event together, the speakers, the venue staff – and crucially the a/v crew! I always like to give them a special mention – as they are the unsung heroes who ensure the smooth running of the show – and are often overlooked by the delegates as their job is done “behind the scenes”.

c) Future events: very often there are other events  in the calendar which will involve the delegates – it is important to remember to include a reminder of these – and mention any “diary dates” for everyone to note.

d) Follow-ups: When it’s all over – is that it? Not at all! There is plenty to do before you can safely consider the event “put to bed”.

For a start there are your own personal “thank-yous” to be sent to the organisers and others you have been involved with – normally by email – but I sometimes like to surprise key people with a hand-written “letter”! (Remember them?) This makes an impression way beyond the extra time it takes – compared to a generic email CCd to several people!

Another crucial part of the follow-up process is to file away my notes, introductions and general information for “future reference”! If you do a good job (no – make that a “great ” job) it is highly likely you will be invited back. Knowing what was covered last year and who people are will often be attributed to you having a good memory – more often than not it is down to good record keeping. I also try and jot down any personal information about any of the people I have met, including things like hobbies, interests and anything that has cropped up in conversation! If I have collected business cards I go through them all and jot down the information on the back – and include a memory jogger as to what they look like – size/hair/glasses etc. If possible I write “a.k.a” (“as known as”) and then the name of a celebrity or a personal acquaintance of mine that they resemble. While it is not always possible to get a perfect match – very often “close enough” is good enough to remind me who they are when checking my notes 12 months down the line!

One of the best tools for keeping track of those you have had contact with is Linked-In – especially as most people include a thumbnail portrait on their profile!  I usually spend a morning after a conference looking up people I have met and sending them a notification to connect. This helps build your network and enhances your engagement with the audience the next time you are invited to host their conference! I am careful not to over-do this – restricting my requests only to those I have had more than a fleeting connection with.

Of course – in the final analysis it’s not just about sending out thank-yous – but also receiving them! Comments like this make all the hard work worthwhile!  “Wow, what a fabulous contribution and impact you made to our EMEA conference in Lisbon! Without exception everyone has said what a brilliant job you did! You truly were the glue that made everything stick together, keeping energy levels high and the momentum going!”  Read full testimonial …

In my next post I will take a look at how I learnt the names of all the delegates at the above conference – before I had met them – thanks to the example of Scottish rugby commentator Bill McLaren! It’s here: How I learnt 120 names

In conclusion – what this series of posts has shown is that hosting a conference involves far more than just “introducing speakers”! If you are looking for someone to ensure the success of your next event – please get in touch!

Office:  +44 1453 828568
Mobile: +44 7774 675222
email: john@johnsimonett.co.uk
website: www.johnsimonett.co.uk

(If you are a conference host – what else do you consider an important part of the “wrapping up” process? I’d love to know! Send me an email – or post a comment below!)