Comments on: Getting attention — the comedy approach

By: Matt Moore

Matt Moore — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:31:03 +0000

BTW I have had a go at stand up comedy. The first time I did OK. The second time I died.

And dying on stage is very important. Every good presenter will have died at least once.

By: Matt Moore

Matt Moore — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:29:56 +0000

The first set of training that presenters should do is toastmasters or something like that.

The second is improv. Because getting attention is good and being present is even better.

Being present kinda meets McKee’s proviso as well – if you’re present then you’re alive to the audience. And in being alive to them you can work with them to not only satisfy their current desires but to meet the desires they never knew they had.

Johnnie Moore is pretty awesome in this area…

By: finiteattentionspan

finiteattentionspan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:29:24 +0000

Hi Mark,

A very belated ‘thank you’ for your kind words :)

Like you, I’m intrigued by the relationship between stand-up comedy (and how it holds our attention) and ‘ordinary’ presentation skills. I bought — but am ashamed to say, haven’t finished, because of being preoccupied with work — Oliver Double’s getting the joke, from which I’m hoping to learn some tips and tricks about getting and keeping attention. It almost feels wrong to try to deconstruct comedy (c.f. destroying interest in perfectly good books by studying them at school), but I think there’s too much good stuff in there not to!

Cheers,

Chris