How To Effectively Engage An Audience

A Tip From Ralphie May (Comedy Mindhacks #18)

Ralphie May was a comedic genius in his own right. About a year-and-a-half ago, I found an old video of him giving tips to young comedians at The Comedy Store. I was watching it again recently, and while many things jumped out at me, one thing that really caught my attention, just like it did before, was his technique for how to effectively engage an audience or, more specifically, his mechanics for joke delivery. He shared a surprisingly simple way to corral everyone’s attention.

May, in essence, treated the rooms he played like a Tic Tac Toe grid and visited three spots in sequence. He called it left, right, center. And it works like magic on comedy stages and boardroom floors alike. First you face the left side of the room as you tell your setup. This, as far as jokes go, is where you gain your early adopters. This is where you plant the seed of the joke or the idea.

Second, you then pivot to the right side of the audience for the build. This is where you fan the flames of curiosity and tension. It is like whispering secrets to your nosy neighbor across the fence so they lean in. Third, you stare down the center of the room for the payoff. This is the moment when the punchline lands. By directing your energy to the center you give everyone a shared focal point. This unifies scattered attention in the room into a single laugh. It really is quite brilliant!

In joke jargon this maps neatly onto the framework of setup, build, and punchline. (Note: Most comedians obsess over setup and payoff and skip the middle. But the build is the engine that helps launch the punch.) May’s three-part technique is a great physical strategy. It also, in a very bodily way, reminds the audience that the story is unfolding not just in words but in movement. It is, in other words, very embodied.

You can use left, right, center in sermons and speeches as well. Look left as you introduce your main point. Then glide right while explore context and teach. Finally face center to deliver the challenging implication(s).

Teachers can try it, too. Begin at the left when setting up a complex concept. Then turn to the right as you illustrate examples. Then return to the center to reveal the “Aha! Moment” that makes the lesson click. It turns passive note-taking into an interactive mind gym, which is pretty awesome.

Even in meetings the trick holds true. Start by addressing your project sponsor on the left. Then turn to skeptics on the right to acknowledge their concerns. Then look center to propose your solution. It also shows you have everyone’s interests in mind.

So, next time you feel like your performance or presentation is missing something give left, right, center a try. You can also use the acting/speech technique of “blocking” and pair it with this. In “blocking” you would pick three places or zones on a stage and move to them at specific times. For instance, when you do the setup and look left, also move left. Then move right. Then move back to center.

Think of it as playing Whack-A-Mole with audience attention spans. It is a simple comedic mindhack that breathes life into any stage, pulpit, or boardroom. It might help make your jokes hit harder and your points stickier. I myself have done it and strive to do it. Thus, in my view, its one heck of a trick for turning wandering eyeballs into devoted fans. You can watch the full video below where May talks about this, but the clip here should start at the point where he mentions this technique. (NOTE: There is a LOT of foul language here. If you can get past that, you’ll really find some comedic gold.)