You must involve the audience in what you are reading. But how? By looking at the audience for as long as you can, exploiting the potential of your voice and being fully committed to what you are reading.
Good morning everyone,
the title of my speech is “Reading in public without sending everybody to sleep”.
Oh, sorry …. maybe I don’t need to tell you this, but everybody should be able to see you. If not your body, then at least your face. As you know, we all like to look at the face of someone we are listening to.
So, adapt your facial expression to what you are reading. A happy face when you read something funny, serious when sad and so on.
While reading, try to look at the audience for as long as you can.
I know you’re worried about losing your place on the page, precisely … But the more you read the text and practise it, the easier it will be. And then you can also use this trick: lift your eyes from the page and raise your head when you’re coming towards the end of a sentence. It’s easy and looks professional.
Keep your head straight when you read. This position allows your voice to be more audible by the audience. Can you all hear me?
The volume is very important, especially since you may well not have a microphone. So a good piece of advice is to place your script in such a way that you don’t have to lower your head.
Obviously you want your audience to be involved in what you’re reading. But that sense of involvement has to start with you. It might be a poem, a report or some technical stuff , it doesn’t matter what. The audience must get the feeling that you are fully committed to what you are reading.
And finally, perhaps even more than when you give a talk, you must exploit all the potential of your voice. Vary the tone and give rhythm to your reading. And whatever you do, don’t go on and on in a monotone.
And finally, take it easy and don’t read too fast. Remember to take pauses. Otherwise the audience won’t be able to keep up with you.
