Guest post by Brette Goldstein, Casting Director & Coach, NYC
Even though tons of marketing is done online these days, there is still a critical marketing skill that a lot of entrepreneurs and marketers haven’t mastered: how to do a great presentation.
Let’s face it, doing a presentation for a group or meeting can suck. It’s daunting at best. Here are some tried and true tips care of me, Brette Goldstein, a film casting director/coach. You boys like movie quotes, right? Well, here’s a little inspiration for ya. This is a three-parter, so stay tuned for the next two posts as well!
We’re rolling…
“Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention. I’ve just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. I need all of you, to stop what you’re doing and listen. Caaaaannonbaaall!”
The two most important questions I like to ask my clients are “Who are you talking to?” and “Why are you telling them this?” You’ll be far less likely to bore the bejesus out of your audience if you know why they’re going to show up to see and hear you speak. Hey, they can always call in sick, stash some microwave popcorn in their jacket and go to see GET HIM TO THE GREEK instead, right? Get it together so you don’t disappoint.
“Here’s looking at you, kid.”
Before you prepare, ask yourself the following questions:
- How do you want the audience to see you? As a motivator, a teacher, an expert, a friend, an insider?
- What do you want them to see? What aspects of you need to “pop”?
- How can you use your natural energy to convey a message?
- How can you bring YOU to the material?
“Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me… Aren’t you?”
As you’re jotting down your ideas, ask yourself the following:
- What do you need from your audience?
- How do you want them to feel?
- How can you get them to care?
- What do you want them to do?
- What do they need to know in order to do it?
- How can you get them to do it?
- How can you continue to make fresh discoveries as you interact with them and remain flexible as they respond to your words?
“I love lamp. I love lamp.”
Don’t just fill airtime. Think about two things:
The Objective – What you want
The Actions – What you do to get what you want and what can your audience member do to get what they/the organization wants. Strong actions are a must in your presentation. Here are a few you can think about while prepping:
To surprise
To disarm
To exhilarate
To illuminate
To motivate
To inspire
To alarm
To warn
To arm
To amuse
Actions are the means to get to the end; they are the ways and means to fulfill your objective.
“You had me at ‘hello’”.
Begin with a story. A narrative that hooks your audience. Next, tell them what they’re going to get out of listening to you. Then break it on down for them point by point until you arrive at your summation. Interweave the story throughout, if you can, so they are rewarded at the end with its inspirational conclusion.
“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Hook ‘em. Give your audience the promise of a solution, of an answer to their prayers – or at least their needs – and then give it to them by the end of your presentation. You’re the expert. If you weren’t… well, again, laughing at Jonah Hill at 3pm on a Wednesday is a reasonable diversion and your audience chose you.
Talk to you next week here at thinktankmen.com
Brette loves to bring her clients’ compelling energy, voice, strength, humor and f*&%ability to the forefront; coaching leaders, businessmen and activists in media, image and presentation. In her other life as a casting director, Brette loves great actors, directors and scripts and bringing everyone together for one big lovefest.
She has cast over 40 films and lots of theatre, commercials and other cool stuff.
