Introducing Speakers

Many clubs and organizations leave the introduction of the principal speaker to a rotating assortment of members. You now have reached this stage and are ready to accept that important task. The individual selected not only introduces the speaker to the audience, but seeks to create a favorable atmosphere for him to present his ideas to the best advantage. If his opening remarks are well chosen he may put the audience into a receptive mood; ready to listen. On the other hand, a poor beginning can leave the listeners bored by a long biography, or by a line that belabors the speaker’s subject too long.

Plan Your Introductions

Introductions deserve more than extemporaneous stut-terings; they require a little know-how of what to say. If you are to introduce someone, learn about him well in advance. If he is a stranger, get acquainted. What is his subject? Why is he informed along this particular line? What is his business? Who says what about him? What are his habits, his character, and characteristics?

Plan carefully how you are going to deliver him to his listeners and to key them up on his subject, for you are running interference for him until he gets going under his own power.

Introductions also require some know-how of what NOT to say. Recently a college president fumbled when he introduced the new athletic coach and said: “His hobbies include fishing, hunting, tinkering with his convertible- and Catherine.”

An ill-prepared introduction spells trouble, anywhere from getting the speaker off to a bad start to making a mess of the meeting. As an example:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have with us a gentleman,” and here he tries to read a name from a card; fails; puts the card back into his pocket. “A gentleman who is to lecture on” . . . and here he pulls the card out again, . . . “on . . . Ancient-Ancient-I can’t quite read what it is . . . oh-Athens? Thank you. Athens. This is the first of our new series. The last one as you know was not a success. In fact, we ended the year with a deficit. This year we’re trying a new line by experimenting with cheaper talent.”

A well-prepared introduction however puts the speaker in harmony with the audience.

Tags: public speaking

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