One huge part of public speaking involves regulating of your own emotions and the feelings experienced by your audience. The same script, as spoken and expressed by different people, can produce drastically different results. Scripts are not too different from songs. A very clear example is that of the immensely popular song – Poker Face. Redone or interpreted by three different artistes, it evokes different feelings in the audience.

Christopher Walker: Poker Face “poetry reading”

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When said, literally, with a poker face by Christopher Walker, the lyrics are made somewhat hilarious. The question here, is when would you want to put on a poker face and report information in an emotionless tone? Not all speeches have to be rah-rah and passionate. There is a time to be serious, a time to be enthusiastic and definitely a time to be nothing at all. Food for thought: When ?

Chris Daughtry, Poker Face acoustic version

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In the music sphere, the acoustic version of songs (this one is by Chris Daughtry) is often dubbed as raw, untampered and natural. Being no-frills during a speech can cause your audience let their guards down, but exposing too many truths can also make you vulnerable to later attack. Will there be a time when you need to remove the theatrics, throw away the fancy Powerpoint slides, and just speak plainly and honestly? You decide.

Lady Gaga, Poker Face

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Lastly, the original Poker Face as sung by Lady Gaga herself. As compared to the other two, this is a jazzed up, heavily packaged version of the song with lots of bells and trinkets thrown in. This sort of “fluff” is often used in persuasive speeches and for marketing purposes, where every detail plays an important role in changing or creating audience perceptions. Or if unfortunately, there are plenty of loopholes or half-truths that need to be covered with pretty graphics and sounds, then this would also be good. Like a birthday or celebratory present, gift-wrapping has to have a specific and special purpose. As Dumbledore said in the note accompanying the Invisibility Cloak in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, “Use It Well”.

To conclude, the main point is that words are really, merely words. It’s the body language, the tone, the setting and all the other details often overlooked that create an overall emotion and feel to your speech. In order to deliver your speech as you intended it to be, you need to take extra care to manage your emotions and that of the audience. Poker faced, acoustic or techno? You decide.

-stella