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Talk about People - Part 1

You don't need any proof of our interest in individuals. Just look at the morning newspaper. I did that this morning. Here are the headlines in the first ten stories: man jailed in meeting will

TESTIFY; BIKE SHOWER SPICES GIRL'S FIFTH BIRTHDAY; ATTACK VIC­TIM GOES HOME; GOVERNOR TO GIVE OUT TRUE WORD; BOAT SINKS—-OVER TWENTY DIE; CITY CHIEF TELLS OF THREATS; ECA SPOKESMAN SAYS.

Get the idea? Today's newspaper is no different from to­morrow's. Almost every story in that newspaper has people in it. When you release a publicity story about a talk you're going to give, you have to put the names of some persons in it. A headline like "Ajax Company Declares Dividends" will be followed by a headline which tells what the president of Ajax says. In other words, some person is in it. Persons make news and the mention of persons makes for interest in your speech.

Now who are these people who make good speech material? Almost everybody, but let's list a few of them.

The men in the meeting room, the chairman, the man who arranged for your appearance, the members of the club that you know.

Then there is the family—the wife and kids, the brother-in-law, the relatives. Look how Bob Burns, the comedian, has made a living talking about his kin. You can talk about yours and the audi­ence will be interested.

Another group is the neighbors. All of your audience have neighbors who borrow from them, who watch them, whose dogs get into their gardens, who complain when their dogs get on the wrong side of the fence. Yes, neighbors are good material.

Then there are your business associates, your boss, his boss, the men in your share-the-ride club, the receptionist, the office boy, the stenographer.

Add next the people everybody knows, the taxi drivers, the tough cops, the bus drivers, your fellow commuters, the butcher, baker, candlestick maker—this is a large group.

Related terms include wedding toasts speeches and introductory speeches.