Dramatize Some Points - Part 1

Articles In This Section:

· Dramatize Some Points - Part 1

· Dramatize Some Points - Part 2

· Dramatize Some Points - Part 3

· Dramatize Some Points - Part 4

· Dramatize Some Points - Part 5

· Dramatize Some Points - Part 6

One of the best means of holding interest as you talk is to dramatize some points. The audience will get tired of talk, talk, talk. So you must do something—wave your arms, shout, do a little dance, show them something, demonstrate a device. All these and anything like them, for the purpose of this discussion, I call "dramatizations."

Even the simplest gesture makes a talk more interesting. So let's plan some of these gestures. If you are equal to it, let's plan some demonstrations. If you can bring yourself to do it, perhaps some horseplay, a stunt or two. Now don't say, "I can't do anything like that." If you can't, you are most unusual. I've taught the most diffident and reserved fellows to do stunts before audiences they would never have thought of doing. True, the men had to force themselves to do the stunts, but they did them well and added interest to their talks.

In Chap. 16 I told about a speaker who changed his tie before an audience. Now most speakers would never attempt to do a thing like that. They would be embarrassed. They may have seen other speakers do it, but their reaction has been, "Well, he's the kind of a fellow that could do that. I'm not."

I have had men say that to me. I always ask, "Why can't you do that?"

"Well, a man has to be a certain type to do a stunt like that— pretty much of an extrovert, I'd say."

"You mean he has to be a little nuts?" I asked.

"It probably helps."

Well, maybe it does help. But any speaker can do such stunts.

Taking off a tie and putting on another is easy. I have seen a speaker break a skillet with a hammer; I've seen another fall under the table; I have seen one stand on his head. It is true a man has to have a certain amount of skill to stand on his head, but speakers can be taught to handle almost any kind of dramatization.

The speaker who does not ordinarily go in for dramatizations in his talks can start with simple stunts. After that he can go on to more elaborate ones. The point I want to make here is that such stunts should be written into the speech.

If you are going to do any sort of dramatization, you should write out the stage directions. Perhaps you are going to run your hands through your hair, wave your arms, stomp your feet. Write what you plan to do in the script. Put it, "I'll walk two steps to the right. I'll raise my hands above my head and I'll shout." For a lengthy demonstration or dramatization write out all details.