If you ask most performers if they can remember the first time they took to a stage, the answer will come with surprising clarity. I don’t have the greatest memory, but I can remember my first time in front of an audience like it was yesterday… and I was four years old. It was a bar in the Catskill Mountains: I was perched on a large round table, singing my new favorite song, “The Bear Went Over The Mountain.” For those who don’t know the song, here’s how it goes:
The bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain, and what do you think he saw?
He saw another mountain, he saw another mountain, he saw another mountain, and what do you think he did?
He climbed the other mountain, he climbed the other mountain, he climbed the other mountain, and what do you think he saw?
He saw another mountain, he saw another mountain, he saw another mountain, and what do you think he did?
I think you probably got the hang of it by now. With each verse, the crowd seemed to enjoy my performance a little more. As for me, I felt intoxicated with the smiles and cheers I was receiving. What I didn’t know was that I was utilizing a unique skill that most trained performers use. I was bringing the house down by utilizing a technique called a callback.
In comedic terms, a callback is a reference made to an earlier joke in a performance. Callbacks remind the audience of an earlier joke, creating multiple layers and building more than one laugh from a single joke. When used at the end of a set, callbacks can bring a comic’s routine full circle and give closure to the performance.
But why should we only allow comedians to utilize this valuable technique? Watch a professional speaker work, and you’ll see the same thing happening. They perform callbacks all the time. When I train speakers, one of the first things I ask is this: “If the audience remembers just one thing from your presentation – just one main idea, what would you want that to be?” I’m not looking for a punch line; I’m looking for a power line. I’m looking for something memorable, something well thought out, something bordering on poetic. Here’s an example:
“Today, I don’t want you to just have you leave with a couple of ideas. I want to empower you to do great things, and to do that I want to provide you with three, repeatable, predictable processes that you can use the moment you leave this room, and for the rest of your lives.” Quite frankly, a statement like this may be powerful, and poetic, but because it is never really addressed again, it is often left to wither away.
To really deliver on such a bold statement, you will want to follow up with the callback technique. Let’s bait that hook and cast that power line over the audience at least three more times. Let’s look at these scenarios:
- About a third of the way through the presentation, you should be well into your topic. What a great time to reach for a callback: “Now we have our first process in place. How many of you feel that you’ll be able to immediately utilize this new method in the work you do?”
- About two thirds of the way through the presentation, you’ve delivered even more valuable information to your audience. Again, this would be a good time to use the callback to reinforce that original power line you led with: “Two processes down, and one to go, but let’s take a moment to make sure everyone is on board. Can you connect what we’ve discussed to the real world you are operating in?”
- During the final when you’re wrapping up your presentation, wouldn’t it make sense to use the callback to close? “It’s not what we learn that matters the most. It’s what we do with what we’ve learned. You leave here with three processes that are repeatable, and predictable. My hopes are that you’ll feel empowered to use these techniques and reap the benefits.
When it comes to speaking, one of my favorite sayings goes like this: If you emphasize everything, you emphasize nothing. It’s worth taking a moment to create something powerful, something that would sum up what you want that audience to remember. There is no better way to do that than by utilizing the callback to keep reinforcing that power line to that audience. If you do that, you and your message will not be forgotten.
Love it! I liken this to “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them.” Repetition in context. Your son is very smart — and the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. Great (as always!) Blarticle, Rob!
I liken this to the “Tell them” trio, but that model typically relates to content. I want to address content, what’s in it for the audience, what we expect from the audience and more upfront. That callback can relate to a classic big picture power line. I always like reading your comments Sarah!
Rob, your intro story (very cute by the way) explains sooo much about you!
But seriously, this is an excellent post. Really, really useful information for anyone trying to engage an audience.
Did I ever sing The Bear Went Over The Mountain in Garrett Hall? When you realize that there’s only so much an audience can retain, the callback becomes a critical tactic. Thanks so much for posting Pat.
Great piece, Rob. As a director, I always appreciate a good theater metaphor. Have a great weekend.
Well I spent some time on that stage and in the director’s chair myself… but I digress! Or do I? Having spent time as an actor certainly helped when learning my craft as a speaker. Great hearing from you Rachel!
Another great piece, Rob! I will incorporate it in my WHY presentation (which starts out with a statement about how knowing your WHY changes your — and your business’s paradigm– and then demonstrates how it does that), but until now I did not specifically reiterate that main thought!
Well there you are then! Every presentation has a critical message. Just make sure you keep calling it back to reinforce that message! Thanks for the post Beth.
Brilliant–just like you. Let’s call Rob back!
That one made me smile. I’m quite sure as either a conscious competent, or an unconscious competent, you’ve performed your share of callbacks. Great hearing from you Eileen!
This is a top-drawer speaker device and so aptly named. It makes sense to me because it is so much like the “call and response” pattern in traditional black spiritual songs I love. Hope you don’t hate me like all those teachers I used to sub for did. Whenever I found a great idea anywhere, I honored who I learned from by “stealing” the idea (adding it to my own teaching toolbox).
Steal away – that’s why I write BLArticles®! I can’t wait for the time when I can sit in one of your presentations and watch you sign your books for attendees when it concludes. Keep writing my friend. Thanks for posting Edia.
Excellent words of wisdom – if you emphasize everything…you emphasize nothing. Very powerful in work, in parenting, in daily life.
Thanks Rob for another revealing and educational BLArticle
You hit on the parenting point, and I could not agree with you more. How many times do you find yourself saying quietly, “I can only ask my child to address a certain number of issues. Although I sure would like him or her to change, how important is this particular issue?” Thanks so much for posting Lorri.
THIS BLarticle is worth printing out (this one even MORE so than all the other ones I have printed out) and put to action immediately. As a matter of fact I will be using this technique during my next presentation. WOW, how simple yet powerful. I think the simplicity of it makes it so powerful. Gret great great piece Rob!
One of these days you’re going to invite me in to see one of these presentations! I’m quite sure that a presentation delivered by Doug “The Human Sponge” Sandler would be something to see. Thanks for the post my friend.
So valuable, Rob. This is another one of those things that makes you an outstanding speaker. You care about your audience getting results and investing their time well.
Well I appreciate that comment Steve, I can assure you, but even if I wasn’t such a great guy, I would obsess on my audience getting results. You know why? Because ultimately, that audience’s results will be a real report card, and if we don’t want to be a “one hit wonder” with a particular client, we all need to obsess here. Thanks for the post Steve!