There were two full size TV cameras on both sides of the room about 50 feet from the stage – aimed right at the speaker who has a big screen behind him with his name in huge letters. Not to mention the music and the blinding lights! How can all of that be easier than speaking to 60 people?"
Well, since you put it like that …maybe it's not.
The hardest part of speaking to an audience of 6,000 is getting past all the lights, cameras and big TV screens.
You have to mentally overlook all of that stuff. You need to stay focused on the task at hand – your message. All of that other stuff is just a distraction. The lights and cameras don't care what you're talking about. They don't care if you lose your place or draw a blank and forget what you wanted to say next. They aren't going to be coming up to you after the event asking you to come and speak to other lights and cameras. The camera, the lights, the big TV screens, and the music are not your audience. Think of it as part of the building, just another picture hanging on the wall. Think only of your audience and how their life will be enhanced after your talk. That's the only thought you want on your mind.
The hardest part of speaking to a huge crowd of 6,000 is your thought process. You have to control your thoughts. You can't let yourself get overwhelmed by the fact that there are 6,000 people staring at you while lights are blinding you and cameras are recording your every move.
I say it's easier to speak to 6,000 than it is 60 because when you give a presentation to a room of 60 people you have 120 eyes watching your every move. Depending on the setup of the room, I like to walk through and make a personal connection with each of them. When you are giving a presentation to a room of 60 you get to see the audience smile at you and laugh at your jokes. You also get to see them yawn at your jokes with a look of, "that wasn't funny." Yes, when you give a presentation to a room of 60 people you have to be on your best game, "you're A game" because every eye is on you and you can see it.
When you are close enough to see someone falling asleep and their head drops out of control and looks like their neck is going to break
(a neck-break) during the most important part of your talk, that's enough to have you second guessing whether or not you should even be speaking. You don't need those types of thoughts in the middle of your presentation. Speaking to a group of 60 can be very rewarding because of the connection you get to make with everyone. But that reward comes with a price and that is that you also take the chance of not connecting with them.
When you are on stage speaking to 6,000 people, you don't have any of that to worry about. All you have to deal with is your own thoughts. Making a connection or watching someone do a neck-break is probably not going to happen, for the simple fact that you can't see past the first few rows.
Now, when you are on stage prior to your presentation doing the sound check and the houselights are on, you can see every one of the 6,000 empty seats. But during the actual presentation the houselights are off and you have 6 to 8 lights blinding you so that the audience can see you and the cameras can get a good shot of you. It's almost seems as if you are staring into a dark, empty room and you are on that stage all alone.
What do you do? You stay focused and deliver the message that only you can deliver. Make a connection with the first few rows – you won't have to worry about them falling asleep. They are usually happy and energetic. That's why they are in the first few rows. Deliver your message to them! Yes, every now and then look up and out. Try to see the back of the room but don't lose focus when the lights hit you and you feel like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. Don't let yourself start thinking things such as, "I thought there were more people. I can't see them. I wonder if they can see me?" Trust me, they can see you.
Also, don't lose focus when you look to the right and there is a 20 foot you! Or, when you turn to the left so that you don't get distracted by him, only to find out he has a twin. No, put all of that out of your head and focus on your message. Deliver it to the handful of people you can see which will be the 30 or 40 people who are happy to be in the front rows, laughing at every joke and nodding in total agreement. This is a lot easier than giving a presentation to 60 people who are daydreaming about what they are going to do when you are finished.
Now, if you are thinking, "Brian, that was great information but I don't plan on speaking to a group of 6,000 people. Thanks anyway." Then catch the hidden message in the 4th paragraph. Are you making a personal connection with your audience? Are they laughing at your jokes? Are you keeping them awake and intrigued? Are they nodding in agreement? Are they shaking their head in disagreement? If they are, at least they're listening. When they leave, will their lives be enhanced as a result of your presentation?
You may not ever speak to 6,000 people but whether it's 60 people in a room or 6 people in an elevator, the importance of what you say and how you say it has the ability to enhance the lives of others.
When they left your presentation did they take you home with them? That's another article.
Brian Adams is a Professional Speaker, Author,
Sales Trainer and Peak Performance Coach
www.EndlessPossibilites.net
Brian@EndlessPossibilities.net