Hint Sheet for Giving Presentations or Demonstrations

By Allan Gill

Introduction

This document contains brief notes on various aspects of addressing an audience for whatever reason you have been asked so to do. In this case let us assume it is to do a demonstration. This makes the task a lot easier since you have something else to do rather than just worrying about talking to an audience. If you are doing it for the first time then the main problem is to overcome the inevitable nerves. Famous actors often admit to being very nervous for a few minutes at the beginning of each performance - so you are in good company.

Dealing with Nerves

The first thing to do is accept it and then admit to it. Nervousness has an unfortunate habit of producing embarrassing effects such as fast speaking, squeaky voice or stuttering or even worse t h e dry mouth out of which no sound will emerge. It is accepted that hand and body shake may also occur. How do we deal with nerves? No simple answer but the following points may help:

i) Breathe deeply and slowly before commencing
ii) Deliberately speak slowly and with a lowered tone.
iii) Start by reading a prepared statement of the aim of your presentation. This takes out any memory lapses which may occur at the beginning of the demonstration.
iv) Initially look directly ahead at a point above someone's head in the middle distance. If all else fails, FAINT.

Preparation

The above are direct techniques but by far the most important is in the preparation of the presentation.

Never try anything new for the demonstration regardless of how good you are. Practice the piece at home until it becomes natural and fluid. Run over the presentation in the privacy of your own home until you feel comfortable with it. Anticipate questions from the audience.

It is better to demonstrate an item that you know that you can finish comfortably in the time frame than one that you have to hurry at the end and spoil.

Have a couple of those practice pieces, at different stages of completion in case of any mishaps (you can always do the Blue Peter joke) 'here's one I made earlier.'

Have a crib sheet and a broad timetable as a reminder to keep you on the correct tack. Doing a presentation in a relaxed informal set-up like our club evening is an excellent way to begin.

The presentation

To give a good professional presentation some, if not all, of the following points should be noted. They are not necessarily in any order.

Pitch it at the right level. This means knowing your audience and appreciating what they expect to hear and see.

State your aims clearly.

Lead your audience into it with a story, humorous if possible. A word of warning; don't force humour a flat joke leaves you and the audience embarrassed. Use more of a lighthearted approach if not humorous. Seriousness is out.

Eye contact is essential (possible with small audiences, but pretend with large). This makes the audience feel a part of the demo.

Invite questions and ask questions of the audience.

Remember your time scale. You have planned your demo so try not to be diverted off course with too many digressions.

With respect to time, the audience does not want to watch you spend 20 minutes whittling away at a piece of wood. If any of the processes are long winded prepare a sequence of part turned items. This also means that if you louse up on one piece you get a fresh staff with the next.

At each stage tell the audience exactly what you are doing and why. Describe your method, special techniques, type of wood, chisels, chucks etc..

If you need to address the audience during the turning exercise, stop turning and switch the lathe off, otherwise you'll end up talking to the wood.

If a member of the audience asks a question - stop and repeat the question for all to hear as those at the back probably didn't hear it.

Remember, only a few people close to the lathe will be able to see clearly. It is better and safer to have a reasonable distance between lathe and audience to improve the overall view for the majority.

SAFETY. Before starting the lathe make sure the wood is secure - you may have been distracted by a query whilst doing the final tightening.

Use prepared diagrams to show details to aid your explanations.

As part of your preparation make sure you have everything to hand.

Do not rush anything including your speech. Don't be embarrassed by silence ... a good pause is often very effective. Speak slowly and project your voice to the person the furthest away, don't gabble. Try to keep the voice at a relatively low pitch and do not go on in a monotone rather enthuse, wave your chisel about.

Audience Discipline - a very difficult area - if you have a captive audience try the silent stare at the offending talkers. Invite the culprits to do the presentation. The simplest is to ask them to be quiet as you find it very distracting, if y ou are one of a number of demonstrators or with other things going on around you don't despair, shut your ears to it, get out the throat tablets, raise your voice and get on with it.

The finish. Try and end on a high note, even if it just in your voice and body language. Hopefully you have produced an excellent piece of work (albeit made earlier) which you proudly display and pass round. Now is the time to invite comment and questions.

Your reward - apart from any fees that might be offered - you have a decided buzz knowing that you have achieved your aims with a well presented demonstration, enthralled a responsive audience who hopefully send you off with a standing ovation. A very nice feeling and you will be raring to go the next time.