Not Everyone Applauds - Insights From a Motivational Speaker

Andrew Gill says, "One night, my friend Raymond Crowe, a world-renowned magician, was furious. After a show, he called me, frustrated that a woman had spent the entire performance on her phone. Ray never confronts his audience, but he was tempted this time."

As he packed up, she approached him. Before he could bring up audience etiquette, she said, “You were fantastic! I was texting all my friends, telling them they were missing out.”

It was a powerful reminder: just because someone isn’t reacting the way you expect doesn’t mean they aren’t engaged. Some people don’t laugh out loud; they process internally. Some sit with arms crossed, fully absorbed.

Andrew Gill, a seasoned event host, knows this well. At morning sessions, audiences might be buzzing, while afternoon crowds seem disengaged—until they approach afterward, saying it was the funniest thing they’ve seen.

Understanding audiences takes time. With experience, you stop overanalyzing reactions and focus on delivering value. Not every audience member applauds, but that doesn’t mean they’re not listening.

🎙️ From CHANGEABILITY with Julian Mather – Andrew Gill: How To Change (23 Feb 2025).