How To Welcome And Announce A Speaker: Be Prepared.

If you are introducing a speaker, ideally meet the speaker for a meal before the meeting. This used to be done at Harrow Writers' Circle in North West London. Dinner with the speaker ensures the speaker arrives on time. If they have forgotten, or get delayed, a substitute can be found such as a committee member at the dinner, or you can phone your back-up speaker. The speaker can be escorted to the venue. 

Chatting to the speaker, using their name constantly, enables you to introduce them confidently and correctly.  During the speech, if the speaker dries up,  you can prompt them to re-tell an anecdote you have just heard over dinner. You can see how this has been done on TV shows.

If there's no time or budget for dinner, speak briefly before the speech starts. Subtly remind the speaker about what the audience hopes to hear - failure and success, rags to riches. Not all boasting. (One biographer of a famous author alienated some of the audience.)

Nor non-stop moaning. A speech should end on a high note. I've sat through sad speeches where our hero, famous author, almost ended up in tears, telling his life story chronologically, ending up sniffing and moaning because he could no longer get published. (A cynic would say that if a writer had a book contract and a deadline he or she would be at home writing and not out collecting a cheap bottle of wine from the local hard of hearing group. The pensioned and retired often need an excuse to meet up for free tea and don't want to spend their last pound or dollar buying a book in small print they cannot read.)

The worst non-speeches speeches are those which start late without the speaker because the speaker got lost. Once a speaker did not turn up at all at Harrow Writers' Circle because of the London bombing. I offered to give two short speeches. I had rehearsed them three days earlier at Harrovian Speakers. I still had the notes in my bag. Now my policy is to always carry a speech in my pocket.

(I also carry a hand puppet as a prop to amuse friends or children who get bored in restaurants. I must not wander off the point. The point is welcoming and announcing a speaker.)

A late speaker often arrives in a tizz, without notes, and can only be heard by the chairman sitting alongside the tongue-tied speaker. When I am in the audience I sit at the front. So that I can hear.

Another hearing problem is foreign words. The most difficult to understand speech is mostly in a foreign language which baffles the stammering translator. How do you evaluate a speaker and give feedback, or thank them publicly, when you failed to hear and understand most of the speech.

In the UK, USA, China and Singapore I have heard the most amazing speeches by people who spoke English as a second language. But in Singapore one speaker devoted half his speech to reading from a book in Mandarin to an audience whose first language was English. For most of the audience, louder English was their second language. A pity the same could not be said of the speaker.

Other hard to understand speeches are those which don't match the title. I like titles which tell you what you are going to hear. Not guessing games. Title and speech must match.  I hate hearing a different topic. Or the opposite of the title.

For example, the literary agent whose speech on 'how to get published' tells you that you have no chance nowadays. People start zoning out. Afterwards they ask friends, 'Did I miss something?'

The worst introduction is, 'I won't tell you anything about the speaker. She can do that.'

Your introduction should make the audience listen and smile - and make the speaker feel confident and welcomed. Say how long speaker will talk and whether people can speak to them in tea break.

The best introductions I've heard were at Swanwick Writers' Summer School. I would watch John writing notes throughout the speech ready for his thank you.

Announce title of speech and what audience are expecting to hear.
1. Start with speaker's name - famous, easily pronounced, foreign, well-known.

2. His/ her best known achievement - have you heard of him.

3. Local connection - places or people

4. What's in it for audience? EG tips on business, slimming, health, novel writing.

5. What's in it for speaker - signing and selling books? Job-hunting? Business? Promoting book/film/charity. Loves helping people? Helping his Dad, our chairman?

6. Amazing story s/he will tell us.

7. Whether speaker will answer questions, and whether they will hang around or rush off.

Quote from the speaker - or somebody famous about the speaker's area of expertise.
End with the speaker's name and speech title.

During the speech look at the speaker as if you are fascinated. Make notes so you can give heartfelt thanks. (Or pass notes in the interval to whoever is giving thanks).

THANK YOU

The worst thank you is: 'Thank you for that speech and our next meeting will be on ...'

The second worst thank you is: 'We did enjoy your talk on Spain. When I was in Italy ...'

The best thank you is a summary of the speech with praise for each part, plus an enthusiastic opening sentence and an enthusiastic ending. Repeat quote from the speaker or about their expertise. Repeat the speaker's name loudly to encourage enthusiastic applause.

Thank the speaker personally. What a good time to find out if the speaker can come back again same time next year with another similar speech.

Angela Lansbury
Author of: Wedding Speeches & Toasts; Quick Quotations. (See Blogs and YouTube on speaking or mail me if you want a speaker.)