Three Presentation Tips from Rock Bands

These three presentation tips can help you improve one of your most important workplace skills. And to make it fun, they are inspired by rock band performances.

As a TV News Reporter, I had a chance to cover several concerts. This usually saw a photographer and I being taken backstage during the event. At a certain point, we’d be allowed on the floor to get some footage of a couple of songs. Then we’d be escorted out, which was fine, as we needed to put the story together for that night’s newscast.

During the performance, usually we’d be stationed near some of the technical crew, which gives you a different perspective. Even if I wasn’t that into the band, I could appreciate the artistry involved in a performance for thousands of people.

As a motivational keynote speaker, I present to smaller crowds but apply some of the same lessons I see performed by the rock stars. Grow your speaking skills with these three presentation tips:

Have a Setlist

A setlist is the written order of the songs that will be performed for that show. It’s usually hand written and allows everyone to know what’s coming up next.

I do the same thing for my talks. Before the presentation, I grab a few pieces of paper, a marker, and write down the order of my main points. Think of this like a rough outline that I’ll have near me on stage, like next to a glass of water.

While this is not a document that’s going into a museum, it’s extremely important. I like creating a setlist because it:

Gives me a final reminder of 60 to 90 minutes of material.
Serves as my safety net in case I suddenly go blank or a technical problem makes it impossible to share my slides with the audience. While neither has ever happened, I’m glad I’ve prepared.

Change Things Up

To stay connected with their material, musicians will slightly alter their day to day performances. While certain songs will always be performed, others are switched out.

I follow a similar path when speaking. While much of my material will stay the same, a presentation to a healthcare audience will be different than one given to a group of bankers.

I know certain points will resonate more with one audience than another. I may research the audience to find the right fit. Sometimes this also involves making sure I’m using correct terminology and not casually remarking on their hot-button issues.

In your presentations, do you need to customize your talk to better fit your audience? If you’re speaking as part of an event, where you are following several other speakers, can you do anything to make the messaging and the energy of your talk different from the others?

If you deliver regular reports and your audience gives you a lot of blank stares, it may be time to give your talk a makeover.

Prepare

It’s a fantasy to think a rock and roll band jumps off a tour bus and immediately performs on stage. The musicians spend a lot of time checking out the venue.

This can include things like sound system checks, sitting in the audience to see the view of the stage from different perspectives, and adjusting to different stage sizes. Most bands also have a list of technical requirements that are shared with the venue.

The same kind of preparation works well in public speaking. It’s always smart to arrive early. While this prevents the stress that can come from arriving late, it also gives you a chance to get a feel for the room and the audience.

If there are any technical problems that have to be worked out, it’s good to address them early, so they won’t be a distraction later.

And while I’ve used microphones for decades, I always want to do a sound check. Audience come to hear you speak and not struggle with a sound system.

Even if you’re doing a small office presentation, make sure you’re prepared and understand the room. You don’t want your message to be lost due to a preventable problem.

Finally, while it doesn’t happen often, I’m ready in case I need to shorten my talk, due to the overall event falling behind schedule. I know what I can cut and do it in a way where they audience won’t feel like they’re missing something.

Could you cut your presentation in half if the boss suddenly cut your time? This when preparation really pays off.