Professional speaker Patricia Fripp suggests these as possible opening techniques:
- Mention what's on audience's mind - acknowledge any audience issues
- Read a letter or review - good letter/review shows audience they are listening to the right person - old unfavorable letter/review of a very good speaker shows audience that if speaker can make the change from where they were to where they are now, audience can do so as well
- Transport them to a different place or time - use "hypnotic words" such as "Imagine..." "Picture this..." - puts audience directly into the scene
Minding,
Tim Wilson
Professional Speech Coach
Free speaking tips at: http://speakingquicktips.blogspot.com
