I very much enjoyed this article! Sometimes I wondered about this whole "Back Channel" idea. Now, we are never still for a presentation, constantly connected, and do we realize when our quick critique has just become heckling.
Either way, when it comes to human nature, the principle that David Alan Grier's behavior agreed with is that we must give the audience and idea that they are getting what they want. That does not mean agreeing with them but allowing them to feel acknowledged and leave it at that. Good job, DAG! We must proceed to do what we do and not give too much power to any one heckler- even if it appears to be the entire room!
Thanks for your comment, BC. I agree: giving the heckler power is the last thing we want to do. Mostly, the hecklers I encounter just want to be heard. I let them be heard, but not take over the room. It can be a delicate situation, but not impossible to deal with.
The existence of backchannel heckling is a frightening development, since there will always be an unhappy element in your audience. That unhappy element will be much more likely to take advantage of the limelight opportunity than those happy and involved with the presentation.
In audiences that have access to seeing a screen of running commentary, or highly technical audience where many will be following on the PDA's etc., I would think having a short statement prepared early in the presentation to address it, Say, "By the way, I've got a running bet with my husband to see what term gets more backchannel play: My Hair, My Legs, or MILF" - so bring it on."
I think Patricia Fripp's audience would die of hysterics if she used that line....
The screen of running commentary seems completely inappropriate to me, as it's a moving image that's distracting to the audience, AND the speaker can't see it.
But if there were no way around it, I think you would have to have some humor prepared to address it.
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I very much enjoyed this article! Sometimes I wondered about this whole "Back Channel" idea. Now, we are never still for a presentation, constantly connected, and do we realize when our quick critique has just become heckling.
Either way, when it comes to human nature, the principle that David Alan Grier's behavior agreed with is that we must give the audience and idea that they are getting what they want. That does not mean agreeing with them but allowing them to feel acknowledged and leave it at that. Good job, DAG! We must proceed to do what we do and not give too much power to any one heckler- even if it appears to be the entire room!
Thanks for your comment, BC. I agree: giving the heckler power is the last thing we want to do. Mostly, the hecklers I encounter just want to be heard. I let them be heard, but not take over the room. It can be a delicate situation, but not impossible to deal with.
The existence of backchannel heckling is a frightening development, since there will always be an unhappy element in your audience. That unhappy element will be much more likely to take advantage of the limelight opportunity than those happy and involved with the presentation.
In audiences that have access to seeing a screen of running commentary, or highly technical audience where many will be following on the PDA's etc., I would think having a short statement prepared early in the presentation to address it, Say, "By the way, I've got a running bet with my husband to see what term gets more backchannel play: My Hair, My Legs, or MILF" - so bring it on."
I think Patricia Fripp's audience would die of hysterics if she used that line....
The screen of running commentary seems completely inappropriate to me, as it's a moving image that's distracting to the audience, AND the speaker can't see it.
But if there were no way around it, I think you would have to have some humor prepared to address it.
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