Show Me the Movie
When you author a book, the reader expects to do the work: make the connections, visualize pictures in their minds, read the last page first…
With a speech, the listener expects you, the speaker, to do the work: make the connections to their lives and draw them the picture–show them the movie.
A speaker gives the audience a reason to delight in sharing a moment together. An audience has the opportunity for an act of civility, community, and delight.
And we are SO ready for that.
The most recent movies I saw were “Deadpool and Wolverine” and “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.” In both, the audience spontaneously broke into song with the soundtrack. In “Deadpool,” my friend and I burst into the chorus of “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls.
And I don’t want the world to see me
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
When everything’s made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
[Source: Musixmatch / Copyright Songwriter: John T Rzeznik, Iris lyrics © Scrap Metal Music]
A couple of weeks later, at “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,” I was by myself, and the moviegoers and I belted out the seemingly nonsensical lyrics of “MacArthur Park” with Donna Summer.
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don’t think that I can take it
‘Cause it took so long to bake it
And I’ll never have that recipe again
Oh, no
[Source: LyricFind / Copyright Songwriter: Jimmy Webb, MacArthur Park lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.]
In both movies, the soundtrack was so loud we could barely hear ourselves, which was just fine!
Everyone was connected by this one love: music. Music allows us to relate and connect and care. And we are ready to sing out loud for acts of civility, community and JOY.
When you present a speech, the listener demands you draw pictures with your words, not just spout dry concepts. Here’s an example: “Positive reinforcement maintains good performance.” How boring. Draw a picture. Your listener wants a movie. Try this: “When you take notice of the person working for you doing something good, and you say ‘good job,’ that person will sit up a bit straighter; they will feel good about working for you.”
Boring speakers spout concepts and cliches. Good speakers make it real; they give the listener a movie–about the listener.
Want to know how to do that? Please schedule a 30-minute complimentary clarity call with me. You get value and we discover if we are a match to work together.