Putting the Speaker on Speaking Terms

A lackadaisical speaker with plenty of personality might get by (but only once) with this introduction: I could tell you that our speaker is big enough to admit his shortcomings; brilliant enough to accept flattery without becoming arrogant; tall enough to tower above deceit; strong enough to treasure love; brave enough to welcome criticism; compassionate enough to understand human frailties; wise enough to recognize his mistakes; humble enough to appreciate greatness; staunch enough to stand by his friends; human enough to be thoughtful of his neighbor; and righteous enough to be devoted to the love of God-but I’d be one of the biggest liars in the land.

Instead-our speaker is just an ordinary guy, one I know you’ll like:
Your listening public will want you to prove that they’re going to like the guy, so you want to point up any phase of his personality that’s known-or known about.

The following paragraphs are devoted to appearances and telltale characteristics designed to popularize a speaker. They are not suggested as overall “stock” material, but are intended only to ignite the flame that will start cooking up your own comments. When you add hot water to a beef cube you have a tasty broth; take tea-and see that same result; similarly flavor buds become instant coffee. In like fashion, the thoughts set out here, blended with your words, can bring out the flavor in a speaker’s peculiarities and make him appetizing to the audience.

His Physical Features

Human peculiarities are portrayed patently by physical appearance, and latently through idiosyncrasies. Physical features, expressions and characteristics disclosed by habit, are obvious; the latent ones we learn by reputation. These following samples play up traits and are set out only to help embryo orators to get going.

1. Bald pate

A witty comparison between the speaker’s appearance and platform performance popularizes him immediately. “Our bald-headed speaker is not readily insulted, and he gets to the bare facts quickly because one good thing about a bald head, is a thick skin”-is one sample. For a further suggestion:
“Our speaker lost his locks before he found the key to success. ‘Not much there’ he says of his hair, ‘but every strand has muscle’. His mother always said he’d come out on top-and he sure did!”

2. Hairy

When the speaker is blessed with heavy hair, his ample mane holds no appeal for listeners who wear theirs departed in the middle, but you might compare him with famous men who also had hair: Buffalo Bill-buckskin clad plainsman who rode the Pony Express, fought Indians, killed bison for bounty and in his later years headed a Wild West Show astride a snow white stallion-proved the attraction of unusually handsome hair. This bearded old colonel with his flowing white mane gave many a Kickapoo Squaw a kick-and even made queens feel queer. A generation later Valentino became the slick-haired hero of the cinema. In a Sheik of Araby scene, he swept a Lady Fair onto his fiery steed and fled into the desert. A jaded fan in a front row seat clasped her hands over her ample bosom and sighed, “Gee, I wish it was me!”

Tags: public speaking

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