Public Speaking: How to Present Awards and Control Applause
June 24th, 2009 by Frank DamelioHere is an advanced tip for anyone who presents multiple awards to a large group.
The next time you attend a graduation or awards ceremony, watch and notice…usually the presenter is on a tight agenda; so she requests “everyone please hold your applause until the last award recipient is named.” This request is usually made when there is a large number of recipients for the same award, for example, perfect attendance. Here is what almost always happens: the first name is called, and there is an awkward pause followed by few people clapping; the second name is called and about half the audience applauds, the third name is announced and everyone claps. From that point on, the presenter pauses after each name to allow for applause. Now, she is running into the next presenter’s time on the agenda.
This happens at almost every awards banquet and graduation. Here are the mistakes and how to avoid them:
Mistake 1: Weak verbal request. What makes it weak? It is not followed by a pause. In addition, it is articulated far too quickly. Finish your previous point, pause and slow your rate of speech. In a loud and clear voice state, “To stay on target with our timing, I will be announcing 12 recipients for this award . . . PLEASE . . . HOLD . . YOUR . . . APPLAUSE until the last name is announced.”
Mistake 2: Poor placement of the request. This request will not work if you say anything else before announcing the recipients. An example of this mistake: “Please hold your applause until the final name is announced. All these people have 100% attendance in their programs of study; the first award goes to David Adams . . .” The secret is to make the request and immediately launch right into the names.
Mistake 3: The awkward pause after the first name is announced. If you pause too long after your first announcement, there will be an awkward silence followed by a weak sputtering of clapping, which has that popcorn sound. Here’s the key. You asked them to hold applause until the end, now you must read the names fluidly with only a minor pause between them.
Mistake 4: Not responding to applause. If the audience does applaud, you need to immediately stop and restate your request “I love your enthusiasm, but . . . PLEASE . . . HOLD . . . YOUR . . . APPLAUSE . . .until the end”.
There it is. I’ve seen it done right on rare occasion, but when these mistakes are avoided, the event runs far more smoothly. You avoid awkwardness and keep within your time constraints. Next time you attend an awards banquet or graduation, check in with us, and tell us whether you witnessed these all-to-common mistakes.
Frank
Tags: advanced public speaking tips, awards banquets, BNI awards presentations, Chamber awards presentations, controlling applause, giving awards tip, graduation awards, how to announce awards recipients, how to give awards, how to present awards, MC awards tips, mistakes in presenting awards, mistakes when presenting awards, present awards, public speaking tip
June 24th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Thanks for the post. I just want you to know, I held my applause until I finished reading.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
LOL – that’s funny!!
June 25th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
This is a good tip! 🙂
June 26th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Thanks for the help with “crowd control.”
July 20th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Frank A, thank for checking in!
Bella nox, thanks for the smile 🙂
February 18th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
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January 14th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
I know it’s no where near as good as you interesting posts here but let me at least give you a smile as a form of thanks for your hard work writing this stuff?
A free society is one where it is safe to be unpopular. 🙂