called a hook or a grabber.
I don’t want to close my eyes; it makes me feel awkward and exposed to be in a group of people with my eyes closed. Because of that, I keep my eyes open. The problem is when I keep my eyes open, I feel like some sort of horrible nonconformist rebel. I feel awkward with my eyes closed and I feel guilty if they are open. Either way, I just feel bad. Besides, half of the time when speakers tell audience members to close their eyes, they forget to tell us when we can open them. If you are wanting me to imagine a story, just tell me to imagine it, don’t make me close my eyes (rant over).
You should plan your opening to be intentional and with power. “Can everybody hear me” is a weak and uncertain statement and this is not the first impression you want to leave. Do a microphone check before the audience members arrive and have someone stand in different corners of the room to make sure you can be heard. Don’t waste your valuable speech time with questions that you should already know the answer to.
You should know that before you begin. Even if the presentations for the day are running over and you are the last speaker, you should ask the MC before you begin. Always plan your first words with power.
You should make your slides big, really big. Test out your slides in advance of your speech, walk all around the room and make sure you can read them. Have a friend check them out as well. You should know they are big enough because you planned for it and tested it.
People really hate having things taken away, not to mention that your audience may want to take notes on their devices. Chances are you are speaking to adults, let them determine if it is appropriate to have out their technology.
Stop apologizing! Stop making excuses! While these lines may be true, they just come of as excuses and can make the audience either feel like you don’t want to be there, or they just feel sorry for you.
Talking about your nervousness will make you more nervous and will make them look for signs of your nervousness. Just start your speech.
Do not start with hesitation. Plan the first words, memorize the first words, practice the first words. Do not start with “Ok, so um, now I’d like…” Plan strong and start strong.
Do Not Discuss Your Business with People Watching…Really! I Mean It! Many of us are giving and listening to presentations in an online format. I have attended numerous presentations this year through Zoom where I have to sit and watch while the organizers engage in personal small talk or deal with the details of the presentation. This is how the speech I recently attended began. “Donna, you are going to share your screen, right?” “Yes. I have my PowerPoint ready to go. Will you push “record” when I give the signal?” “Sure. Where did you say that button is again? Do you think we should wait five more minutes, I think we had more who were coming? Dave, what was the total we were expecting?” “Yeah, we had 116 sign up, but the reminders went out late so this may be all we have. We can give them a few more minutes to log on.” “Donna, How is your dog? Is she still struggling with her cone since her spay surgery? My dog never would wear the cone –she tore her stitches out and broke her wound open. It was terrible. Well, it looks like it is about time to begin, thank you everyone for coming.” If you are organizing an event online, hosting a speech online, giving a presentation online–please keep it professional. Most platforms will allow you to keep the audience in a waiting room until it is time to start. If you have a business to deal with, keep the audience out until you have everything ready to go. Once the audience is in the meeting, you should engage the audience in group-type small talk or you should just start the presentation. In professional settings, you should start the meeting on time. Why punish those who showed up on time to wait for those who aren’t there yet?
I asked my long-time friend, Bill Rogers, to write an excerpt to add to the book. I met Bill when he was the Chief Development Officer for a hospital in Northwest Arkansas and I met him again when he was reinventing himself as a college student getting a Master’s Degree in the theater. He would love to share a symbolic cup of coffee with you and give you advice about public speaking.
Perfect morning for a walk, isn’t it? Join me for a cup of coffee? Wonderful. Find us a table and I’ll get our coffee.
There you go; just like you like it. There’s nothing like a great cup of coffee on the patio of your neighborhood coffee shop, is there?
Now that you’re settled in your favorite chair, take a sip, and let that glorious caffeine kick in and do its stuff. Okay, let’s talk.
So, you were asking me about public speaking.
Well, let’s see. Where do we begin?
One of the first pieces of advice I ever received was to imagine that every member of your audience is sitting there in their underwear! Yeah, right. That never worked for me. I tried it once with a local civic group of community leaders both male and female. If the intent of that tidbit is to make you relax, it certainly didn’t work for me. It just made me more self-conscious…and more nervous. I not only got distracted, but I also lost my train of thought, I started sweating, and, of course, imagined myself standing there without clothes. Needless to say, that speech was a disaster and I’ve never used it again. I suggest you don’t either.
In the early days, I also relied very heavily on my typed-up speech. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that unless you find yourself reading it word for word as I did. Nothing is more boring nor puts an audience to sleep quicker than a speaker with their nose down reading a speech. There’s no connection and connection with your audience is key.
As you know, I love theatre and I’ve done a bit of acting over the years. Early on, I learned that the quicker I learned my lines, the more I could play, experiment, and shape my character. It relaxed me and gave me enormous freedom. It led me to find a mantra for myself: “With discipline comes freedom.” This freedom will allow you to improvise as your audience or situation dictates while still conveying the core message of your presentation. That discipline and its resulting freedom apply to public speaking of any kind and, I think, will serve you well.
Another old adage we’ve all heard is Aristotle’s advice. You know the one. No? Well, roughly, it’s to tell your audience what you’re going to say, say it, and then tell them what you just said. That’s the basic formula for public speaking. And it works as a good place to start.
However, effective speaking is much more and, to me, it starts with a story or even a simple sentence.
You know the feeling you get when you read the first sentence of a good book and it just reaches out and grabs you? That should be your goal with every presentation. One sentence to capture your audience’s attention. Something that causes them to lean forward. Something that sparks their imagination.
It doesn’t have to be all that profound either. It can be something very simple. A personal story that relates to your topic. A relevant fact or statistic that defines or illustrates the issue or subject matter at hand.
A couple of classics come to mind. The first is Alice Walker’s, “The Color of Purple.”
“You better not tell nobody but God.”
And the second one is from my favorite novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee.
“When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm broken at the elbow.”
Both sentences hook you immediately. A few simple words speak volumes. After reading or hearing those words, you naturally lean in. You want to learn more. You want to find out what happens next. Every effective speech or presentation does the same thing.
Of course, make sure that the first and last thing you say to your audience is both relevant and appropriate. I share this out of an abundance of caution. I once worked for an internationally recognized and well-respected children’s research hospital and I was given the privilege to speak at a national educational convention. The room was filled wall to wall with teachers. I thought I’d be cute and add a little levity. I opened my presentation with this line, “You know, I’ve had nightmares like this…” Instead of the roars of laughter, I was expecting, a wave of silence ensued. Not only was the line not funny, but it was also wholly inappropriate and I immediately lost my audience. Not my best day. Learn from my mistakes.
Finally, let’s touch on the importance of approaching a speech as a conversation. You and I are sitting here enjoying our coffee and having a friendly, relaxed conversation. Strive for that every chance you get. You may not always have that luxury. Some speeches and presentations simply demand formality. But even in those cases, you can usually make it somewhat conversational. I always try to write my speeches in a conversational style. Like I’m talking to a friend…or trying to make a new one.
So, to recap: tell a story, learn your lines, hook your audience with a simple sentence, close with a question or call to action, use repetition, keep it conversational, treat your audience as a friend, and give yourself permission to relax.
Above all, be yourself. Allow yourself to be as relaxed as you are with those closest to you. If you’re relaxed, if you try to think of your audience as a friend, then, in most cases, they too will relax and they will root for you. Even if they disagree with what you are telling them, they will respect you and they will listen.
How about another cup?
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Advanced Public Speaking Copyright © 2021 by Lynn Meade is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
by Matt Eventoff
The audience is seated. The lights dim and the room quiets. All eyes are on the dais. All too often, this is what is heard to open the speech or presentation:
“Hi, thank you for having me. It is an honor to be here with you today. My name is ____ _______, and I am going to be speaking to you today about_______.”
Looking around, here is what I tend to see:
1) People reviewing a physical copy of the program, their notes, even the labeling on the sugar on the table;
2) T-U-T/T-O-T – Typing under table/typing on table. The smartphones are out in force; it is not unusual to see laptops, netbooks or tablets out and being utilized as well;
3) Eyes looking up. Eyes looking down;
4) Eyes looking everywhere but at the speaker.
So how do you effectively open a speech or presentation?
There are a number of effective ways to open a speech or presentation. Here are four:
1) A Quote – Name a topic, and more often than not there is a great quote or saying that suits your subject matter perfectly. An example – one that I often use to open a presentation dealing with public speaking:
“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” – Mark Twain
2) A “What If” Scenario – Drawing your audience into your presentation is important and doing it immediately works wonders. Getting your audience thinking right away by painting a scenario is very effective.
3) An “Imagine” Scenario – Same thought process. Putting your audience members directly into the presentation by allowing each member to visualize a scenario is a great tool
4) A Question – Rhetorical or literal; When someone is posed with a question, whether an answer is called for or not, that person intuitively answers, even if just in his or her mind, and now that person is involved.
I will be periodically adding more opening tips. Stay tuned…
Excellent information. I would love to hear your thoughts for best strategies on closings. Thanks Matt.
Good Points, Matt.
The Law of Primacy and Recency applies here. http://www.nosweatpublicspeaking.com/the-law-of-primacy-and-recency/
The First and Last things you say will be remembered by the audience. That’s why we need a Strong Opening and Strong Closing.
Thanks for the Post!
We have been trained as children to want a type of start to a speech that is not mentioned in your list…
When I read my daughter a story, it begins always the same way.
When a teacher reads a story to her class, it always begins the same way…
“Once upon a time…”
There is a business version of this start…
Moment in time, situation, aha moment…
“Three weeks ago i was at dinner with John and Mary. Over dessert, Mary said something to me that has changed the way I look at [topic of speech]…”
Nothing gets a crowd leaning in than a simple story about everyday life.
Another way to open a speech is to just dive right in to a story. No pleasantries, no introductions, just start telling a story. This immediately commands the audience’s attention.
the advic eof starting the speech was great…..it really worked…thanks!!
Great points……they were great help for me…thanx!!
Great post. A strong start makes a strong presentation, and these are good ideas to get the show on the road
that was the best thsnk you so much!
it was very nice and a easy one for the students.thanks
nice information matt i like so much..
Comments are closed.
What makes an exceptional presentation? Obviously, it needs to provide plenty of data to support the presenter’s primary objective. But, believe it or not, the heart of a presentation— the gist, the meat, the essence of it— isn’t what makes audiences sit up and take notice.
It doesn’t matter how flashy or informative a presentation (even one designed with a PowerPoint alternative ) might be. It’s a strong opening and closing that will make an audience care. Without these key elements— and slides to represent each— all the research and preparation put into a presentation are for naught. An effective presentation will start out strong and end on a powerful note.
Attracting audience members’ attention from the beginning of your presentation is vital if there’s any hope of getting them to care about what you have to say. Once they’ve tuned you out, it’s all over. Therefore, make a bold statement, intrigue them and stimulate their curiosity of what will come next.
According to Darlene Price , president of Well Said Inc., and author of, “Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results,” when we speak, we only have about 60 seconds to capture an audience's attention, establish our credibility, familiarize the audience to our topic and motivate it to listen.
“You need to put the art in the start — the most important part of the work,” Price told Business Insider.
At the same time, the end of a presentation is the best chance to leave a lasting impression on an audience. Don’t just describe your final point and then let your presentation trail off, leaving audiences to guess when you’re done. A powerful presentation ending will include calls to action, visions of the future and words to live by.
Do you have plenty of content and professionally-designed slides for your presentation, but need some help opening and closing with a bang? Check out these eight memorable ways to open and close a presentation.
Instead of ending your presentation with a thank you, try starting with one. By welcoming your audience and thanking it for attending your presentation, for giving you the opportunity to speak or make a pitch to it, you start the whole thing off with a positive first impression.
This step of public speaking not only shows your sincerity, but it also establishes a sense of respect, trust and community with your audience. Plus, by showing your appreciation in the beginning, you leave yourself room to end with a strong call to action.
Get your audience on board with listening by making a bold statement to hook its attention. A confident assertion signals confidence and peaks the audience’s interest, but don’t make a statement that is just crazy or serves no other purpose than providing shock value.
Whatever the statement, the rest of your presentation has to back it up. Examples of strong hooks include short, yet surprising or motivational stories, thought-provoking analogies or metaphors, shocking statistics related to the presentation topic or even unique yet inspiring quotes by well-known figures from the past or present.
It’s easy for audience members to lose focus in between stages of even the most titillating presentations. Using strong linking and transitional phrases help bring them back around. These statements are the glue that holds a presentation together.
Strategic transitions will help an audience move from one idea to the next. To bridge the gap between a hook and the rest of the presentation, try asking, for example, open-ended and rhetorical questions that push the audience to ponder about what is coming next.
Make eye contact with your audience members and make sure they are still engaged with the information you’re presenting. Carefully-chosen transitions are powerful ways to not only introduce the next segment, but also pull in an audience’s attention all over again.
Telling a brief, personal story early in a presentation is an effective way to connect with an audience . When people hear the speaker tell his or her own story, they tend to pay attention.
Plus, telling a 60- to 90-second narrative shows the audience you’re invested in the topic and opens an opportunity to show you’re passionate about the information you’re presenting. If you don’t have any personal experience with the topic, you can substitute a historic story, a fable or an anecdote, instead.
Be sure to follow a story arc, including a main character, a challenge or obstacle relating to the presentation topic, a tale of how that challenge was overcome and what lessons were learned by the protagonist that can also be applied to the audience.
Why should the audience care? You’ve grabbed its attention with a hook, and you’ve transitioned to a personal story to which it can relate. Now you want to engage audience members with how the advice or plan presented will benefit them, their business, their loved ones or their financial stability.
Don’t assume the audience already knows. This is also an optimal opportunity to show the audience, not simply stop with telling it. Using a sense of optimism, paint a vivid picture of the future benefits with descriptive and emotional words. Once the audience envisions the positive outcome, it will start to believe in the possibility.
After you’ve presented the primary content, it’s important to summarize the presentation’s key takeaways before transitioning to a strong end. Let the audience know you’re starting to wrap things up, and make sure it’s on board with what it should take away from the presentation, using simple, straightforward language.
Often, savvy presenters will break down their content to three takeaways and summarize those, but others will round off their message by referencing back to the opening hook. Doing so not only summarizes the presentation, but also completes the circle of the topic, connecting back to the start.
If a question was posed in the opening, it can be answered in the takeaway. It can also be a prime opportunity to explain the moral of a story told earlier in the presentation.
Any effective presentation will feature a call-to-action toward the end. What was your purpose for giving the presentation, and what do you want the audience to do after receiving your message?
Again, don’t assume the audience automatically knows the desired next step, and don’t use overly flowery language that leaves any room for imagination. Be clear and concise. The clearer and more specific the call-to-action, the more people will take the advice.
Many speakers will end their presentations with the call to action. But we also like to finish everything off with a clincher— one last story, compelling statistic or inspirational quote that serves as the cherry on top of an ice cream presentation.
Don’t take this opportunity to summarize the previous content; another rehashing will just bore both the speaker and the audience. Instead, end the presentation with humor or inspiration. Find a relative and memorable yet unique quotation or story from master storytellers like Mark Twain or Steve Jobs, presenters who often left audiences with ideas to ponder long after they parted company.
Including a statement so profound that it later turns into a soundbite or a meme can extend the presentation’s life far beyond its scheduled time frame. The clincher is also an effective ending slide to a visual presentation.
What elements do you most use when developing effective presentation openings and closings?
Samantha is an independent journalist, editor, blogger and content manager. Examples of her published work can be found at sites including the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and Buzzfeed.
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7 memorable ways to open a speech or presentation.
After hours of preparation, the moment to deliver your speech has arrived. You’re standing before the podium, all eyes on you, with confidence that no one could take away. Then you begin…
“Hello, everyone. Thank you for having me. My name is ______ _______, and I am going to be speaking to you today about _______. To begin, _______ is important because…”
Suddenly people begin shifting in their seats, checking their phones, reading the program, talking to one another and doing anything but paying attention to you.
Your opening often determines how long the audience will “tune in” to your presentation. If you bore your audience right from the start, there is little chance that your message will effectively get across.
How do you effectively open a speech or presentation to prevent this from happening? Here are seven effective methods to open a speech or presentation:
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When writing a speech the introduction and the ending are just as important as the body of your speech. The first 30 seconds of your speech must grab your audience immediately. Your ending should be strong and powerful and leave your audience with something to remember, whether it be a thought, idea or feeling.
Define your audience for the speech to, what is the topic and focus and how long does it need to be. Make a outline of your ideas for the speech. Be specific and clear about each point that you wish to speak about. Identify what the theme and purpose is.
Create a statement that captures your audience's interest immediately. Make it dramatic or humorous, depending on the type of talk you are giving. The opening statement should capture your audience's attention or "hook" them. For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech captured the audience by stating the date, along with the dramatic words, "a date which will live in infamy."
Go back to your main ideas and review what result you wish to have by the end of your speech. Determine how you want the audience to feel in the beginning, middle and end of the speech. A good example is famous baseball player Lou Gehrig's farewell speech. He closes his speech by referencing his bad break, but that he still has a lot to live for, which offered encouragement to him and to his fans.
Begin writing your ending by identifying the call to action that should close your speech. You may have to go back to your purpose to figure this out. Your closing depends on whether you want to motivate or inspire your audience, persuade them to your point of view or to honor or celebrate a person or event. John F. Kennedy's inaugural address is a good example of a motivating conclusion. Kennedy closed his speech by reminding the American people to "go forth to lead the land we love..."
Summarize the main points of your speech and provide some further food for thought for your listeners. Leave your audience with positive memories of your speech. End with a final thought or emotion, which can take the form of an inspiring quote, personal anecdote or call-back to an earlier point in the speech.
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Short opening remarks for a program.
If you’ve ever been to a corporate program, you know that everyone pays close attention to the welcome speech.
The opening remarks are what entice the audience to listen with interest or not want to participate at all.
Given this, short opening remarks for a program are quite significant and should be both lengthy enough to appropriately address everyone in the room and concise enough to avoid boring anyone.
A compelling first line and introduction can quickly grab the audience’s attention. Therefore, making a good first impression is crucial to maintain their interest and excitement throughout the entire event.
Using short speeches is useful when the speaker wants to keep it straightforward, succinct, and impactful without detracting from the main event.
1. You are welcome to [program name]. We’re so happy you could be here with us today.
2. We appreciate your attendance at [program name] and wish you a good [morning/afternoon/evening].
5. I’m glad you could join us for [program name]. We are eager to get started since we have a fantastic program of events planned.
8. Here you are at [program name]. We’re so happy you could join us today to take part and learn.
9. Thank you for attending [program name] this today. We are eager to share with you ideas that will transform your life.
Here is an example of an opening speech for an event that you can use as a model or template if you’re unsure of what makes a opening speech.
2. Welcome to our award show. I am _. We feel honoured to kickstart our prestigious ceremony. We have a special guest who will be unveiled soon. Meanwhile, sit back and have fun.
3. I _ welcome everyone to our 11 biannual event in our department. It’s wonderful seeing how many people chose to be here. Your enthusiasm is contagious. We have a lineup of events that will surely tickle your toes. Please stay tuned as the events unfold. Enjoy!
1. You are welcome to [party name]. We are very happy that you could share in our celebration.
4. We’ve got a wonderful [party/celebration] planned for you today, and we can’t wait to unveil them to you.
5. We appreciate your attendance at [party name]. For you, we have a fun schedule of events and surprises planned.
7. Welcome to [name of party]. We are looking forward to celebrating with you and having a terrific time.
10. Welcome to [party name] and good morning. We’re so happy you could join us in our celebration. Let’s make this a celebration to remember!
2. Welcome to the conference this year! We join together to exchange ideas, insights, and experiences with tremendous excitement and enthusiasm. We’re all here because [conference topic] is something we’re passionate about, and I do not doubt that the coming days will be full of insightful conversations, new connections, and lots of motivation. I appreciate your presence and wish you a wonderful time.
4. Welcome to the conference this year! We are honored to have you all here with us, and we can’t wait to exchange ideas and experiences, as well as to learn from one another. We’re all here because [conference topic] is something we’re all enthusiastic about, and I do not doubt that the coming days will be full of insightful conversations and fresh connections. I appreciate your coming, and I hope you have a great time.
5. Welcome to the conference this year! We are incredibly appreciative of those who put this program together. Thank you for making time for this. Have a blast!
2. Welcome everyone! We are really happy to have the chance to collaborate online and share knowledge. Feel free to ask questions, share ideas and more importantly, network.
3. Welcome to the online event for this year, everyone! We appreciate having you all here with us (virtually, of course), and we can’t wait to share our knowledge and experiences with you all. We’re all here because [event topic] is close to our hearts, and I do not doubt that the coming hours will be full of fascinating conversations and new connections. So let’s make sure to leave this gathering with a sense of empowerment! Thank you again for coming.
Make every new students feel at home in your school with these short welcome speech for new students:
3. Welcome! We are overjoyed to have you here with us and are eager to get to know you all. We wish you the best of luck and hope you study and develop as much as you can while you are at [school/university]. Please inquire if you need assistance and ask plenty of questions. We’re here to encourage yo your success. Welcome again to school/university!
As a teacher, it makes a big difference when your students warm up to you. It makes learning a breeze for both of you. Get started with one welcome speech for students by teacher from this list.
2. Hello, pupils! I’m glad to have you all in my class today. This year, I’m thrilled to be your teacher, and I’m also eager to learn from you. We’ll be working twice as hard. No room for laziness. Ask if you need anything or if you have any questions. I promise to be your biggest support.
3. Greetings, students! I feel privileged to be your teacher this year. Tell me your name and what you do in the comments. We have a lot to learn and do together, and I am sure we can accomplish a lot. If you have questions or reservations, feel free to spill. Have a nice day.
If you feel overwhelmed writing a welcome speech for religious gathering, check the following for ideas:
1. Good morning everyone. Welcome to _. We feel blessed to have you hear today. Thank you for choosing to honor God. If you’re worshiping with us for the first time, you’re welcome to this big family. Enjoy the service.
3. It’s a wonderful thing to be alive, and it’s more wonderful to behold your lovely faces. If you’re just joining us, welcome to this part of the Kingdom. You are loved.
6. Hello and welcome again to God’s house. As we’ve gathered, let God’s spirit dwell within us. Allow yourself to enjoy God. If there’s a new person beside you, tell them welcome to church.
9. It makes my heart glad that you’re all here. To the newbies, you have a special place in our hearts. I pray that God’s love overwhelms you in worship today.
A short welcome speech for church can be a great way to make your church me
1. A big welcome to church. Thank you for choosing to worship God in this place. We hope you have a great time here.
At times, there will be need to make opening remarks sample for different purposes. You don’t want to be stuck when those periods come.
Prepare ahead with these samples below:
3. Welcome to this year’s charity event, everyone! We are incredibly appreciative of the chance to band together and help [cause/charity]. We are all present because we value the value of giving back and the strength of the community. We appreciate your presence; let’s work together to change the world.
5. Welcome to this year’s graduation ceremony, graduates, family members, and friends! We are thrilled to have the chance to recognize the accomplishments of our graduates. This is a unique event, one on which we should reflect on all that we have accomplished and look ahead to all that we will accomplish in the future. Thank you for coming, and on this historic occasion, congrats to our graduates!
80 template of attractive short welcome message for customers on whatsapp, instagram, online store.
Opening speech generator.
Whether you are opening for a small gathering such as minor events or a big one like global conferences, public speaking always gives people stage fright. If you are nervous, you have all the reasons to feel that way. You must already know it since you are here, but one helpful tip to combat nervousness is preparation. That said, turn on your gears and practice your speech writing skills as you compose your opening speech.
1. general opening speech.
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An opening speech is a talk that people give to welcome guests and give a brief overview of what will happen in an event. People give this type of speech during formal and informal gatherings. Just as the name states, the purpose of an opening speech is to open programs.
Giving an opening statement means giving the people something to measure for their first impression. When you get on that stage and give your speech, you are doing the first performance of the event itinerary . It is your responsibility to set the vibe for the entirety of the gathering. That said, you should ensure to give a grand opening speech.
The first words that come out of your mouth when you hold the microphone are a defining factor in the quality of your speech. In writing this segment, ensure to incorporate a hook. It should be effective enough to captivate and retain the attention of your audience throughout your whole speech. One method that will help you to devise your introduction is by conducting an audience analysis . Doing this will give you an idea of how to catch the attention of your listeners.
Of course, one of the purposes of giving an opening speech at every event is to welcome the guests. Convey how thankful the organizers are for their acceptance of the event invitation . Also, do not forget to thank them for sparing time for the program. If there are important people on your attendance list , you should show them your appreciation by giving them a special mention.
The next step is to write the part where you explain the reason for holding the event. To make things interesting, you can give a very brief history or a fascinating fact about the program. Ensure to compose this segment properly. This part is what will give the audience an idea of what to expect for the ceremony.
In giving a welcome speech for guests , you should not consume too much of the people’s time. That said, after the previous steps, you should now start coming up with a conclusion. In concluding your speech, you should once again thank the guests. After that, you should introduce the next speaker or performer.
Good speech openings are those that can rouse the emotions of the audience. Despite that, you should tailor your introduction based on the formality of the gathering you are attending. For example, giving an opening speech for an event should be something that would brighten the atmosphere. On the other hand, when giving a welcome speech for conference , you should try a more formal approach and include essential meeting details.
Aside from mentioning your name, there are other things you should include in your self-introduction speech . Before deciding what details to add to what you will say, you should first consider your audience and the formality of the setting. Despite that, one universal tip that is appropriate for multiple circumstances is to give a brief background of yourself and your accomplishments.
In giving a speech, it is always advisable to compose a speech outline and practice what you will say. Another necessary thing that you should consider is how you will establish a connection with your listeners. One way to do this is by maintaining eye contact with your audience. Also, during your speech, you should use appropriate hand gestures.
Giving opening speeches are a heavy responsibility. Knowing that you would be the first person to go up the podium can make a person’s heartbeat twice as fast as it usually would. That said, you should prepare ahead and secure to write a killer opening speech. That way, you can walk towards the mic with confident steps.
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Create an opening speech for a community event
Help me write an opening speech for an art exhibition
Remember: Less is more.
A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.
As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.
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The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about resetting the relationship between central and local government and encouraging more devolution across England.
I am a creature of local government, so hopefully you’ll find as a Secretary of State, I truly understand what you’re trying to achieve. And I want to help you, and enable you, and recognise the challenges that you face overall. And I’m delighted that my first speech as Deputy Prime Minister, is here with you, as local leaders as you keep our country running.
Having come from local government myself, I know first hand the important work that you do. So the first thing I wanted to say was thank you. Thank you for everything that you’ve done. It’s not been an easy, certainly with the pandemic and everything else, it’s not been an easy time for local government. And I wanted to say thank you.
And this Labour government will start by resetting our relationship with local government and rebuilding its foundations. That means going back to basics and delivering good and reliable services for people across Britain. Being respected for the job that I know you all do. So no more gimmicks and slogans, but the hard yards of governing in the interests of working people. And in my first week in the job, I put local government back where it belongs, at the heart of my department’s name and mission. So I’m proud to stand here as the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
As you know, I’m joined here by our Minister of State for Local Government, Jim McMahon. And Jim has run a council for years, and his experience and will stand him in good stead, hopefully, to help understand the challenges that you face.
And I’m also delighted to congratulate Louise Gittins as the new chair of the LGA, who’s had a huge amount of experience at the heart of local government, and will provide great leadership. I’m absolutely sure of that. And I also want to welcome Kevin Bentley, Bev Craig, Joe Harris and Marianne Overton as Vice Chairs as well. And with Jim and I, and this LGA team, you have a team who believes in local government and local power.
I know the biggest crisis facing local government is financial. I won’t shy away from that. Demand for services are up, and so are your costs. [political content removed]
[political content removed] But it doesn’t have to be like this. You told me you need more stability and certainty to plan for the long-term. And we will provide this through long-term integrated funding settlements.
We will end the Dragon’s Den approach, as I see it, of the bidding wars between local authorities and instead show you some respect with long-term funding giving you the flexibility to spend it where it is needed.
What everyone in this room knows, we must also reform funding for local government and sort out these inefficiencies. We will start by reforming the local audit system to support value for money for the taxpayer.
The Prime Minister was clear from his first speech in Downing Street about the importance of local leaders in our national mission. Our English Devolution Bill will be a touch paper for growth handing local leaders the powers to get growth going, raising living standards and tackle the inequality that’s been holding us back for too long. And we know that we can’t do that without you.
Let me be crystal clear. This is not just about empowering mayors. Local government will always have a seat at the table and a voice in our government. Nothing works without strong local government. That’s why I will bring you into the heart of my department as a true partnership. The local services that you provide keep our country running. And I know this as a constituency MP.
I want to position you at the very heart of our five missions. Your key partners to deliver the 1.5 million homes, as well as the secure affordable council and social homes we will deliver, the key partners in delivering safer streets and bringing our high streets back into life. And of course, you are key partners in delivering that critical frontline social care, [political content removed].
These are the foundations of a good life. And we have to get them right, and work together to rebuild them. But devolution is a huge opportunity for everyone in this room. That’s why I wrote earlier this week, to invite you to join the devolution revolution. This is a historic moment in our country’s history. For too long, a Westminster government has hoarded power and held our country back. That’s meant poor decisions that work against rather than for working people. Elected local leaders have been forced to beg for scraps at the whim of Whitehall.
It’s time to take back control. With a full reset of the relationship between local and central government, we will make it easier for you to come together and form combined authorities. This means access to new powers over skills, transport, housing planning and employment support. And this is how together we will deliver growth in every corner of the country and the housing, and the education and the jobs that will go with it.
Another big area where I hope we can make a breakthrough together is on housing and planning. This is crucial to our ambitions to get Britain building the homes and infrastructure we need, especially when it comes to clean energy to grow our economy.
For the last 14 years, couples have been priced out of owning their own home, renters have been living in damp cold and mouldy homes, and too many people have been living on the streets with nowhere to call home. We know that this is an important issue for you too. We are wasting no time in getting on with the job and taking the tough decisions.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill announced in yesterday’s King’s Speech will speed up the planning system to deliver the homes and the infrastructure your communities need. I know that this will mean asking more from local councils. This is why as part of our package, local planning departments will benefit from a boost in the number of planners and our take back control unit will work with you so that you can once again have a strong negotiating hand with the developers.
We will publish an updated, growth focused, National Planning Policy Framework by the end of this month. This will reintroduce mandatory housing targets, help prioritise brownfield land for development and include a requirement to review greenbelt boundaries where necessary.
As I mentioned, along with a 1.5 million new homes pledge, we also make it a priority to build new affordable homes and review Right to Buy to prevent precious council homes from being sold and not replaced.
Our aim is to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. The best way to prevent and tackle homelessness alongside our commitments finally abolishing the Section 21 no-fault evictions.
As council leaders, one of the biggest pressures you face is the issue of homelessness. You’re stuck in a doom loop with soaring temporary accommodation costs, crippling council budgets preventing you from fixing the long-term problems. There is now a record number of children in temporary accommodation. This is a stain on our society. I know that we all want to do everything we can to put this right, which means learning the lessons from the past and working with local leaders like yourself to take action on all forms of homelessness.
Yes, this means building more homes. But I’m determined to work across government, in partnership with you to develop a strategy to get us back on track on ending homelessness. So whether we’re getting to grips with homelessness, building the homes we need, handing powers to local leaders or giving you the long-term funding certainty you need. It all comes back to local government.
Under this government of service, local government will once again become a service that people can rely on. It’s not always going to be easy. But you have from me today, an absolute commitment to reset the relationship between local and central government. I know how hard you all work. And the last decade has brought greater challenges to you. And you have rose to that challenge. And to your credit and determination, you have continued to provide for your constituents.
I believe together we can build on the foundations on which good lives are built, decent work, secure homes and a strong community. A true partnership that works in the interests of working people. A government that is on your side.
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Hrideep barot.
Ask a million people how to start a speech with a bang and you will get a million different answers.
While some prefer to start their speech with the good old charm of a quote, others prefer to put on their hats of creativity to discover new ways to capture the attention of their audience.
So, yes! There’s not just one best way to start your speech with a bang but you have a whole spectrum of ways- each unique on its own!
Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and relax as I highlight 50 Powerful Speech Opening Lines from some of the World’s Most Influential Speeches along with guidance on how to use each of these techniques in your next speech/presentation.
Alright, let’s dive in!
The attention span of your audience is at its peak at the very beginning of your speech. Shouldn’t you use this to your advantage? Of course, yes!
A strong opening remark captures the attention of your audience, sets the theme of your speech, and most importantly, instills curiosity for the remainder of your speech in the minds of your audience.
Before we analyze each of these speech opening lines, let me provide you with a quick list of techniques (all of which we are going to discuss in great depth!) for you to start your speech/presentation:
3. the power of a prop, 4. quest of a question, 5. hint of humor, 6. share a story, 7. surprise, surprise, surprise, 8. foster interest with facts.
11. activity for the audience, 12. element of fear, 13. invite them into your imagination, 14. quintessential quality of a quote, 100 best speech opening lines (the ultimate resource), 1. don’t just “say” sing a song.
Now, you must be thinking that I’m crazy to even suggest this but hear me out.
Doing something entirely different on stage just makes you stand out from the usual crowd. Because let’s admit it, we expect the speaker to simply start talking and when the speaker does something different, it surprises us and makes us intrigued for the remainder of the talk.
Having said that, singing is any day a safer bet since we all love to swing by the music.
But, if you are not at all confident about your singing skills, don’t go for it! Instead, you can try channeling the power of poetry, something very similar to singing but still light on your vocal cords. Don’t be confused! We’ve written an entire article on Getting Your ‘Wordsworth’: Poetry in Public Speaking , just for you! Do check it out.
Step 1: Pick a relevant yet famous song related to the theme of your speech/presentation
Step 2: Choose how you wish to use the song to present your point. Do you wish to agree with the lyrics? Or disagree with the lyrics?
Step 3: Pick a few lines (not more than 2-3 lines) that suits your theme the best
Step 4: Craft a statement to explain the connection of the song with the topic of your speech/presentation
Step 5: What are you waiting for? Go ahead, warm up your vocal cords, and start singing
1. it is okay not to have a plan by mithila palkar.
(Sings the Song) “Some of you must have seen the video of this song online, and I’ll tell you the story of how I made it.” Mithila Palkar
Budding Indian Actress and Singer, Mithila Palkar started her TED Talk by singing a Marathi Song, a song that went viral on the internet and made her famous.
Instead of simply talking about how she marked the transition from a viral singing star to a renowned actress, she made her audience live her journey by singing the exact same song.
Two things happened here:
No matter how much we deny it, humans are judgemental beings!
We have expectations for every single thing on this planet and when someone challenges these expectations, we’re left shocked.
And as a result, they’ve all our attention. That is exactly my mantra here, “Shock the audience to get their attention!”
Step 1 : Ask yourself, “Who is my audience?” Look for the basic information on their average age, level of education, pre-conceived notions, and cultural background. Still confusing, right? The Importance of Knowing Your Audience When Delivering a Speech is an article that carries the step-by-step guide, just for you.
Step 2 : Based upon this audience analysis, figure out their set expectation regarding the topic you are about to deliver your speech on.
Step 3 : Shred that expectation by challenging that set expectation in your opening remark. Remember not to be offensive and play by the rule of your moral compass
1. grit: the power of passion and perseverance by angela lee duckworth.
“ When I was 27 years old, I left a very demanding job in management consulting for a job that was even more demanding: teaching “ Angela Lee Duckworth
When using this strategy in your speech, it’s critical that you do your research so that you can come up with an unpopular viewpoint on the subject.
Present that unpopular viewpoint as your introductory words, and then gradually (it must be a progressive process) lead your audience to the realization, which is your speech’s main goal. Just like this speaker did!
Visuals overpower our auditory senses! Why not use it to the best of our advantage?
As our immediate reflex, we first see and then, listen. Bringing a unique prop/placard onto the stage would intrigue the audience even before you “actually” start speaking.
Without any further delay, let’s discuss the steps to use props/placards the right way.
Step 1: Prepare a list of props/placards that resonate the best with the theme of your speech/presentation. Don’t just bring anything on the stage!
Step 2: From this list, remove the generic options. For instance, if you are delivering a speech on environmental conservation, bringing a plastic bag on stage is too generic and won’t instill curiosity in the audience’s minds
Step 3: Now, out of all the relevant props/placards, which one do you think is the most convenient and affordable to bring on the stage? And, you have your answer!
Step 4: Once you have decided on the prop, craft a statement to establish the connection between the prop and the theme of your speech
1. why i live a zero waste life by lauren singer.
(brings a jar filled with waste and speaks) “This is all of the trash that I’ve produced in the past 3 years!” Lauren Singer
When you witness the speaker, Lauren, showcasing a jar filled with all of the trash that she has produced in the past three years, you can’t help wonder, “Is this for real?”
Because even the packaging of all the junk food items that we consume every week can easily overflood this jar.
Taking advantage of this embedded curiosity, Lauren structured the rest of her talk talking about all of the steps that she takes to lead a zero-waste life.
(stands in front of a mirror and speaks) “You are bold, you are brilliant and you are beautiful. There is no other woman like you. You are capable…” Ashley Graham
Breaking the norms of a traditional speech, Ashley Graham, instead of staring at the audience, stares at a mirror and speaks a few lines on self-affirmation.
Let’s admit it, most of us are critical of our own bodies, and standing in front of a mirror, we tend to focus upon all the possible flaws.
To set an example of positive self-affirmation, Ashley Graham takes upon herself to set an example with the help of a live exercise.
*does chemistry experiments* Andrew Szydlo
Watch this TED Talk and I’m sure you’ll find all the presence, of all those chemical equipment on stage, fascinating!
When the audience witnesses the efforts you are taking to deliver your talk, they are impressed and trust me, you are halfway there at capturing the attention of your audience.
Now, of course, it doesn’t mean that you put all your heart and soul into getting that perfect prop on stage.
If it’s not feasible, don’t! But if you can, that’s a great way to win your audience!
*smells flower* Dananjaya Hettiarachchi
In the previous example, we saw how bringing a grand prop captures the attention of our audience.
But the power of a prop goes WAY beyond this!
When a simple prop is connected with a meaningful yet unique message, the impact manifolds.
In this TED Talk, the speaker uses a rose to explain how each individual is unique in terms of his personality. A powerful message is delivered with the use of a simple prop.
A tried and tested trick that psychologists swear by to awaken the distracted minds is to “shoot a question”.
You could do that too in your next speech/presentation.
Step 1: Think of all the questions that can help you to set the theme of your speech
Step 2: Make a point to not include close-ended questions and questions that are simply TOO GENERIC
Step 3: The last element that your question must include is the element of curiosity. The purpose is to make the audience curious enough to listen to your entire speech looking for answers to that question. But while you are at it, make sure you don’t overpromise and your speech does have the answers to that question.
1. every argument against veganism by ed winters.
“So, when I say the word ‘Vegan’ to you, what do you think of?” Ed Winters
Just by hearing this question, our first thought is to run all the possible definitions of veganism and the audience of this speech did the same.
This question is very clever and I’ll tell you why. So, every time a definition would come into the mind of any audience member, the speaker would be presenting his arguments against veganism forcing the audience to align their thoughts with his thought process.
Without any possible digression, the speaker Ed Winters presents his thoughts on Veganism in a convincing manner with the help of the rhetoric of questions.
Now, this type of question sends the audience on a possible quest for answers but that’s not the only purpose that this technique serves. Next in order, let’s look at how questions set the theme of a speech.
“What is the best type of cheese to use to catch a bear?” Michael “Vsauce” Stevens
In this TED Talk, the speaker uses this technique as a rhetorical question and answers this question with the help of a cheese pun.
Moving ahead, he goes on unearthing the science behind asking questions. So, it only made sense for him to begin his speech with a question too to set the overall vibe and theme of the topic.
“So from a glance, do I look like marriage material?” Nina Donovan
In this TED Talk, we shall discover the strength of an interrogative remark in generating curiosity regarding the theme of your speech.
Since time immemorial, society has been setting “so-called” norms to determine if an individual is a potential marriage material (mostly, in the case of women).
To fit under this category of “marriage material”, one has to behave as per the so-called expectations of the society, and anything that defies the norm fails to fit in.
With the help of her powerful voice, the speaker here challenges the notion of this concept of “Marriage Material” and highlights the importance of individuality.
And by asking if the audience perceives her as marriage material, she surprises the audience while cultivating a sense of curiosity in them.
“So how do we learn? And why do some of us learn things more easily than others?” Lara Boyd
Admit it or not- we’ve always wondered why some people learn things better than us. What exactly is their secret?
And when you throw this question at the audience, they become intrigued to know this very secret with the help of your talk.
Curiosity is what makes us stick to the remainder of any talk. So, it’s high time we channelize it!
“Do you know the people that are asked the most questions? Have A Guess!” Karen Maeyens
An open-ended thought-provoking question like this forces the audience to activate their minds in the search for answers.
As they become more active, they listen better and focuses better on what you have to offer.
When Karen asked her audience who are the people that are asked the most questions, different minds pondered different answers and when she herself answered the question, those who thought of different answers were intrigued to listen to her justification and as a result of this, they stuck by!
“How would you like to completely silence your mind?” Anthony Metivier
We, humans, have restless minds- always pondering over something or the other.
So, what’s likely to happen when someone asks us if we would like to silence our minds? Ironically, we’ll be restless to know the answer. That’s what the speaker did through his TED Talk.
The next time you are giving a speech, you can consider opening it with a question that would result in a similar effect of restlessness in the minds of the audience.
For this to truly happen, make sure that your question is not generic. Otherwise, all your efforts will be in vain.
Ain’t we tired of listening to the phrase, “Laughter is the best medicine”?
I’m sure we all are but the reason why it’s still so prevalent is because of its universality.
Of course, laughter is the best medicine to an opening remark too. It makes your audience laugh and who doesn’t love a good laugh? We all do!
Humor puts the minds at ease and makes you sound more human, because of which, the audience perceives you as a credible speaker.
Step 1: Know your audience well. Your joke must resonate with them so as to make the desired impact. For instance, if you are addressing a school crowd and you make a joke about workplace communication mistakes. It won’t make the audience chuckle, would it?
Step 2: Puns? Self-deprecating humor? Or Funny Anecdotes? Identify the types of humor and figure out which one suits your personality in the best way. If you are not sure what types of humor are there and wish to seek a step-by-step guide on including humor in your presentation, make sure you read A Guide To Using Humor In Your Speech . Remember to choose the type of humor in alignment with your personality otherwise, it will look forced and won’t result in the impact you desired
Step 3: Step out and do a pilot survey! Try out the opener on a few folks who are similar to your target audience. Examine their reaction and, if required, adjust the joke
Step 4: Keep in mind that once you begin your speech with a pinch of humor, your audience will be expecting a few moments of laughter throughout the rest of your speech too. So, make sure you save 2-3 jokes (not more than that) for the remainder of your speech to meet those expectations
1. thoughts on humanity, fame and love by shah rukh khan.
“I’m a movie star. I’m 51 years of age. And I don’t use Botox as of yet.” Shah Rukh Khan
This TED Talk right here is the perfect case in point for you to witness all the four steps to humor (as discussed in the previous section) in action.
Known for his great performance in doing justice to a number of family roles in Bollywood films, the actor Shah Rukh Khan, in his TED Talk used the power of humor to make himself sound more human to align his talk with his perceived personality.
A humorous take on the drug, Botox, not only relates to the speaker’s professional credibility but also established the relatability quotient.
“It’s been a tough couple of days for us. It has been raining. We’re fine. Thank you for your prayers.” Ellen DeGeneres
Two lessons on humor can be perfectly drawn from this talk:
Since Ellen DeGeneres was hosting the Oscars Opening Ceremony, nobody expected her to be all serious in terms of her talk. The audience is expecting a more relaxed and chill vibe from the speaker.
So, starting her talk with a piece of humor not only sounded like a safer bet but also the most effective one.
What’s the thought that comes to your mind when you listen to the name, “Ellen DeGeneres”? I’m sure for most of us, it’s someone who’s great at presenting her opinions in a convincing manner with the help of comedy.
And that’s what you expect from her personality: Humor!
“Do you know when brown kids get slapped? Every brown birthday party.” Hasan Minhaj
The element of surprise won’t work if your audience is familiar with what you are about to tell them.
So, make sure that you are addressing the right element of surprise to the right audience to make them chuckle. And Hasan Minhaj did it absolutely right!
In this TED Talk, Hasan Minhaj told a piece of surprising cultural information about Indian teens to the American Audience and not the Indian Audience (because they will be familiar with it and it won’t be a shock).
“A tourist is backpacking through the highlands of Scotland, and he stops at a pub to get a drink. And the only people in there is a bartender and an old man nursing a beer. And he orders a pint, and they sit in silence for a while. And suddenly, the old man turns to him and goes, “You see this bar? I built this bar with my bare hands from the finest wood in the county, gave it more care and love than my own child. But do they call me McGregor the Bar Builder? No.” Points out the window. “You see that stone wall out there? I built that stone wall with my bare hands. Found every stone, placed them just so through the rain and the cold. But do they call me McGregor the Stone Wall Builder? No” Points out the other window. “You see that pier on the lake out there? I built that pier with my bare hands, drove the pilings against the tide of the sand, plank by plank. But do they call me McGregor the pier builder? No. But you fuck one goat…” Andrew Stanton
When humor is combined with effective storytelling, a great laugh is expected from the intrigued minds sitting in the audience.
Remember how we used to tell small anecdotes as kids while telling any joke? That’s what needs to be done here.
Build up the curiosity with the help of a story and end that story by bringing in an element of surprise to make your audience chuckle. Unexpected humor is always welcome!
We’ve all grown up listening to bedtime stories.
As we approached our teenage years and adulthood, we switched to narrating anecdotes from our lives to our friends, family, and colleagues.
In a nutshell, it’s the stories that connect us and will continue to serve this very purpose.
Hence, it’s only fair for us to channel this magic of storytelling into our public speaking events as well.
Step 1: Pick a story from your life or narrate something that happened to someone you know or simply form a gripping story. Whatever it might be, just make sure you are not exaggerating to come off as a relatable speaker. Most importantly, the story you choose has to be related to the theme of your speech
Step 2: Now that you have the story in mind, pick a narrative to design the structure of your story. Wait, don’t know what storytelling narrative structures are? Read 9 Storytelling Approaches For Your Next Speech or Presentation to know different ways to effectively narrate a story
Step 3: Use simple language while writing your story and be descriptive enough to help them imagine. Keep in mind that your audience should relate and it’s possible only when they can understand your story in its truest sense
1. life begins at the end of your comfort zone by yubing zhang.
“It’s a cold and foggy winter morning and I’m standing on the world’s tallest bungee platform. The platform I’m standing on is so tiny that I’ve to stand on my toes and balance myself against the wind…” Yubing Zhang
While highlighting how stepping out of one’s comfort zone is crucial, the speaker narrates a personal anecdote of her bungee-jumping experience.
To form a connection with the overall theme, she goes on to narrate how one bungee cord leap taught her the biggest lesson of her life.
Through the remainder of her talk, she then focuses upon sharing her lessons and guidance on how one can step out of his/her comfort zone to facilitate personal growth.
“It was 2:45 pm on a rainy friday in Los Angeles. My dad was just brewing a cup of coffee in the kitchen when he answered a call from an unknown number…” Ashley Stahl
While the previous example on storytelling taught us to build a connection with the overall theme of our speech, this TED Talk by Ashley Stahl teaches the significance of body language and voice modulation in effective storytelling.
Observe how she narrates this story with effective pauses and uses inflection to create a sense of drama and suspense.
That’s something we all should keep in consideration while narrating any story.
Storytelling is only effective when conveyed properly with the help of facial expressions, body language, and vocal tonality. This is all done to appeal to the sentiments of the audience because eventually, it is what will make our talk all the more persuasive.
“My story starts from a small, sleepy village of Madhya Pradesh with a population of barely a thousand people…” Surabhi Gautam
You don’t necessarily have to focus all your energy on writing your story with a proper build-up.
If you are using a story to build your credibility as a speaker as well as intrigue your audience, one simple way could be to just begin your speech with something as simple as, “My story starts from…”
Just like this speaker did!
Nothing fancy, nothing over the board but still manages to captivates the interest of the audience because of the following reasons:
“Panic. Embarassed. Exposed. No, that’s not how I’m feeling right now. Those are the feelings I had when I was a fourteen year old boy…” Matt Abrahams
Let’s be honest for a moment- we all have been through the feeling of “Panic, Embarrassed, Exposed” (just how Matt puts it) when asked to speak on stage.
By narrating a story that most of the audience members can relate to, Matt won the hearts of a majority of his audience members and established his credibility as a speaker.
“Two years ago my life changed forever. My wife and I welcomed our daughter Lela in the world…” Josh Kaufman
“This has been the turning point of my life”
How do you feel when someone says something like this to you? Intrigued to know more?
This is the power that the speaker used here. He narrated a story of how being a parent changed his life and eventually, relates this experience to the topic of his speech, which to be honest, is fascinating to witness!
“When I was seven years old and my sister was just five years old, we were playing on top of a bunk bed. I was two years older than my sister at the time — I mean, I’m two years older than her now — but at the time it meant she had to do everything that I wanted to do, and I wanted to play war. So we were up on top of our bunk beds. And on one side of the bunk bed, I had put out all of my G.I. Joe soldiers and weaponry. And on the other side were all my sister’s My Little Ponies ready for a cavalry charge. There are differing accounts of what actually happened that afternoon, but since my sister is not here with us today, let me tell you the true story –“ Shawn Achor
A descriptive story narrated using stylistic language has the strength to move the audience and immerse them into a fictional world.
In terms of storytelling, this technique is by far the most effective yet simplest way.
It’s commonly used while giving out persuasive speeches as it helps the speaker to align the audience’s thoughts with the speaker’s point of view. That’s what Shawn did through the help of his childhood story.
Of course, we all love surprises. Who doesn’t, right?
So, here’s a crazy idea! Why not surprise your audience with your opening remark?
Here’s how you can do so.
Option 1: Go up on that stage, say something totally unexpected and blow the minds! Now, your job doesn’t end here. Once you are done speaking your opening remark, provide your audience as to why you said what you said and what more are you going to offer through the rest of your content. Look at the first example in the next section to see its application.
Option 2: Another thing that you can do is to tell your audience something completely unknown related to the topic of your speech. Something that would make them go like, “Wait, what?” You can either present a shocking piece of information, an unknown taboo of that culture, or even a shocking habit of that cultural population.
Option 3: Tell something unknown not about the culture you are talking about but about yourself. We as humans are always attracted to gossip about other people’s lives. Of course, the audience would be interested in knowing something shocking about your life. But through the content of your speech, do remember to build that connection with your speech.
1. how to start a speech by simon lancaster.
“Who wants to get high? Yeah, you up for some? Should we really get this party started?” Simon Lancaster
Who comes up on stage and asks the audience, “Who wants to get high?”
It’s purely unexpected and shocking!
But in this TED Talk, as the speaker focuses upon highlighting the steps to crafting a strong opening remark (just like we are discussing at this moment), he took it upon himself to use this very element of surprise to capture the audience’s attention.
“The last time I used a flip phone was 3 hours and 24 minutes ago.” Ann Makosinski
Now, after listening to her opening remark, do you want to know why is she still using a flip phone in the 21st Century? (At least, I do)
And that is the strength of a strong opening remark.
After generating this needed curiosity in the minds of her audience, the speaker focused the remainder of her talk telling these reasons to the audience, one by one.
So, yes! We can safely say that starting our speech with an unpopular opinion is an elegant yet simple way to kick-start our speech.
“I can control your emotions and influence your behaviour without showing you anything, without touching you and without saying a word to you.” Dawn Goldworm
Hearing this opening remark is not just shocking but scary too!
I’m sure, just like me, you wish to unearth this secret to control and influence behavior so that you can control minds too.
It’s natural for you to listen to the remainder of the talk for this sole reason.
This way, capturing the attention of her audience was made easy for the speaker, Dawn Goldworm.
“I’m a professional troublemaker!” Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Listening to this opening remark, “what is your reaction?”
Are you thinking how exactly is she a troublemaker just like me? If yes, then the speaker has successfully inculcated this curiosity in us.
But what we all are also wondering is what does that have to do with the theme and the speaker does establish this connection in her follow-up statement right after her opening remark.
So, make sure the next time you are out there presenting a shocking remark, do follow it up with context, always.
“Okay now, I don’t want to alarm anybody in this room, but it’s just come to my attention that the person to your right is a liar. Also, the person to your left is a liar.” Pamela Meyer
While delivering a TED Talk on “How to Spot A Liar”, Pamela begins by spotting a few liars from the audience itself making everyone think, “How did she do that?”
And naturally, with minimum efforts, she lured her audience in to listen to her entire talk as she unfolds different ways in which we all can spot a liar.
“So, the chances are you have looked in at least one mirror today. You’ve had a shave or you combed your hair or maybe you checked your teeth for spinach after lunch, but what you didn’t know is the face that you’re looking at is not the face that everyone sees.” Caroline McHugh
A shocking way to surprise your audience is to simply begin with some obvious observations and follow them up with a unique observation about the very same things- leaving them surprised by catching them completely off-guard.
To get better at this technique, draw some inspiration from this TED Talk by Caroline McHugh as she does a similar thing.
It is so far the easiest way to start your speech with a bang!
Present a fact to elicit the shock value in the minds- be it positive or negative.
But incorporating the right fact in the right way is an art in itself. Let’s dive right into it!
First things first, make sure that your fact is not too generic. It has to be shocking in one way or the other to grip the audience’s attention.
Step 1: Present the fact using simple language. Avoid using technical terms here.
Step 2: Take a pause, give the audience a moment to ponder over it (But don’t wait for TOO LONG!). Next, present an extension of that fact, if you have any, or simply break down the fact by telling the audience how does this fact affects them. Give them the reasons.
1. can we not let our breakups break us by tasha jackson.
“I want you all to know that you are loved because today we can be surrounded by so many people but feel profoundly alone. 68% of Gen Z feels like nobody knows them. An average American has only one close friend and one in four feels like no one.” Tasha Jackson
While presenting facts, it’s important that we go from covering a larger umbrella to the smaller one
This way, the audience knows the exact way in which they are getting affected by this piece of information.
That’s exactly how the speaker, Tasha, rolled her TED Talk.
Once the audience was aware of the intensity of how breakups are affecting each one of them, they were all the more intrigued to know how they can not let breakups affect them to such a drastic extent.
It is this incentive that made the listeners pay attention to her talk as she unfolded all the solutions to this, one by one.
“In Sweden, where I come from, we have 40 thousand marriages a year and each year we have around 20 thousand divorces.” Jonathan Ljungqvist
Create the illusion of an audience poll with your piece of fact, just like this speaker did in his TED Talk.
After highlighting the drastic extent of failed marriages in Sweden, Jonathan took a pause to let that information sink in and in his follow-up statement, he started shooting a few questions at the audience.
After waiting for a few seconds (2-3 seconds is the ideal time duration to wait), Jonathan answered and highlighted the problem at hand.
This made the audience respect and agree with his fact, all the way more.
Through the remainder of his talk, he then went on highlighting the steps to increase love in any relationship.
“I read a recent survey, and what Americans fear most is public speaking and dying.” Dr. Christopher Kerr
How do we perceive death as an individual? It’s a question that most of us have a unique answer to.
In an attempt to establish the relevance of his topic, the speaker uses a fact that highlights how feared death is.
It’s what capitalized the attention of the audience and forced them to listen to what different perspectives he had to offer on the topic from a medical standpoint.
“Saudi Arabia has been engulfed in a massive diplomatic crisis over the gruesome killing of Washingto Post Journalist Jamal Khashoggi” Hasan Minhaj
Now, stating facts doesn’t mean that you just go on telling statistical figures. It also includes different pieces of information, particularly news events!
In this talk, Hasan Minhaj recalls one such news event to set the theme of his talk.
Recalling news events makes our talk relevant while establishing the context. It signifies that as a speaker you are up-to-date with the information that you have to offer. So, the audience looks forward to hearing a talk devoid of redundancies.
We live in a world where dating is the equivalent of buying a new pair of shoes.
Very often, with each dating experience comes the trauma of heartbreaks. As the speaker in this TED Talk rightly said, “breakups break us”.
But how to overcome it has always been a flaming question, particularly among the teens.
But to bring to light the intensity and ever-increasing prevalence of the situation, the speaker took the help of the statistics.
“ Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead from the food that they eat. “ Jamie Oliver
Here, while throwing light upon an alarming issue (hunger), the speaker considered presenting harrowing stats to get that desired ‘concerned mood’.
Similarly, when you wish to highlight an opportunity (say, the positive side of social media), present positive stats showcasing the success of people through social media.
Visuals are always gripping and easy on our minds.
Show respect towards your audience by giving them a needed break from the monotony of “just listening”.
Be a respite and engage them through the power of visuals for a change. Here’s exactly how you can do this.
Step 1: Get in touch with the tech team of your public speaking event and see if the needed technical support is there to facilitate the screening of an image/video.
Step 2: Now, find a visual interesting enough to arise the curiosity but not too generic to make it too predictable for the audience- all related to your theme.
Step 3: Craft a short, concise, and to-the-point follow-up statement to explain the relevance of that visual using simple language.
1. don’t believe everything you think by lauren weinstein.
*shows picture of an elephant.* Lauren Weinstein
In this TED Talk, Lauren draws a beautiful comparison between elephants and the nature of humans by showcasing a few visuals.
She does this through the use of storytelling. Narrating how despite all the strength an elephant has, it doesn’t attempt to break its chains of captivity.
After establishing this, she goes on to connect this act with the thesis of her speech, that is, how one should not always believe everything they think.
What we can take away from this TED Talk is, when visuals are effectively supported by storytelling and the rhetoric of drawing comparison, the impact increases manifold.
*plays a video about scrambled eggs* David Christian
In this unique TED Talk, David Christian explains the origin of the history of our world through the video of a scrambled egg. Unique, isn’t it?
That is exactly what we need to learn here.
We don’t necessarily need to find a visual that directly relates to the theme of our speech. Instead, we can go for a visual that we can use as an aid to explain a similar topic, that is, the theme of our speech.
*shows image of himself in the sea* Ruben Meerman
This TED Talk right here is an example of how you can establish a direct correlation between the visual and your topic- all through the use of storytelling.
Ruben Meerman began his speech by showing a few pictures of himself to talk about his health transformation.
When the audience witnessed the transformation right in front of their eyes, they were curious to know the secret behind it so that they can apply it to their respective lives.
That’s the power of a gripping visual!
YES! You read it right.
No matter how shallow it sounds but the outfit is the first thing we notice every time a speaker walks up that stage.
And if you are dressed differently than the rest of the speakers, you naturally capture the eyes of your audience.
By this, I don’t mean that you go to a branded store and buy the most expensive outfit from there and wear it for your event. What I mean is to put serious thought into deciding what to wear for your event.
Ideally, one should go for an outfit that is unique yet related to the theme of your speech but doesn’t hurt the dress code of the event too. Here’s how.
Step 1: The most basic step is to check with the admin if there is any particular dress code that the speakers need to adhere to. If not, feel free to put on your hat of creativity by following the next steps
Step 2: Pick an outfit that connects with the theme of your speech but is still unique enough for the audience to go like, “Wait, what outfit is this?”
Step 3: Go on the stage wearing that outfit, take a pause, let the audience wonder. After a meaningful silence of 2-3 seconds, start speaking. Open up by telling the audience the significance of the outfit that you are wearing
1. we are all different- and that’s awesome by cole blakeway.
(comes on stage weaing two different pair of socks and shoes) “Hi, my name is Cole and over the next few minutes, I’m going to teach you that it’s okay to be different. Since a young age, I’ve worn different colored socks and two different shoes.” Cole Blakeway
Fascinating opening remark, isn’t it?
Something as simple as wearing different pairs of socks can instill curiosity and help the speaker make his point, “we all are different”.
Since biblical times, we as humans try to fit in different situations. Be it a workplace, college, or even a social gathering for that matter.
In this TED Talk, Cole attempts to shed light on the lesson of embracing our true selves and how there’s nothing wrong with being different.
The tone of such a powerful talk was set just by wearing different pairs of socks.
(switches to a different outfit and speaks) “This is the first outfit change on the TED Stage, so you guys are pretty lucky to witness it, I think.” Cameron Russell
Of course, the traditional way to pull this technique off is to come on stage wearing a unique outfit.
But Cameron Russell finds her very own unique way of a live outfit change wherein she brings a wrap-around skirt and wears over her dress to make a simple point that appearance is not everything, it goes way beyond that.
Seeing a model by profession mark this unlikely outfit transition made the audience trust her thesis all the way more.
They say that communication is a two-way street.
Yet, more often than not, we forget to keep this in mind during all the public speaking events.
We tend o go on speaking and speaking. While sometimes we manage to keep the audience interested, the rest of the time we simply bore the audience to sleep.
To save you here, an easy bet is to organize an activity for your audience towards the very beginning of your speech.
Step 1: Familiarize with your audience. What’s the average age of your audience? What’s their educational and work background? Getting these basic details will help you structure an activity that would ensure maximum participation from them. For instance, if you are addressing a bunch of school students, your activity can involve more physical exercises and less mental exercise. Also, ask yourself, “What is the size of my audience?” This will help you decide on the extent of interactivity.
Step 2: Find an activity that is not too basic. Your activity should make the audience curious about your content. Something that makes the audience wonder, “What does this activity have to do with the theme?” But then they are left amazed as soon as you begin to connect the relevance of the activity with your speech.
Step 3: Don’t make it TOO LONG! Keep it short and sweet.
Step 4: Write a vivid description of the steps involved in the activity so that the audience is not left confused about what to do.
1. are you a giver or a taker by adam grant.
“I want you to look around the room for a minute and try to find the most paranoid person here and then I want you to point that person out for me. (waits and then says) Okay, don’t actually do it.” Adam Grant
Given that Adam’s audience was comprised of more adults, he made them perform a mental exercise as it’s most likely for them to participate in a mental exercise rather than expecting them to move up their seats to do something.
And that’s what happened. The audience participated! Because all they had to do was simply move their heads around to find out a paranoid person.
Most importantly, the activity wasn’t too generic for the audience for them to predict its relevance. So, it made them curious enough to listen to the remainder of Adam’s TED Talk to witness him unravel its relevance.
“Okay, I need a favor. I need all the girls who are between the age of 17 and 24 to stand up.” Courtney Ferrell
Audience Matters! I know, I’ve been saying this A LOT but it’s the key to a great speech opening.
Even in this TED Talk, the speaker made all the girls between the age group of 17 to 24 stand up since she knew that more than 50% of her audience would stand up.
It’s a win-win situation, I’ll tell you how.
When Courtney confessed that she’s about to tell the secret to channel the creative spirit of women and how to empower them.
Those who stood up felt directly connected to the theme and the rest were curious enough to know the secret to see if it can benefit them or someone they know.
“Alright, real quick- say your full name and then say the way white people say your name. So, my name is Hasan Minhaj. I would get a Ha-sen Min-haj-a” Hasan Minhaj
Two important lessons here, my friends!
Since Hasan was addressing a comparatively smaller crowd of around 7 teens, he could incorporate an interactive activity, giving each of his audience members an opportunity to speak.
Before asking each of his audience members to speakers, Hasan himself initiated the act of participation from his end.
This way, the audience was all the more thrilled to speak.
Because when you participate, your audience sees it as an incentive and feels more confident to participate seeing that you as a speaker are making an effort too.
“So, I have a little test for you. Don’t panic, I’m not here to judge you…” Ricardo Lieuw On
“Awaken the competitive nature of your audience members!” This should be your motto here.
But first, make sure that you are clear with the explanation of the rules so that it’s easier for everyone to follow.
Look how the speaker has introduced a competitive activity here to awaken the minds.
This serves two purposes:
Do you remember all the times when your mom used to make you eat green vegetables by instilling some sort of fear?
Be it the fear of dull skin or even poor eyesight for that matter, it eventually made you take that action.
Isn’t this aim of public speeches too? To persuade the audience to take some action after your speech ends? A hundred percent, yes!
So, let’s jump into how we can incorporate fear in our speech opening to make our audience listen to us.
Step 1: At the fear of reiterating myself, “Begin with analyzing your audience”. The Best Guide to Audience Analysis is an article for you to help you do just that.
Step 2: Done with analyzing your audience after reading the article? Now, make a list of their potential fears related to the theme of your speech.
Step 3: Figure out that one fear that is not too triggering. Here, ask yourself, “If I were to listen to this, would I be triggered to a huge extent?” If the answer is yes, leave that fear and choose one that is slightly less triggering but
1. why the secret to sucess is setting the right goals by john doerr.
“We’re at a critical moment Our leaders, some of our great institutions are failing us.” John Doerr
While highlighting how important it is to set the right goals for development, John Doerr begins his speech by pointing at how the institutions are failing their citizens by setting the wrong objectives.
When you are told that someone is failing you, you feel a sense of disappointment, and you are naturally drawn to know the reason behind it to figure out if there’s something you can do to improve the situation.
This is the exact feeling that we are going for here!
In this technique, we are looking forward to getting our audience to daydream without boring them.
This art of imagination works the best for persuasive speeches. Here’s how!
While delivering a persuasive speech, our aim is to align the audience’s thoughts with our thought process but there needs to be a bridge, right? A bridge that the audience can take to step into your thought process.
This bridge is the art of imagination.
Step 1: Decide the emotion that you want your audience to feel. Do you wish to go for a negative emotion or a positive one? My suggestion for you would be to go for a negative one since negative emotions overpower the positive ones, psychologically speaking.
Step 2: Once you have decided on the type of emotion, craft a descriptive outline for the piece of imagination that is related to the theme of your speech.
Step 3: Using simple yet descriptive language, write down your piece of imagination. Remember to write in a chronological order detailing each and every step otherwise your audience won’t truly immerse in that imaginary world. To explain to you in simpler terms, if a few steps are missing from the bridge, you cannot walk to reach the other side, can you?
Step 4: Focus the rest of your speech telling the audience what to do to avoid the situation (in case of a negative imagination) and what to do to reach the situation (in case of a positive imagination).
1. the barrier between us by tvisha bandhu.
“Picture this. You’re in the MRT, you’re scrolling through your phone, and you take notice of this lady walking through the cabin saying ‘hello, hello.'” Tvisha Bandhu
This speech is the perfect example of how one can kick start his speech through the power of closed imagination (one wherein you provided step-by-step details on what to imagine).
Look how the speaker, Tvisha Bandhu, uses her body posture and gestures to emote every sense of feeling encompassed within that imagination.
It works perfectly in sync with her descriptive writing. It’s so descriptive that she has even written the exact dialogues for the characters involved in her imagination such as “Hello, Hello” for the lady who walked through the cabin.
Descriptive writing backed by powerful body language and vocal tonality can increase the impact manifold.
“If I ask you to come on the stage right now & deliver a speech, think what kind of excuses would you come up with.” Pratik Uppal
The second example is of an open imagination.
You don’t necessarily need to provide step-by-step details for the audience to make them imagine a situation
One easy way is to simply tell them to ponder over their reaction to a particular situation and then, go on providing a brief of what exact situation they are put in.
In this TED Talk, the speaker asked the audience to imagine all the excuses that they can come up with to dread a public speaking event. Now, pause! Even you think! I’m sure you too can come up with many without anyone telling you what to imagine exactly.
This is what we call open imagination. Widespread usage of this technique can be seen in movies with open endings wherein the end is treated as possibly the beginning.
“Imagine if you could take your brain and turn it inside out and then have access to the information to be able to virtually solve any problem. It sounds pretty cool, right?” Collins Key
In the previous sections, we discussed the examples for two commonly-used types of imagination- open and closed.
Here, we shall discuss an example of how you can ask the audience to imagine something out of the world.
If you are a Potter-head, you know the strength that this technique entails. The entire series is based upon fiction encompassing a world where everything goes larger than life, even life itself but you still can’t seem to snap out of it because you are that engrossed.
In this TED Talk, Collins opened up his talk with one such piece of imagination wherein he asked the audience to imagine how would they feel if they could simply take their brain out and turn it inside out to find a solution in the blink of an eye instead of spending hours overthinking for it.
Fascinating, right? This intrigued the audience to listen to the rest of his speech in the search of a secret to solve their problems in the quickest way possible.
“Imagine it’s Wednesday 28th of August, 1963 & we’re in the United States Of American, specifically Washington DC.” Mark Robinson
Imagination is only effective if you catering the right piece of imagination to the right audience.
Now, take the example of this TED Talk. Had this TED Talk been delivered to an audience who is not aware of the significance of the person being spoken about, Martin Luther King Jr, his speech would have been totally ineffective.
So, make sure that whatever piece of imagination you have to offer is within the understanding of your audience.
This technique doesn’t require any fancy introduction.
For the longest time, great orators have been starting their respective speeches with one quote or the other to persuade their audience through the art of rhythm.
But the inclusion of this technique as an opening remark is easier said than done. Make sure you follow the steps in the next section.
Before we begin, remember not to use a quote that is too common. Use a quote that is less heard of!
Option 1: The easiest and safest bet is to use a famous quote related to the context of your speech. If the propounder of that quote is associated with the topic of your speech in one way or the other, it’s even better since it establishes the credibility of the quote.
Option 2: The other effective way is to make a quote of your own instead of relying upon someone else’s quote. It’s simpler than it sounds. An easier hack is to use alliteration (occurrence of similar sound at the beginning of adjacent words in a phrase) in the phrase you wish to highlight as your opening remark. For instance, even the title of this section, “Quintessential Quality of A Quote” uses this technique. Read Getting Your ‘Wordsworth’: Poetry in Public Speaking to know how exactly you can write a quote using alliteration and similar techniques.
1. increase your self-awareness with one simple fix by tasha eurich.
Tennessee Williams once told us, “There comes a time when you look into the mirror and you realize that what you see is what you’ll ever be. And then you accept it. Or you kill yourself. Or you stop looking in mirrors.” Tasha Eurich
To see the application of the first alternative in action, watch this TED Talk by Tasha Eurich.
While using someone else’s quote, attribution to the speaker is necessary. You can do so by simply saying something like, “As NAME OF THE SPEAKER rightly said…” Nothing too fancy, simplicity works the best.
Talking about the credibility of the original speaker of the quote, since this TED Talk is focused upon “Self-awareness”, it made Tennessee Williams who was a great playwright in Hollywood, a credible speaker to trust.
“Man makes mistakes & mistakes make the man.” Mathew George
Now, let’s talk about making a quote on our own. Shall we?
The most basic step we discussed under the “how-to” section was alliteration and that’s what the speaker, Mathew George, used in the creation of his opening remark too.
Alliteration provides a rhythm to your speech opening line and makes you sound persuasive naturally.
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We hope that you have found some value here in your journey as a public speaker!
If you wish to know about more such amazing speech opening lines, make sure you check out 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (& How to Create Your Own) .
Not just that! We’ve written a similar article on 50 Speech Closing Lines (& How to Create Your Own) l The Ultimate Guide . Make sure you read that to END YOUR SPEECH WITH A BANG!
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Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved
22 July 2024
H.E. Aoun Diab Abdullah, Minister of Water Resources,
Distinguished guests, colleagues, and ladies and gentlemen,
Al-Salamu Alikum and Good morning.
It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the launch of the joint UN and Ministry of Water Resources "Water is Life" campaign together with H.E., the Minister.
Water is not just a resource; it is the very essence of life itself.
Every water drop counts, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that this vital resource is preserved and conserved for future generations.
Today, water crisis is one of the most pressing and urgent challenges facing Iraq. This issue transcends environmental concerns, touching every facet of life, from national security to public health, from agricultural productivity to social stability.
The crisis is immediate and severe, with far-reaching consequences if left unaddressed.
Allow me to share some alarming facts based on scientific data. By 2050, we could see temperature increases of 2-4°C and reductions in precipitation by up to 20 per cent in key agricultural regions by 2040.
Additionally, river flows are expected to decline by 30-40 per cent, and experts predict that by 2035, Iraq will only be able to meet 15 per cent of its water needs.
This looming crisis threatens to exacerbate rural poverty and displace communities, particularly in the southern regions.
Therefore, the "Water is Life" campaign is not just an initiative; it is a call to action.
Over the next year, we will work tirelessly to raise awareness about the urgency of the water crisis and promote individual and collective responsibility.
This campaign will be rolled out in four distinct phases, each designed to build a comprehensive understanding and foster active engagement.
Throughout this campaign, we aim to instill a sense of hope and optimism. While we must communicate the gravity of the situation, we also want to inspire collective action and resilience.
We will leverage a diverse range of content to reach a wide audience, from simple messages to expert interviews, infographics, and videos.
Collaboration is key. We will coordinate with line ministries, local governments, civil society groups, academia, and influencers to ensure a unified and effective approach.
Let us remember that every water drop counts, and so does every action we take.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to H.E. Minister Theyab and his teams, and to all our partners for their commitment.
Together, we can make a difference. Let us work together to make "Water is Life" campaign a rallying cry for positive change in Iraq.
Goals we are supporting through this initiative, un entities involved in this initiative.
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Sen. Josh Hawley spoke Monday night at the National Conservatism Conference . In his speech, he contrasted “Christian nationalism” with other kinds of nationalism. “The nationalism of Rome led to blood-thirst and conquest; the old pagan tribalisms led to ethnic hatred. The empires of the East crushed the individual, and the blood-and-soil nativism of Europe in the last two centuries led to savagery and genocide,” the Missouri Republican said.
“By contrast, Augustine’s Christian nationalism has been the boast of the West. It has been our moral center and supplied our most cherished ideals. Just think: Those stern Puritans, disciples of Augustine, gave us limited government and liberty of conscience and popular sovereignty.
“Because of our Christian heritage, we protect the liberty of all to worship according to conscience. Because of our Christian tradition, we welcome people of all races and ethnic backgrounds to join a nation constituted by common loves.”
Here are his remarks, as prepared for delivery:
I want to speak to you tonight about the future. About the future of the conservative movement and of this nation. But every future is rooted in some earlier past—or as Seneca said, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
So let me begin in the year of our Lord, 410: the year of the end. That was the year, you may recall, that the city once thought eternal, immutable, unconquerable—the capital of the ancient world, Rome—finally bowed to the invading Visigoths. And with that fell stroke, the era of the empire and the pagan world of antiquity came to a close.
Yet in that end for Rome was a beginning indeed—our beginning, the beginning of the West.
For even as Rome lay shattered and smoldering, a thousand miles away across the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Christian bishop of Hippo—a man named Augustine—took up his pen to describe a new age. His vision would inspire the West for millennia to come and help define the destiny of this country. He called his work “The City of God.”
Augustine’s first ambition was to defend Christians from blame for Rome’s fall. Some said the Christian religion, with its new virtues, like humility and service; with its glorification of common things, like marriage and labor; with its praise for “the poor in spirit,” the common people, had made the empire soft and left it vulnerable to its enemies.
Augustine knew just the opposite was true. The Christian religion was the only vital force left in Rome at the time of its collapse. And now Augustine imagined that religion rising from the ruins of the ancient world to forge a new one, to create a new and better civilization.
And what would be the secret to this new order? Love.
Love was a great word for Augustine. It contained the whole of his political science. Every person is defined, he said, by what he loves. Every society is driven by its loves. A nation is in fact nothing other than, to quote Augustine, “a multitude of rational creatures associated in a common agreement as to the things which [they] love.”
The trouble with Rome was that they loved the wrong things. And as its affections became corrupted, the Roman republic fell into disrepair.
Romans began by loving glory and practicing self-sacrifice. They ended by loving pleasure and practicing every form of self-indulgence. And so Rome rotted from its core.
But amid the Roman wreckage, Augustine envisaged a new civilization animated by better affections. Not the old Roman lusts for glory and honor, but the sturdier, stronger loves of the Bible: the love for wife and children; the love of labor, neighbor, and home; the love of God.
And while Augustine said all nations are constituted by what they love, his philosophizing actually described an entirely new idea of the nation unknown to the ancient world: a new kind of nationalism, if you like—a Christian nationalism organized around Christian ideals. A nationalism driven not by conquest but by common purpose; united not by fear but by common love; a nation made not for the rich or for the strong, but for the “poor in spirit,” the common man.
And his dream became our reality. A thousand years after Augustine wrote, some 20,000 practicing Augustinians ventured to these shores to found a society here on his principles. History knows them as the Puritans. Inspired by the City of God, they founded the City on a Hill.
We are a nation forged from Augustine’s vision. A nation defined by the dignity of the common man, as given to us in the Christian religion; a nation held together by the homely affections articulated in the Christian faith—love for God, love for family, love for neighbor, home, and country.
And some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation. And so I am. And some will say I am advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do. Is there any other kind worth having?
The nationalism of Rome led to blood-thirst and conquest; the old pagan tribalisms led to ethnic hatred. The empires of the East crushed the individual, and the blood-and-soil nativism of Europe in the last two centuries led to savagery and genocide.
By contrast, Augustine’s Christian nationalism has been the boast of the West. It has been our moral center and supplied our most cherished ideals. Just think: Those stern Puritans, disciples of Augustine, gave us limited government and liberty of conscience and popular sovereignty.
Because of our Christian heritage, we protect the liberty of all to worship according to conscience. Because of our Christian tradition, we welcome people of all races and ethnic backgrounds to join a nation constituted by common loves.
The truth is, Christian nationalism is not a threat to American democracy. Christian nationalism founded American democracy. And it is the best form of democracy yet devised by man: the most just, the most free, the most humane and praiseworthy.
And my claim to you tonight is that we must recover the principles of our Christian political tradition now for the sake of our future. This is true whether you are a Christian or not, a person of a different faith or none at all. The Christian political tradition is our tradition; it is the American tradition; it is the greatest source of energy and ideas in our politics—and always has been. It has inspired conservatives and liberals, reformers and activists, and moralists and trade unionists down our history. And now we need this grand tradition again.
For the common loves that sustain this nation are fraying. And as they do, the nation itself risks coming apart.
You know the litany of our ills as well as I do; you can read the signs of the times.
Our streets are not safe, not least because our border stands starkly and utterly open. And millions of illegal migrants pour into this country who have no interest in our common heritage and no commitment to our common ideals.
Good, stable work is in too-short supply. Our economy has entered a new and decadent Gilded Age, where working-class jobs disappear and working wages erode and working families and neighborhoods fall apart—while denizens of the upper class live a cloistered life behind gates and private security and woke CEOs rake in millions in pay.
Meanwhile, religion is hounded from the public square. And fanatics take to our campus quadrangles to chant “Death to Israel!”—precisely because they despise the biblical tradition that links the nation of Israel and the American republic together.
And at back of each of these trends and all of them, at back of the chaos and coming-apart, is an assault on our common loves—the affections that come to us from our Christian inheritance.
God, work, neighborhood, home. The great affections of the West. They are dissolving before our eyes.
And why? Not by happenstance. The modern Left wants to destroy our common loves and replace them with others, to destroy our common bonds and replace them with another faith, to dissolve the nation as we know it, and remake it in their image. This has been their project for 50 years and more.
But it is the Right that is failing this country most acutely. The Left’s agenda we know. The Left’s threat we expect. It is conservatives who should be defending this nation, defending what makes us a nation. But instead? In this moment of crisis, they’re busy tending the dying embers of neoliberalism. They’re reading their copies of John Stuart Mill and Ayn Rand. They’re still talking about fusionism and its three-legged stool.
For conservatives, that will no longer do.
In this hour of chaos and crisis, conservatives’ only hope, and the hope of the nation, is to recover the Christian tradition on which this nation subsists. Our only hope is to renew our common loves.
Now we need not the ideology of Rand or Mill or Milton Friedman, but the insight of Augustine.
For the future, to save this country, this must be our mission: defend the loves that unite our country; defend the loves that make us a country—defend the common man’s work, the common man’s home, and the common man’s religion.
I fear my fellow Republicans labor under a misunderstanding. The Left’s strategy, their overriding aim, is not simply to slow our economy with regulations. It is not merely to grow big government bigger. Concentrated power is only part of their program.
The Left’s primary purpose is to attack our spiritual unity, our common loves. They want to destroy the affections that link us one to another and substitute a set of altogether different ideals.
The Left preaches its own gospel, a creed of intersectionality, of deliverance from tradition, from family, from biological sex—and of course, from God. They regard the faith of our fathers as a fetter to be broken. They deem our common moral inheritance as cause for repentance.
Instead of Christmas, they want Pride Month. Instead of prayer in schools, they venerate the trans flag. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are their watchwords, their new holy trinity.
And they expect their preachments to be obeyed. They may speak of tolerance, but they practice fundamentalism. Those who resist are called deplorable. Those who question are labeled threats to democracy.
And this is why progressives have such little patience these days for working people. They are too attached to the old ways, to the old faith of God and family and home and nation.
This is the Left’s true Replacement Theory, their true replacement agenda: to replace the Christian ideals on which our nation was founded and to silence those Americans who dare still stand by them.
Sadly, the Republican Party of the last 30 years has been in no position to resist the onslaught. Instead of defending the affections that bind us to each other, Republicans of the Bush-Romney era have championed libertarian economics and corporate interests. Their fusionist faith has become one note: money first, people last.
In the name of “the market,” these Republicans cheerleaded for corporate tax cuts and low barriers for corporate trade, then watched these same corporations ship American jobs overseas and use the profits to hire DEI experts.
In the name of capitalism, these Republicans sang the praises of global integration while Wall Street bet against American industry and bought up single family homes—so that after the banks took the working man’s job, he couldn’t afford a house for his family to live in. Then Wall Street crashed that global economy—multiple times—and the housing market, and these same Republicans kept right on rhapsodizing. And subsidizing.
It was all just too big to fail.
These Republicans forgot that economics is first and last about people—and the things they love. About providing for a family. About personal independence. About having a place to call home and a job that gives you pride.
You could say like this: The free market is valuable exactly to the degree it sustains the things we love together. Otherwise, it’s just cold profit.
And somewhere along the line, Republicans fell in love with profit for its own sake. And they seem almost embarrassed that their most committed and reliable voters are people of faith.
Let’s be honest: In that three-legged stool of yesteryear—with religious conservatives, libertarians, and national security hawks—it was always the religious people who supplied the votes. And it was our shared religious tradition that supplied conservatism’s most compelling ideas. For instance: constitutional government—or individual liberty, or the rights of workers.
Still today, churchgoing Americans who are married and raising children—whether white or Hispanic or Asian or whatever—are the backbone of the Republican Party. If the Republicans have a future, it lies with them.
And they are exactly the people the party takes most for granted and serves least well.
Give the Left this: At least they know that people make politics. And they reward their people. Witness the trans flag on every federal building and a sluice of federal money flowing to climate change boondoggles.
But Republicans? They give their voters this Hobson’s choice: between the high-tax, high-regulation globalism of the Left or the slightly lower-tax, lower-regulation globalism of the Right. A choice between the aggressive social liberalism of the Left or the accommodating social liberalism of the Right.
And then Republicans wonder why they have managed to win the popular vote only twice in the last nine presidential elections.
Republicans need a place to stand. They need a future to offer the country. And for conservatives who want to save this republic, there is only one place worth standing and only one vision with propounding: the Christian tradition of nationalism that unites this country.
Work, family, God. These are the great loves that define America. And these are the ideals the Republican Party must now defend.
Republicans can start by defending the common man’s work. In the choice between labor and capital, between money and people, it’s time for Republicans to get back to their Christian and nationalist roots—and start prioritizing the working man.
The recent Republican Party, the 1990s party, privileged the money crowd in just about every possible way. In policy. In the tax code. In praise. Think of all that worshipful talk about corporate tax cuts. Think of all that rhetoric about the efficient allocation of resources. All of which really meant profits for Wall Street.
Workers meanwhile were left to fend for themselves: to watch their factories shut down; to watch their wages flatline; to watch their mortgages soar and their home values plunge. To explain to their children why they had to move out of the home they grew up in; why they couldn’t go to the doctor while Daddy tried to find work.
To all this, Republicans said, it’s the nature of things.
I would simply point out that this has not been the nationalist, Christian tradition of this country. Abraham Lincoln said it best when he said that “capital is only the fruit of labor … . Labor is superior to capital and deserves much the higher consideration.”
Theodore Roosevelt spoke for the same tradition when he said, “I am for business, yes. But I am for manhood first, and business as an adjunct to manhood.”
That’s the spirit.
The Republican Party of tomorrow, a party that can unite the nation, must put people before money. And the way to do that is to prioritize the interests of the working person.
The greatest economic challenge of our time is not the debt or the deficit or the value of the dollar. It is the astounding number of able-bodied men without good work.
To get them that work, we need policy change. We are about to have a grand debate about extending tax cuts. Perhaps we should start with this question: Why should labor ever be taxed more than capital? They should not be. Why should families get less tax relief than corporations? Families should always be first.
And we haven’t heard the word “usury” in a few centuries, but it certainly occupied a lot of Christian thinkers over the years, and it should occupy us again. There is no reason credit card companies or the banks behind them should be allowed to charge working people 30% and 40% interest. No profit margin in the world justifies that kind of extortion. No amount of money excuses profiting off other people’s pain. We ought to cap credit card interest rates by law.
And it’s time Republicans embraced the trade unions of the working man. I’m not talking about government unions, public sector unions—I mean the unions that go to bat for the working guy and his family.
I’ve been on the picket line with the Teamsters. I voted to help them unionize Amazon. I supported the railway strike and the autoworkers’ strike. And I’m proud of it.
And when it comes to woke corporations, I’ll just say this: If you want to change the priorities of corporate America, make the suits responsible again to an American workforce. Re-empower labor and you’ll change the priorities of capital.
Maybe one reason Republicans in recent years have not put the working man first is that they haven’t been willing to put the working man’s family first.
A party of a Christian nation must defend the family.
Republicans have talked about the family, to be sure. There has been talk unending. But Bush-type Republicans have rarely paused to ask themselves why so few of their countrymen are actually forming families.
Happy and hopeful people have children. Yet fewer and fewer Americans do. Why? Could it be that the economy Republicans have championed—the globalist, corporatist economy they helped create—is bad for the family?
Time was, a working man could support his family—a wife and children—on the work of his own hands. Those days are long gone. Now Americans toil away in dead-end jobs in cubicles, servicing the global corporations, while paying outrageous sums for housing and health care. They don’t have families because they can’t afford to have the families they want.
No wonder they’re anxious. No wonder they’re depressed.
And those that do have children can’t afford to be home with them. Today, two parents have to work to make the kind of money, with the kind of purchasing power, that one wage got you 50 years ago. So government day care now shapes our children’s worldview. Screens now teach our children self-worth—or self-criticism. The media and the advertising industry shape their sense of right and wrong.
You want to put family first? Make it easy to have children. And put Mom and Dad back in the home. Make it the policy of this country to get American workers a family wage—one that a man can support his family on; one that allows a married couple to raise their children as they see fit.
For the truest measure of American strength is the flourishing of home and family.
And conservatives must defend the common man’s religion.
Of all the affections that bind a society together, none is more powerful than religious affection, a shared vision of transcendent truth.
To the extent our talking heads deign to acknowledge religion at all, they usually insist it is religious liberty that unites Americans. That is not, strictly speaking, true. Religion unites Americans, which is why the liberty to practice it is so important.
Every great civilization known to man has sprung from a great religion, and ours is no different. Despite experts telling Americans for decades that religion divides them, that religion destroys their civil peace, that religion is out of bounds—most Americans shared broad and basic religious convictions: theistic, biblical, Christian.
Our national faith is there in the Declaration of Independence: “All men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights.”
Our national faith is there on our currency: “In God We Trust.” President Eisenhower summed it up well when he said about that motto, in 1954: “Here is the land of liberty—and the land that lives in respect of the Almighty’s mercy to us.”
The elite consensus about religion is exactly wrong. Religion is one of the great unifiers of American life, one of our great common affections. Working people believe in God, they read the Bible, they go to church—some often, some not. But they consider themselves in all events members of a Christian nation. And they understand this fundamental truth: their rights come from God, not from government.
The 70-year push to eliminate every vestige of religious observance from our public life is precisely the opposite of what the nation needs. We need more civil religion, not less. We need open acknowledgment of the religious heritage and the religious faith that bind Americans one to another.
The campaign to erase America’s religion from the public square is just class warfare by other means: the elite versus the common man, the atheistic monied class versus America’s working people. And it’s not really about eliminating religion, either: It’s about replacing one religion with another.
Every nation observes a civil religion. For every nation is a spiritual unity. The Left wants religion: the religion of the Pride flag. We want the religion of the Bible.
So I have a suggestion. Take the trans flags down from our public buildings and inscribe instead, on every building owned or operated by the federal government, our national motto: In God We Trust.
Symbols matter. Most Americans, most everyday Americans, most working Americans find solidarity in the Christian faith. They believe God has blessed America; they believe God has a purpose for America—and they want to be part of it. And that conviction is what gives them the sense that, as Burke wrote, the nation is a “partnership—between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.”
Decades of misguided court rulings and elite propaganda have not erased Americans’ religious convictions, not yet, and that’s a prime reason we still have a nation. Conservatives must defend our national religion and its role in our national life. They must defend this most fundamental and ancient of moral bonds—as Macaulay put it, “the ashes of [our] fathers, and the temples of [our] God.”
Work, home, God. These are the things we love together. That sustain our common life together. That make us a nation—and provide the ground of our unity.
And this is what Christian nationalism means, in the truest and deepest sense. Not every citizen of America is a Christian, obviously, and never will be. But every citizen is heir to the liberties, to the justice, to the common purpose our biblical and Christian tradition gives us.
That tradition is why we believe in free speech. It is why we believe in freedom of conscience. It is why we deplore the virulent antisemitism on display in our elite institutions and campuses.
I do notice that some who call themselves “Christian nationalists” offer different counsel, a counsel of despair. There is a certain End of Days flavor to much of their talk. All is lost, they say. America cannot be saved—or is not worth saving.
And from that place of fear they recommend fearful policies: an established church, ethnocentrism— “a Protestant Franco.” What foolishness.
That is not our tradition. That is not what we believe. Let us not be controlled by fear. Let us not return to the harsh, ethnic nationalism of the ancient world or to the authoritarian ideology of blood-and-soil. That is not what the Christian legacy has left us.
In this land, we defend the liberty of all. In this nation, we practice self-government of the people.
Let us return instead to what joins us in common communion.
The dignity of labor. The sanctity of home. The love of family and of God.
That is our civilization. That is America.
And those great loves on which our nation was founded have not failed. They are as compelling today as they were when Augustine first wrote of them. They are as vibrant now as when the Puritans first set sail for these shores.
We need only recommit ourselves to defending them, to strengthening them—to reviving our devotion. And when we do, we will save the nation.
‘transformers one’ will “sell a lot of toys,” hasbro ceo chris cocks says, but company’s film and tv pullback via sale of eone helps drive solid q2 results, breaking news.
By Dominic Patten , Ted Johnson
“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” President Joe Biden said Wednesday night from the Oval Office. “That is the best way to unite our nation,” the 81-year-old incumbent added of his exit from the 2024 race and quick endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harri s for the Democratic nomination.
Hell of a speech. — Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) July 25, 2024
Hell of a speech. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) July 25, 2024
One of the big Hollywood donors who called for Biden to withdraw from his reelection efforts after the president’s debate debacle of June 27, Rob Reiner, the director of The American President , left nothing on the table tonight.
Joe Biden will go down as one of our greatest Presidents. I’ve never more proud of being an American. — Rob Reiner (@robreiner) July 25, 2024
Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans and a top Biden adviser and a top aide (who wasn’t always a big Biden fan) to Barack Obama also went for the less-is-more reaction.
Simply the most consequential president of our lifetimes. Thank you @JoeBiden ! https://t.co/jHNGZMmWkG — Mitch Landrieu (@MitchLandrieu) July 25, 2024
. @JoeBiden was as big as the moment. — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) July 25, 2024
Star Trek: Picard star Jeri Ryan leaned forward out of the speech.
Our President is such a truly good, good man. My heart breaks for him. Let’s win this for him. ✊🏼💙🇺🇸 #Harris2024 — Jeri Ryan (@JeriLRyan) July 25, 2024
Kamala Harris ‘ self-described “rapid response” X/Twitter feed paid respect with the president’s own words, as did The Wire alum Wendell Pierce:
President Biden: I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. There is a time and place for long years of experience in public life. But there is also a time and place for new voices, fresh voices, and yes, younger voices. And that time and place… pic.twitter.com/H1iixas8Tl — Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) July 25, 2024
President Joe Biden. A presidency of restoration. “I revere this office, but I love my country more. It's been the honor of my life to serve as your president. But in the defense of democracy, which is at stake, I think it's more important than any title,” pic.twitter.com/c3yb8jFlQC — Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) July 25, 2024
A potential presidential candidate one day and a political adopted son of Joe Biden, the Governor of California Gavin Newson went for brevity too:
Thank you, President @JoeBiden . — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 25, 2024
Yvette Nicole Brown gave a shout-out to a former POTUS close to his 100th birthday in her response to tonight’s speech.
What a dear man. What an amazing speech. Thank you @JoeBiden . You were & ARE an amazing @Potus & a lifetime servant leader. You have the character every President should have. You have that Jimmy Carter vibe. There’s no higher compliment I can give. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/s8DVxtLjl1 — yvette nicole brown (@YNB) July 25, 2024
“America has been blessed by the wisdom and magnificent leadership of President Joe Biden as he has protected our democracy and led our nation with progress, hope and unity. President Biden has truly made a tangible difference in the lives of the American people.
“With love and gratitude, I salute President Biden for always believing in the possibilities of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment.”
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BREAKING: Harris describes suffering in Gaza and need for a cease-fire deal after White House meeting with Netanyahu
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Sen. JD Vance was not happy when President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign , throwing the Democratic Party’s ticket into turmoil and robbing him of a moment he was looking forward to: debating Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I was told I was going to debate Kamala Harris,” Vance said here Monday during his first solo event as former President Donald Trump’s running mate . “And now President Trump is going to get to debate her? I’m kind of pissed off about that, if I’m being honest with you.”
The event, held at the high school Vance graduated from in 2003, came a day after Biden dropped out of the presidential race. Biden, who was under pressure to step aside amid questions about his fitness for office and ability to run a winning campaign, endorsed Harris to replace him as the Democratic nominee. Much of the party’s establishment has followed suit — a development that Vance cast in his remarks as an affront to democracy.
“Elite Democrats,” Vance said, “got in a smoke-filled room and decided to throw Joe Biden overboard. That is not how it works. That is the threat to democracy, not the Republican Party.”
A moment later, Vance made a pitch to Democrats who might not be happy with their choices.
“You are welcome in the Republican Party, where we think we should persuade voters and not lie to voters,” he said. “Come on in, the water’s warm.”
Vance, whose remarks were filled with expressions of gratitude to his hometown, also criticized Harris, accusing her of not sounding grateful enough when she speaks.
“Every country — just like every family, certainly mine — has its pockmarks, right? Not everything’s perfect,” said Vance, who wrote about his family’s struggles in his 2016 book, “Hillbilly Elegy.” “But if you want to lead this country, you should feel grateful for it. You should feel a sense of gratitude, and I never hear that gratitude come through when I listen to Kamala Harris.”
At his second campaign event of the day, in Radford, Virginia, Vance went after Harris harder than he did in Ohio, calling her a "million times worse" than Biden.
“The Biden record is the Kamala Harris record. And given what we know about Joe Biden, Kamala Harris probably did a lot more than Joe Biden does,” Vance added.
Trump’s campaign is relying on Vance’s upbringing in the industrial Midwest to be a selling point in three key states that Biden flipped in 2020 — Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Vance framed his Ohio speech Monday, as he did his address accepting the vice presidential nomination at last week’s Republican National Convention , around working-class voters in places like Middletown.
Vance railed against trade deals that made it easier for corporations to move jobs to other countries and emphasized Trump’s long-standing opposition to such pacts. He also leaned into culture war issues, warning of “indoctrination” in public education and accusing Democrats of believing that “it’s racist to do” or believe “anything.”
“I had a Diet Mountain Dew yesterday and one today — I’m sure they’re gonna call that racist, too,” Vance said in Ohio, drawing laughs from the audience and adding: “I love you guys.”
But the afternoon’s most heated rhetoric came from a local lawmaker, state Sen. George Lang, who warned of a “civil war” if Trump and Vance lose the election this fall.
“I believe wholeheartedly: Donald Trump and Butler County’s JD Vance are the last chance to save our country politically,” Lang said at the event’s opening program. “I’m afraid if we lose this one, it’s going to take a civil war to save the country, and it will be saved. It’s the greatest experiment in the history of mankind.”
Lang later said he regretted his language, which was at odds with stated claims by some Republicans that the political rhetoric should be toned down after the attempted assassination of Trump.
“Remarks I made earlier today at a rally at a rally in Middletown do not accurately reflect my views,” Lang said on X . “I regret the divisive remarks I made in the excitement of the moment on stage.”
He said that after the assassination attempt he should have been more mindful of his language.
A campaign official told NBC News that more than 1,000 people were inside the Middletown High School auditorium for the speech, with a fire marshal having to close down the entrance. About 1,000 more were left outside; Vance went out to greet them before he spoke.
Vance wrote about his hometown in his memoir, which covered his grandparents’ migration from the hills of eastern Kentucky to the factory towns of southwest Ohio and his mother’s drug addiction. In the book, Vance describes the people he grew up around in both admiring and critical terms. In his words, Middletown was appropriately named.
“As kids, we joked that our hometown was so generic that they didn’t even bother to give it a real name: It’s in the middle of Cincinnati and Dayton, and it’s a town, so here we are,” Vance wrote. “Middletown is generic in other ways. It exemplified the economic expansion of the manufacturing-based Rust Belt town. Socioeconomically, it is largely working-class.”
In his speech Monday, Vance was high on nostalgia.
“I might make the Secret Service take me to Central Pastry afterwards,” he said.
Someone in the crowd tried to correct him, shouting out a different bakery: “Milton’s!”
Vance affirmed his appreciation for Milton’s, too.
“I skipped lunch, so my mind’s on donuts here,” he said.
The mix of Trump die-hards and locals loyal to Vance, or at least curious about the hometown boy chosen for the GOP ticket, lined up hours in advance. Their queue snaked past the high school and the neighboring middle school, nearly reaching the college campus a half-mile away.
“I know what the kids here deal with,” Jenny King, a teacher at the middle school, said as she waited to get inside. “And I think it’s fantastic to be able to say that, you know, he went through here and, you know, we’re here to support.”
“I can look back at yearbooks and say I knew him when, which is kind of cool,” King, 53, added. “I never had him in class. But, you know, it is really neat to be able to say that … Middletown City Schools, you know, he’s a product of it.”
Mike Smith, a lifelong Middletown resident, said he was a fan of Vance’s book and the Netflix movie adapted from it.
“Never been to one of these things before,” Smith, 68, said as he waited in line. “Just kind of curious. … It’s kind of a rags-to-riches kind of thing and everything.”
Not everyone in the crowd was starstruck. Steve Albert, a retiree from nearby Cincinnati, where Vance now lives, said he's voting for the Democratic ticket “but wanted to come see the circus.”
“I think I’d be concerned about how he’s flip-flopped about his positions and how he’s flip-flopped about his support for Trump,” said Albert, 67, referring to Vance’s past criticism of Trump. “But someone might label him [an] opportunist.”
Henry J. Gomez is a senior national political reporter for NBC News
Alec Hernández is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.
Alex Tabet is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.
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Analyze their response and tweak the joke accordingly if necessary. Starting your speech with humour means your setting the tone of your speech. It would make sense to have a few more jokes sprinkled around the rest of the speech as well as the audience might be expecting the same from you. 4. Mohammed Qahtani.
3. Do's and Don'ts of Opening Remarks. 10 Types of 'Interesting' Opening Remarks. 1. Shock them with Statistics. 2. Props and Placards. 3. The Potential of A Promise.
2. Open the Speech by Giving Compliment & Show Gratitude towards your Audience. Secondly, just after wishing greeting to your audience give them compliment and choose some words which show that you are delighted to see them there. Example: It's great to see you all, Thank you for coming here today.
Opening and closing remarks for meetings are statements that introduce and wrap up workplace get-togethers. The purpose of these remarks is to set the tone of the subject matter and summarize topics covered during the meeting. Examples of opening and closing remarks for meetings include quick welcomes to attendees, announcements explaining the ...
4. Make them laugh. Injecting a little humor into your opening line puts everyone at ease and makes your speech more memorable. Just make sure your joke is relevant and doesn't offend your audience. Example: "They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but if the doctor is cute, forget the fruit!". 5.
A list of some of the best conference opening remarks that speakers can use when starting a presentation or meeting. ... What are good examples of conference opening remarks? Conference opening remarks are important in setting the tone for your meeting while keeping participants engaged. The best conference opening remarks should motivate and ...
Financial PowerPoint Template with Calculator by SlideModel. 5. Use the Word "Imagine". "Imagine," "Picture This," and "Think of" are better word choices for when you plan to begin your presentation with a quick story. Our brain loves interacting with stories. In fact, a captivating story makes us more collaborative.
One of the best ways to open your speech with a buzz is to startle or shock them. You can shock an audience in many ways, but they all rest on the major senses of VAKS: Visual. Auditory. Kinesthetic (touch) and Smell. We don't want your audience tasting your talk, but it should leave a good taste in their mouths.
3. The Icebreaker. Break the ice with a light and relatable anecdote or trivia related to the meeting's topic. Icebreakers help create a friendly atmosphere and encourage engagement. 4. The Quote of Inspiration. Incorporate an inspiring quote that resonates with the meeting's theme or objectives.
Idea 4: Video. This could work just as marvellous as sharing an image and opening a short discussion on its interpretations. You could even start with a video and use it as a segue into your presentation. For example this video could be used as a great example for a marketing strategy by the brand and could be a great way to get the audience ...
Ask a puzzling question you promise to reveal in the end. Propose a riddle. Suggest that the audience complete a mathematical equation and promise to give the answer context during the speech. 21. The Activity Open - Of all the 25 ways to open, this one triggers the most immediate engagement.
Opening Lines of the Top 10 Greatest Speeches of All Time. #1: Socrates - "Apology". "How you, men of Athens, have been affected by my accusers. I do not know.". #2: Patrick Henry - "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death". "Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope.".
o listen to y. ur ideas or buy your goods and services. "Thank you. You know, coming here tonight my (husband)(wife) said..Whatever you do don't try to be t. charming, witty or intellectual...just be yourself." "It's funny, as I was walking up he. e I was thinking that we all have a lot in c.
Typical Patterns for Speech Openings. Get the audience's attention-called a hook or a grabber. Establish rapport and tell the audience why you care about the topic of why you are credible to speak on the topic. Introduce the speech thesis/preview/good idea. Tell the audience why they should care about this topic.
This speech opening line both makes our jaws drop to the ground in shock at such a statistic and opens our hearts to the human side of the story. Powerful stuff. Ginger tip: punchy facts. Opening your speech with a hard-hitting fact can quickly add credibility to your talk and demonstrate the scale of an issue.
1) A Quote - Name a topic, and more often than not there is a great quote or saying that suits your subject matter perfectly. An example - one that I often use to open a presentation dealing with public speaking: "It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.". - Mark Twain. 2) A "What If" Scenario ...
Make eye contact with your audience members and make sure they are still engaged with the information you're presenting. Carefully-chosen transitions are powerful ways to not only introduce the next segment, but also pull in an audience's attention all over again. 4. Tell a personal story. Telling a brief, personal story early in a ...
Here are seven effective methods to open a speech or presentation: Quote Opening with a relevant quote can help set the tone for the rest of your speech. For example, one that I often use to open a presentation dealing with public speaking: "It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.". - Mark Twain.
Step 5. Summarize the main points of your speech and provide some further food for thought for your listeners. Leave your audience with positive memories of your speech. End with a final thought or emotion, which can take the form of an inspiring quote, personal anecdote or call-back to an earlier point in the speech.
Here are some examples of short opening remarks for a program. 1. You are welcome to [program name]. We're so happy you could be here with us today. 2. We appreciate your attendance at [program name] and wish you a good [morning/afternoon/evening]. 3.
Doing this will give you an idea of how to catch the attention of your listeners. 2. Acknowledge The Guests. Of course, one of the purposes of giving an opening speech at every event is to welcome the guests. Convey how thankful the organizers are for their acceptance of the event invitation. Also, do not forget to thank them for sparing time ...
Summary. A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you're pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing ...
18 July 2024 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) I am a creature of local government, so hopefully you'll find as a Secretary of State, I truly understand what you're ...
Step 2: Based upon this audience analysis, figure out their set expectation regarding the topic you are about to deliver your speech on. Step 3: Shred that expectation by challenging that set expectation in your opening remark. Remember not to be offensive and play by the rule of your moral compass.
H.E. Aoun Diab Abdullah, Minister of Water Resources, Distinguished guests, colleagues, and ladies and gentlemen, Al-Salamu Alikum and Good morning. It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the launch of the joint UN and Ministry of Water Resources "Water is Life" campaign together with H.E., the Minister. Water is not just a resource; it is the very essence of life itself. Every water ...
Sen. Josh Hawley says, "Christian nationalism founded American democracy," in remarks at the National Conservatism Conference.
"Hell Of A Speech": Joe Biden's Remarks On Exiting POTUS Race Praised By Stephen King, Kamala Harris, Rob Reiner, Wendell Pierce & More By Dominic Patten , Ted Johnson July 24, 2024 5:39pm
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in remarks on the Senate floor this morning that he plans to attend Netanyahu's speech this afternoon despite his differences with the Israeli ...
"Remarks I made earlier today at a rally at a rally in Middletown do not accurately reflect my views," Lang said on X. "I regret the divisive remarks I made in the excitement of the moment ...
JD Vance delivered remarks for the first time since being announced as Donald Trump's vice presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention.