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When
to Say No! (and Why)
an Article for Professional
Speakers
by
Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
People ask me, "Do
you ever bomb?"
Yes, once in a while.
But even the worst experience, with a little time lapse, can become funny,
and always a learning experience. Once I spoke for a group of men who
worked in a gravel quarry. I told the organizers, "No, I don't think this
is my kind of audience," but they were insistent. Finally, I gave in and
said "yes." (I admit to this defect in my character: when clients keep
begging me to take their money I can only refuse for so long!)
How bad could it
be? I rationalized. I went early, set up the environment, changed the
lighting, schmoozed with everyone. I'm not saying they weren't nice, hard
working, tax paying Americans, but it looked as if their friends had given
them subscriptions to the Tattoo of the Month Club. Fortunately, there
were a few wives. One woman, very thin, sat in the front row. "Ah, she
must have heard of me," I thought. So I asked her if she liked speakers.
"Oh, no," she said, "My husband is a bit deaf, so we have to sit close
up.
So I kept schmoozing,
especially with their shop steward and a man they called "The Preacher."
When I met their president, I asked him why I was being paid so much money
for just a fifteen-minute speech. He replied that honestly he didn't think
I could keep their attention for more than fifteen minutes. "Boy," I thought,
"this man hasn't seen me Fripnotize a crowd!" Then I started speaking.
It was horrible!
No one in the room
stopped chatting with their neighbors. I learned that any time you have
an hour-long open bar for a blue-collar audience before a speech, your
chances of success plummet.
After my speech,
awards were given out. I couldn't slip away because my handbag was up
front. The first recipient was the hard-of-hearing man who told the owner
of the company, "I haven't always agreed with you guys, but ........."
Sorry —I really CAN'T tell you. The second award winner was the shop
steward who said, "I don't know why you bring in these motivational speakers.
We're all motivated enough to turn up at work every day." Finally came
the "preacher." He said, "Most of you weren't listenin' to Patricia. You
should have done because she was very good. Now, I have 12 points to make..."
His speech was longer than mine.
From the car I called
my friend Susan RoAne. "It was awful!" I moaned. "Should I send their
money back?"
Susan's reply: "You
were fine. They failed. You suffered. Keep the money."
MORAL of the story:
as the late, great Bill Gove said, "You are responsible TO your audience,
not FOR your audience."
So, YES do take
MOST of the opportunities you can to speak. But learn to discipline yourself
not to take all the money offered. Say "no" based on your own past experiences—and
mine.
(507 words)
Patricia Fripp, CSP,
CPAE is a San Francisco-based executive speech coach, sales trainer, and
award-winning professional speaker on Change, Customer Service, Promoting
Business, and Communication Skills. She is the author of Get What You
Want!, Make It, SoYou Don't Have to Fake It!, and Past-President of
the National Speakers Association. She can be reached at: PFripp@Fripp.com,
1-800 634-3035, http://www.fripp.com
We offer this article
on a nonexclusive basis. You may reprint or repost this material as long
as Patricia Fripp's name and contact information is included. PFripp@Fripp.com,
1-800 634-3035, http://www.fripp.com
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