Want To Captivate Your Audience? Surprise Them With Storytelling
A few days ago, I watched a movie that truly disappointed me
. Oh, it had a fantastic cast, an interesting premise, and the promise of being fun and entertaining. But it fell flat. Why?
Because after less than 2 minutes, I already spun out the entire plot for the movie. Oh sure, I missed some of the slapstick elements, but I knew exactly what to expect throughout the movie.
What an unsatisfying experience. And I suspect you've had that happen to you.
It's much more engaging and entertaining when the story surprises you, isn't it?
It's fun to think a movie or a song or a story is going in a particular direction and to find out it's more like that Monty Python sketch, "And now for something completely different."
Anytime you're telling a story, you want to add an element of surprise. A twist or turn that the reader may not anticipate. That's how you capture someone's attention and captivate them.
Recently, I watched a YouTube video of a young woman named Erin Murray, who wrote this piece of music. She is dressed formally, as one might expect for a stage performance. The music begins, sad and sweet, and she starts to sing what sounds as if it iss going to be about lost love. She starts with these words: "So you say you're leaving...leaving me alone."
Then things take an interesting turn. Within a few seconds, it is clear that this is not at all your typical sad song of love lost. It is in a way a forever love song.
What happens next is a little like paying a visit to the Twilight Zone... She starts singing about taxidermy. One of the lines is, "I'll put you in the parlor and you'll always be mine. I'll put a Santa hat on you come Christmas time. Baby, I love you."
And Ms. Murray takes it even further as the song progresses. You'll hear the audience reacting during the song and you'll hear their uproarious applause at the end.
Watch the video of a live event and hear the audience reaction at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m9w-OZYQTQ.
You will believe you're about to hear a sad song. Instead, you will most likely find yourself belly-laughing and thinking, "I can't believe she just SANG that!"
What this singer-songwriter accomplishes has a terrific storytelling lesson for you. because you want to keep your audience involved. "Audience" has a broad interpretation in business (and indeed in life as well).
Your audience might be a person reading an article, an individual in a coaching session, someone reading your book, a small group at a meeting, or a live audience of dozens, hundreds or thousands. Realize that even a group is composed of individuals hearing or reading your story inside the privacy of their own experience.
You need to tell stories everywhere -
* on your blog
* in emails
* in articles
* in your info products (like ebooks & special reports)
* in your copywriting
* in your books
* in your coaching/mentoring
* on stage
* in meetings
* ... I'm sure by now you get the picture.
Think of ways to surprise people. Startle them (not necessarily in such a shocking way as this example). Cause them to set their cell phones down and pay attention to you because you've done something unexpected. This will make you a better storyteller.
My experience is that storytelling tends to trip people up simply because you aren't sure what kind of tale to tell. So I'll make it easy for you.
FIguring out What Story to Tell
As a matter of fact, it's easy to know what kind of story to tell. The "trick" is beginning with the end in mind. The first question you want to ask yourself has to do with the goal.
1. What is your ultimate goal with the story?
2. Who will gain most from hearing/reading your story?
3. How will you emotionally involve the person receiving your story?
4. How will you surprise the person reading or listening to your story?
5. What do you want your audience to do next?
Save these questions for yourself in a special file and answer them anytime you are writing a story or figuring out which one to tell in a live situation. This will help you be intentional about what you share, and therefore you will attain better results than if you simply "wing it" or tell a trite tale with a blatant message.
by: Ronda Del Boccio
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