Public Speaking Tips - How to open a Speech
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by: PaulRigney
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"10 seconds is all you have to get the audience's attention. If you haven't got them by then it is much harder to get their attention back."
That's exactly how I opened an educational speech on how to open a speech. If you grab the audience's attention from the beginning they will be more likely to listen to the rest of your speech.
If you ask yourself the question "What is the best thing I can say at the beginning to make the audience listen to me?" that's a great way to write a speech opening.
Here is a list of things you may want to include in your opening:
1) Introduction of the Topic - This is similar to the way a books has a contents section. You tell the audience what your going to say in the speech. This will give your speech good structure and make the audience listen to you.
2) Startle your audience with a question - "Who wants to know how to make $100,000 in 90 days" When the audience hears a question like that they will wan to know the answer.
3) An historical quote - "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" - John F Kennedy. If you grab the audiences emotions you can grab their attention. When the audience hears something that once made them feel emotional hearing it again will be bring them back to that emotion.
Writing a speech opening is like writing a speech headline. If the reader is not grabbed by the headline they will not read the article. If the audience is not grabbed by your speeches opening they wont want to hear the rest of the speech. Being in the room doesn't mean they are listening.
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