How to Deliver a Really Entertaining Speech After Dinner: Multiple Intelligences for Speaking, Part Three

Have you ever been asked to give a speech after dinner?

I want you to imagine a room full of 200 university track and field athletes from all over Australia.

It is 15th May 1989 at 21:05 at the South Perth Civic Centre.

The Vice Chancellor and his wife are seated at the head table.

The athletes are consuming copious amounts of alcohol after a tough three days of competition that is now over.

The only events left are the unofficial ones, the skull races and the nude 400 meters!

I rise to speak as the after-dinner speaker, having been a three-time Australian University Games champion and a lowercase “c” media celebrity.

Throughout the speech, I am continually challenged to drink skull beer, along with the vice chancellor.

The crowd was well lubricated, rowdy, wild and out of control.

I don’t think they remembered a word of my speech, but it was certainly a memorable evening, and despite an invitation, I refused to go back and run in the naked 400 meters after.

The point of this story is that an after-dinner speech is one of the most difficult presentations to give.

The duration usually lasts from eight to twenty-five minutes.

If alcohol is being served, a key rule is never to talk for more than fourteen minutes, because what do people want to do at a dinner party or even a sunset where alcohol is served?

They want to mingle, they want to meet other people, meet other people, and maybe even flirt a little.

There are eight other multiple speech intelligences; keynote, acceptance speech, thank you speech, panelist, training, chairperson, MC and facilitation.

Whatever you do, never try to coach, teach, or facilitate in an after-dinner speech.

Many confident speakers fail badly because they get both context and content wrong.

If you ever have to give a speech after dinner, here are thirteen different criteria to help you structure said speech:

1. Starting point

Since after-dinner speeches are given in a relaxed atmosphere, the best way to plan is to choose appropriate personal stories that contain humor or war storiesstories that the audience can relate to and keep the mood light.

2. Approach

Light and Sweet it should always be the focus of an after-dinner speech, depending on the occasion.

3. Media

While you may have been chosen for your knowledge of the subject at hand, be sure to keep your pitch witty and charming.

4. Styling

The style should be complementary to the dinner theme drawing attention to why people are there.

5.Interaction

Depending on the type of function you are speaking at, the interaction should be kept low to mediumafter all, you are the one to speak.

6. Preparation

Although you may not feel the need to prepare for an after-dinner speech, high the preparation will help you stay in line with the theme of the evening.

Remember that it is an honor to speak and with this comes a great responsibility.

Don’t try to improvise!

7.Entertainment

Speeches after dinner should be very entertaining, remember light and sweet.

8. Content and Experience

While it may have been chosen because it has some bearing on the topic, e.g. Father of the bride at his daughter’s wedding, he is not expected to give an academic speech, so the content and experience are still relatively low.

9. Scripts

As with the preparation, the script must be high. Make every word count. Delete unnecessary words.

10. Essay

IN high The degree of rehearsal will make a big difference when you have to stand in front of an audience.

Always sound check and feel comfortable with the set and lighting before your speech.

11. Narrative

Since stories often appear in after-dinner speeches, the narrative aspect is high. Make sure people can relate to your stories by tying them back to the theme of the night.

12. Finish

The goal of an after-dinner speech is usually celebrate The occasion. Incorporate this call to action. For example, if appropriate, you could have everyone carry their glass instead of the situation.

13. Summary questions

Your main task is to entertain, ask you a summary and review question, ‘They laughed?’