The Audience

I taught a workshop the other day. The participants were bright, friendly, and asked great questions.

They made it a pleasure for me to be there.

It was a reminder of just how much the audience contributes to the performance of a speaker. People often underestimate their role when they are out in the audience watching, and evaluating, the speaker. Anyone who has done a serious amount of public speaking, however, will affirm that some audiences are sparks, others are wet blankets, and most fall somewhere in-between.

When it comes to presentations, we all have a role to play, even those of us who sit and listen.