How do you approach your live audiences? Do you give them what they expect? What do they expect when they come to listen to you speak about your book? <\/p>\n
For the most part, they expect to learn something and to be entertained. While a few people will come out to support you (authors make it your duty and privilege to support other local authors), most are in the audience because they want something from you. They are interested in the theme of your book. They want information, resources, insight, inspiration and\/or motivation. They want to know more about the history of the area, budgeting, pie-baking, dress-making, woodworking, flying or photography, for example. If you\u2019re a novelist, your audience is probably gearing up for a few hours of pure entertainment. <\/p>\n
Most likely, you spend a lot of time thinking about your presentations and hoping that you will come across okay. But do you consider your presentations from the point of view of your audience? Can you put yourself in their place? <\/p>\n
Let\u2019s say that you\u2019ve arranged to speak to a group. (Note: most of the time you are responsible for finding the venue and making the arrangements to speak. Sure, you\u2019ll receive occasional invitations\u2014program directors will hear about you and seek you out. But only if you\u2019ve been giving a lot of presentations and getting a lot of publicity so they know about you.) Anyway, you\u2019re speaking to a group of armchair travelers or quilters, avid readers, businessmen\/women, animal lovers, gardeners, hopeful authors, artists, etc. Here are my suggestions for a successful author presentation:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tKnow who your audience is, approximately how many will be in attendance, what their expectations are (based on the way your talk was promoted and the nature of the group or association) and something about the space, equipment available, distractions, etc. I\u2019ve had to speak out-of-doors while a book festival was going on all around me. Once I spoke in a gym with a noisy basketball game being played on the other side of the wall. Once I rewrote my entire speech while waiting for my queue when I saw the speaking challenges I would be faced with that day.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tBe clear about the program director\u2019s expectations. Will you be speaking for 15 minutes or 90? Does he want a workshop style program or a speech with a Q and A afterward? Will you be able to sell your books after the presentation?<\/p>\n
\u2022\tIf you plan to read from your book, do so only if you are very good at it. Not many people are. I sometimes read brief passages\u2014generally anecdotes I want to use for emphasis and that I want to get exactly right. I\u2019ve heard many authors read from their fiction and nonfiction books and only a scant fraction of those were effective. It takes a pleasant voice, clear enunciation, vocal variety, the ability to pace oneself and a professional quality when it comes to using pauses. However, instead of honing the skill of reading in public, I urge you to become a better off-the-cuff presenter.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tPrepare so well that you can present your material without notes and even deviate successfully and expertly from your original speech if you desire.<\/p>\n
\u2022\t Read your audience while you\u2019re presenting. Pay attention to what piques their interest and spend more time with that. Notice when you seem to be losing them and make some adjustments.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tPlan audience participation\u2014especially for longer presentations. I like to find out a little about each audience member (when the group is fairly small\u20146 to 20 people, for example). <\/p>\n
\u2022\tSpeak directly to each audience member. Ask them to say a few words about why they came to hear you or what their interest in the topic is. And then direct some of your comments to these individuals as you proceed with your talk. For example, someone in my audience might tell me that they are struggling to promote their local history book. Throughout my talk, I might point out a couple of things as I go along that would be of interest and assistance to that particular author.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tSet your rules. I sometimes welcome questions throughout my talk. Other times, I prefer to stick to my presentation agenda so that I can adequately cover a certain number of points. Then I will open the floor to questions. I tell the audience up front how I want to handle questions.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tGive, give, give. Some authors are afraid that if they give too much, people won\u2019t buy their book. Actually, if your book is so shallow that you can tell all there is to know about it fully within even a 90 minutes speech, it probably isn\u2019t worth much to start with. I try to stick to a theme throughout my talk\u2014it might be \u201c2 Steps to Publishing Success.\u201d Or \u201cHow to Write a Killer Book Proposal.\u201d While I include a lot of material from my book, I expand greatly on much of the information. And this is where entertainment comes in.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tMake it entertaining. I present a great deal of the information that I share in presentations through anecdotes. Stories generally have entertainment value. While it is important, when you\u2019re promoting a nonfiction book, to provide information, resources and that you offer up some new ideas, don\u2019t neglect the emotional value of what you offer. Decisions to purchase are often made at an emotional level. And you want to reach your audiences through their emotions. Make them think, but also cause them to laugh, chuckle, roll their eyes, applaud, tear up, etc. <\/p>\n
For more information about public speaking and over 250 other no and low-cost book promotion ideas, order your copy of Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author<\/em>. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/PromoteYourBook.html<\/a> It\u2019s also at amazon.com, B&N.com and IndieBound as well as many bookstores throughout the US.<\/p>\n