Let’s play the Segue Game

         It’s like playing ‘Telephone game-start a message and see how it changes, combined with some Improv using the ‘Yes, and concept.

         Pick a topic-(How to build business?) Give audience cards that are Segues like:

1.   Speaking of

2.   Pondering the question

3.   That reminds me of

4.   I like

5.   As I hear myself

6.   An opposing view

7.   Another way to look at this

8.   Now that we are on the same page

9.   Here is what fits next

         The above are all third tier segues.

         Tier 1-Fillers-uh, er, um, like you know (the answer to such inanity is “If I know why are you telling me again?”)

         Tier 2-So, Ok, Now

         A professional does not rely or use tier 1 or 2, most of the time.

         Game begins with the host or emcee passing out the cards with 3^rd tier segues. Then makes the topic state- “How to build a business,” and calls on a member of the audience to use their card.

         “Speaking of building a business a great model is Apple.

         The next participant uses “Pondering the question” looking toward Apple we see major success.

         “That reminds me of the basic rule of business; provide the customer what they want.

         “I like the phrase the customer is always right, which means I need to know what is right for my customer.

         “As I hear myself say that I am brought tone of the core values many people have, the Golden Rule and knowing what is right for you is golden.

         “An opposing view may say that is selfish, however being selfish means having an opinion, maybe even taking action.

         “Another way of looking at this, is we care about our customer “and now we are on the same page. The page where the customer is always right. (Bonus points for this player for using two segues.)

         ‘“Here’s what fits next, organize your business team or buddies to get into the specifics of building a business.

         Segues can start a conversation and elegantly lead to the next concept to support an idea or bring forth the next concept.

How to get from here to there and not forget the audience: Or The Medium may also be the message

        As a long time conversationalist with a tendency toward my own topics and agendas learning the segue was and is important in creating what I want. I first practiced this skill as a teenager calling girls, both those I knew and  those I wanted to know. Often with no common ground, other than an attraction on my part it was imperative to my intent to create a segue to how cool I was.

         SO(second tier segue)  how did I transition the subject to drive in movies?

         OK, (second tier segue)  it is possible to use 2 letter words and trust that the new subject was well rehearsed and would be of interest and warm her to my plan.

         NOW ( a common second tier segue) let’s change the subject for just a moment. I offer you 3 ways to segue your presentations to help make the medium your message.

         One-Can you imagine the Muppet Miss Piggy puckering up to kiss Kermit the Frog?

         YES?

         You have the power to imagine anything.

         Picture your next presentations using the FIVE FRIENDS, the questions-WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, HOW, and WHY to move the audience to your next point or topic.

         CALL BACK questions lead audience where you want to go.

         WHAT’S NEXT?

         WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO?

         WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO CHANGE TOPICS?

         HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME TO SEGUE?

         WHY HAVE MORE THAN ONE TOPIC?

         CALL BACK questions lead audience where you want to go.

         The second way is metaphors.

         Let’s see the door open to a room full of colorful metaphors describing what you want, empowering you with a new vision, a feeling, space in which the new blossoms like a hand opening with a greeting.

         Metaphors with imagery can replicate pictures telling a thousand words on the way to your next point. Storytelling uses metaphors to transiting (another word for segue) topics. Often the metaphor requires the audience to think and remember as you say

         ONCE UPON A TIME…

         The third is get the audience to go internal and search for the meaning of PIGLIPTZ. Yes the TRANCE derivational search. Forcing the audience to think, to search their mind-

         Huh? DO PIGS HAVE LIPS?

         Moving the audience ‘s attention from outside themselves, from being on the speaker, to being inside, because as we all know CHANGE COMES FROM WITHIN!

         OK, SO NOW let’s recap.

         Ok, so, now are common segues AND/BUT  they allow the listener’s attention to slip like Teflon off your point.

         The use of the Five Friends create open ended leading question that can Velcro your audience to your transitions and make segues part of the message.

         Putting mascara on a pig can shock the audience into waking up and pondering the wonder of your informative, entertaining, inspiring and persuasive topic and pump your presence.

         It worked as a teenager, got lots of dates and still use the power of segues today.

         For more unique ways to build your segues and you’re your speaking career go to FACEBOOK, to Mr Public Speaker GC Smith or join the multitude who receive a weekly copy of THE Church of Attention .