Ideally meet the speaker for a meal before the meeting. (This ensures they arrive on time. Chat enables you to prompt them if they dry up.)
Or speak briefly. Subtly remind them about what the audience hopes to hear - failure and success, rags to riches. Not all boasting. Nor no-stop moaning.
Your introduction should make the audience listen and smile - and make the speaker feel confident and welcomed.
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 Say whether speaker will answer questions, and whether they will hang around or rush off.
8 During the speech look at speaker as if fascinated.
9 End with the speaker's name and speech title.
10 Make notes so you can give heartfelt thanks. (Or pass your notes during the interval to whoever is giving thanks). Quote from the speaker. If the speaker was not scintillating, you can still quote from somebody famous praising the speaker's area of expertise, then thank the speaker for their research, or time and trouble in travelling to speak to your group. Lead the applause.
Have ready any gift or envelope containing a cheque. Ensure the speaker is facing your photographer for a photo to go on your website and the local newspaper. Do not leave the speaker standing alone. Escort them safely back to their hotel or station.
Follow up with a letter of thanks, not just thanks for visiting us and the members enjoyed your talk' but includes at least three complimentary points such as: Everybody was impressed by your Santa outfit/slide show; several members have asked me where they can buy the book you mentioned, my committee are keen for you to visit us again next year if you will be free on a Sunday evening in June or July. Once again many thanks on behalf of .... I attach some pictures and a cutting from the local newspaper ....
Angela Lansbury
Author of: Wedding Speeches & Toasts; Quick Quotations. (See Blogs and YouTube on speaking or mail me.)
Or speak briefly. Subtly remind them about what the audience hopes to hear - failure and success, rags to riches. Not all boasting. Nor no-stop moaning.
Your introduction should make the audience listen and smile - and make the speaker feel confident and welcomed.
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 Say whether speaker will answer questions, and whether they will hang around or rush off.
8 During the speech look at speaker as if fascinated.
9 End with the speaker's name and speech title.
10 Make notes so you can give heartfelt thanks. (Or pass your notes during the interval to whoever is giving thanks). Quote from the speaker. If the speaker was not scintillating, you can still quote from somebody famous praising the speaker's area of expertise, then thank the speaker for their research, or time and trouble in travelling to speak to your group. Lead the applause.
Have ready any gift or envelope containing a cheque. Ensure the speaker is facing your photographer for a photo to go on your website and the local newspaper. Do not leave the speaker standing alone. Escort them safely back to their hotel or station.
Follow up with a letter of thanks, not just thanks for visiting us and the members enjoyed your talk' but includes at least three complimentary points such as: Everybody was impressed by your Santa outfit/slide show; several members have asked me where they can buy the book you mentioned, my committee are keen for you to visit us again next year if you will be free on a Sunday evening in June or July. Once again many thanks on behalf of .... I attach some pictures and a cutting from the local newspaper ....
Angela Lansbury
Author of: Wedding Speeches & Toasts; Quick Quotations. (See Blogs and YouTube on speaking or mail me.)
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