Captivating Audiences - Insights From a Motivational Speaker

Victor Borge …

his career spanned 7 decades   

entertainment weekly voted him ‘most favourite funny person’   

had his own NBC show 

starred alongside Frank Sinatra

I got accidental tuition from him in presentation.

One of the things he was most famous for was a comedic concert pianist. I set up this shot with a grand piano and directed him to walk in from the side of the shot to the piano.

“No, no my boy. Walk on stage from the back, from the drum set if you must, from upstage to downstage” … “my boy they pay to see your face not your profile”

Sidebar: You’ll see this in the old Ed Sullivan shows where the act appears from the middle of the curtains. Theatre construction and modern audiences with attention spans shorter than a lit match mean you get a variation on this today. Check out Tonight Show clips with Letterman or Jimmy Fallon and you’ll see they have a tracking camera shot that gives a more ‘head on’ perspective as the guest enters from the side of theatre.

This started making me aware the power of the face in creating that all important emotional connection

and the power of marrying up your face with your hands.

Your hands, especially open palms, held ‘up’ and married with your face is powerful. Open palms signify you come in peace. This comes from the caveman days that it showed you were not hiding a rock to club your fellow caveman with.

I teach magicians to perform tricks that don’t require a table and that can be performed ‘in the hands’. This is especially relevant for video. So many card tricks are done holding the cards low. What’s the backdrop for moment of wonder? Your crotch.

So bring your hands up high, include your face and for the winning trifecta, include your smile. Barack Obama does this well.

If you want any TV or video interviews to ‘come to life’ start talking with your hands.

Summary:

Victor Borge, an iconic entertainer whose career spanned seven decades, was known for his comedic piano performances and television presence. During a TV shoot, Borge gave unexpected advice on how to engage an audience. He insisted on entering the stage from a head-on position rather than from the side, stressing that people come to see a performer’s face, not just their profile. Borge’s insights highlighted the importance of creating emotional connections through facial expressions and gestures. He emphasized the power of using open palms and aligning them with facial expressions to convey trust and engagement. This lesson translates well to modern presentations, especially in TV or video interviews, where hand movements, facial expressions, and smiles create a dynamic and engaging presence.

Lessons Learned:

• Face and hands create emotional connections: Showing your face directly to the audience helps build a bond and conveys openness.
• Body language speaks volumes: Open palms and expressive gestures signify trust and peace, drawing people in.
• Stage positioning matters: Entering from a front-facing direction ensures the audience sees the most expressive part of you—your face.
• Engage viewers with a high-energy presentation: Combining your face, hands, and smile makes your message more engaging and memorable.
• Adapt to modern media: These principles hold true not only on stage but also in video, where clear, direct engagement is key to captivating an audience.