3 Things Every Speaker Should Know About Speaking on a Big Stage

Of the five TED speakers I’ve coached over the years, no one was more committed than Mark Thomaz. Mark was a CrossFit trainer from sunny California, complete with the surfer boy looks to match. In addition to barking out orders at his students, he regularly spoke at community events about the long-term benefits of exercise. Not surprisingly, he showed no fear of public speaking. What I loved most about Mark was his obsession with practice, which we did by video since we were on opposite sides of the country. Over the span of two months, we organized his content and choreographed a series of complex CrossFit moves that he would later demonstrate in his talk. With only one week to go until the TED conference, I would have bet my last dollar that Mark could have recited his talk backward. 

Two days before the big event, Mark flew into Atlanta for dress rehearsals. As the other TED speakers and their coaches anxiously stood around waiting for their turn to practice, I was mentally taking a victory lap because I knew that Mark was about to knock their socks off. After about three and a half hours of waiting, they finally called him to the stage. I stood downstage with my video camera, ready to record the action so Mark and I could dissect it later. He confidently strode from behind the curtain but before he made it to the iconic, red TED carpet, I knew he was in trouble. Mark made the fatal mistake of looking directly into the bright stage lights and they totally threw him off his game. On his second attempt, things only got worse. At that moment, it dawned on me that of all the speaking Mark had done over the years, none of it was on a stage this big. He was completely overwhelmed by the size of the stage, the bright lights and the fact that the audience seemed so far away. I’ll never forget the fear in his eyes and the tremble in his voice when he said, “Dez, I’m sorry. I just can’t do this.”

Although you might not have had the opportunity to speak on a big stage, I’m sure you’ve either driven or ridden in a big truck similar to a U-Haul. The two are quite similar in that you are intimately familiar with the fundamental concept (speaking or driving) but in order to be successful, you have to make uncomfortable adjustments to account for size. For example, when driving a big U-Haul-type truck, your line of sight is extremely limited so you have to rely more on mirrors. You also have to approach turns at wider angles and apply the brakes sooner than you would in a car because it takes much longer to stop. These adjustments are very similar to the ones that are necessary as you move from a smaller venue to a big stage. 

Here are three things every speaker should know about speaking from a big stage:  

1. Be You Times Two ― The bigger the stage, the bigger you must be. In other words, slightly exaggerate your physical presence on stage. When you gesture with your arms or move around the stage, be more expansive by fully engaging your shoulders and hips. If, at first, you feel slightly uncomfortable, that’s a sign you’re on the right track.

2. Intentional Movements ― Use the floor of the stage like a map. Before you speak, put down markers to establish boundaries at four corners, forming a box. The bigger the stage, the bigger the box (Tape is ideal for this. Use slips of paper in a pinch). The box will help you remain centered. The world won’t end if you step outside the lines; just be intentional about it.

3. Eye Contact ― It’s critical that you are more deliberate when engaging with your audience because most of them will not be able to clearly see your eyes. Scanning the room won’t work. I lay an imaginary tic-tac-toe board (number sign) on my audience and evenly distribute eye contact to each section. When appropriate, engage your head and neck and slightly turn your shoulder when looking at a specific section of the audience.

As for Mark, I challenged him to imagine that the TED stage was his CrossFit studio. We practiced for nearly three hours after everyone left the venue and I’m happy to say he delivered the talk of his dreams! That experience was a stark reminder that big stages demand EVEN BIGGER speakers. 

Dez Thornton is a communications coach who helps you say the right words in the right way when they matter most! For more information, see www.dezthornton.com.