http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRvzl0zOsO8&feature=player_embedded
couldn't resist--it seems interruptions are everywhere! REP senator Wilson interrupted Pres Obama, shouting "you lie" during the health care reform speech, then Kanye threw down during Taylor's acceptance speech...is heckling the new applause? Has the world gone mad? Speechmakers everywhere must unite and support eack other, how does one survive interuptions? Let's prepare JUST IN CASE --what happens if/when Kanye or Senator Wilson interrupts you right after your thrilling attention getter people??? It could happen! (More likely: Paul's cell phone rings in class) Will you lose your place...get thrown off, be horribly embarassed??? Will you curse, cry, maybe even rise above the event to come out shining even brighter than before...maybe Beyonce buys you Starbucks or gives you a cow on Farmville....
GET TO THE POINT SANDRA! This week tell me here, what did you think of these two recent moments from a public speaking perspective? I am NOT asking your opinion of the people OR even their specific behavior and words, I am asking you to comment on the rhetorical situation: The way the speaker handled it and how a good speaker might be prepared for such a thing...is it effective to address the heckler or just ignore them and move on? What do you notice in on-line clips of either speech as far as reactions to these interuptions? How do they make the audience feel? Are there social rules and expectations surrounding these types of unscripted, awkward moments? Can you think of another recent example? Finally, what would you do if you were interupted by either Kanye or Carolina Senator Wilson in our classroom at CRC during your big moment???
Poor Taylor. Kanye obviously rattled her, she was like a deer in the headlights. Frozen. She did not recover well, in fact I don't think she said anything(?) afterwards. I heard that she had to perform, on the show, 5 minutes after that. What was most interesting was how some in the crowd were booing, but some seemed to be applauding. Ouch. At any rate, the negatives have all been on Kanye, so Taylor, by not saying anything and looking completely devestated came out on top. Had she engaged in a war of words with Kanye, she probably would have come out the loser.
ReplyDeleteThe President, however, barely skipping a beat, told Wilson that his statement was 'not true' and moved on. It helped that most people were shocked and annoyed by Wilson anyway, but Obama has a strong will and speaking style and probably could handle any heckler.
If you are going to get into it with a heckler, you had better be sure that you have the right comeback to silence the person or you'll just get more of the same. That said, if you let the heckler get the best of you, or don't respond at all, you could lose some credibility. Taylor has an innocence on her side that made people feel sorry for her, most people don't.
Both audiences seemed (mostly) ill at ease with the interuptions because it's generally accepted that you wait for someone to finish a speech before voicing any objections or comments.
If Kanye interupts me I'll remind him that his career must really be in bad shape if he expects any press out of interupting ME.
If Senator Wilson interupts me I'll tell him to save his hog calls for when he's back on the farm.
Check out this poor comic dealing with a heckler. He gets the best of the heckler in the end, but it ruins his act anyway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtjx-yplqTw&feature=related
I don't have a tv so I watched it on youtube, and I did not see Taylor Swift responding after Kanye West interrupted her. I do not think she handled the situation well, but it was because she really did not expect someone to interrupt her speech. I have to agree with Bradford's post on how Obama handled Senator Wilson's interruption. Obama continued his speech as if he expected or was well prepared for something like that to happen. Perhaps it had happened to him before and so he knew how to deal with it. I think it would be best to ignore the heckler and just continue on with the speech, so as not to lose your train of thought. You do not want to end up in an argument with them and completely straying from what your originally intended on giving a speech about.
ReplyDeleteI know that people were really mad that Kanye did that to Taylor, and I certainly was disappointed myself. I also didn't expect anyone to interrupt Obama's speech, but I think the audience took that interruption a little bit better because of the calm way he was able to brush it off. I think anyone making a speech should be prepared for any type of interruption, because anything can happen at any given time.
If either person interrupted me while I was giving a speech, I would probably just give them a weird look and continue my speech. I wouldn't want them to think that they succeeded me in throwing me off my speech.
-Kim
It depends on the severity of what the heckler says. Although Taylor handled Kanye's interruption well, I would have just taken the microphone back and kept going on with the speech. Addressing Kanye would just give him his attention that he doesn't need any more of. In Obama's case, he handled Senator Wilson pretty well. In his address, I believe it was appropiate. He wasn't fazed by it and kept going.
ReplyDeleteIn the VMA video, it would have been great if the audience was completely silent and so it would make Kanye feel awkward after his little schpleel. So he could walk off stage thinking to himself "Wow, I'm really lame..." I probably would have booed too if I were in the audience. I thought I heard some applauses, so that was offputting.
If Kanye interrupted me, I would say something along the lines of "Thanks for your opinion Kanye, but this is MY speech and I'd like to continue..." If Senator Wilson interrupted me, I probably would have responded the same way Obama did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sm1pFgwXXM
I actually saw Joe Klocek at a comedy show in Davis a while back, and this guy is the MAN! He totally pwns the heckler.
-Heather B
I feel like being interrupted would be a little startling. President Obama handled it well he just continued on with his speech. If i were to be interrupted by either obama or Kanye I would probably make a small joke about it and continue on.
ReplyDeleteKatrina Harvey
Brad--but you'd be the xpert if Kanye interuptedyou during aphotography speech! C'mon! You are right Katrina, ajoke can bridge the awkwardmoment eloquently and put the crowd at ease--Ikept waiting for the Pres to comment on his remarks (off the record) about Kanye on Letterman last night, but I recognize the strategy of taking the air away from bad press so it shrivels up more quickly. Did u guys watch Letterman? Sandra
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNicole Dulin
ReplyDeleteWow! I was unable to see the awards, however after watching the incident on YouTube I was shocked. I really don’t know what Kanye’s motive was but he made a full of himself. Although I do love Beyonce as an artist, I believe what he said and did was rube, cruel, and flat out wrong. I don’t know what I would do in that situation. I would probably do the same things Taylor did and remain silent and look at him crazy like the full he was. Luckily I have never been interrupted like that while giving a speech. I find myself having a hard enough presenting a speech without interruptions, I could only imagine pursuing with.
The responses were differently handled I believe because the venues were different and the person in each situation has a different level of experience,much like it has already been described. Taylor Swift did not handle it but still came out on top because she looked more like a victim. Presidet Obama has more experience handling hecklers although
ReplyDeletein this venue heckling of a president's speech is unprecedented and was viewed as disrespectful not only to the president personally but to the office. The incident broke an unspoken rule of decorum and respect. If I was interrupted by Kanye or Senator Wilson I would try to counter them by pointing
out that both seek attention and feel entitled to force their views to others and move on. Though this would break my flow of the speach and I would have to let the audiance know to give me a moment to get back to were I was at. Which again like my classmates have said it would through me off As to another exam all I could only think of president Bush when a news man threw a shoe at him. Again, even though people did not like Bush they were mad at the heckler for the way he handled the situaion. The foreign nation felt embaraced because of the way the news man acted and because a power house come to their country to talk to them. Although this did not stop Bush from this speak. But then again I don't know if he understood his audiance. In conclusion both audiances responded well to the hecklers heckle.
JoelLopez
To talk about the two situations, I can say Obama responds in a better way than Taylor because Obama before his speech, he knows already that many of his audience will disagree about his new idea. So, he was ready for any kind of question against his speech and what will be the best way to respond to any comment about his speech. On the other hand, MTV Music Award is more entertainment moment where singers say thanks to all fans and people who help their won the MTV award. For that reason, singers just prepare a couple sentences to say thanks and everyone. She was frozen and trying to figure it out what this guy said something like this, but she was really polite and she moved on and finished with a couple words her speech.
ReplyDeleteTo interrupt somebody is rude because it means you don’t pay attention the ideas a person is saying. If someone do that with me, I feel people don’t respect my feelings, ideas or opinions. I believe when someone interrupted me and say something rude to me I will do the same that Taylor did because I always think people listen to me and respect my opinions and I am never prepared to a possible interruptions on my speech.
Juliana Diaz
Well, the way Taylor reacted was how anyone would probably react to. She thought the crowd was booing and agreeing with Kayne and she was so hurt and in utterly shock by that moment she clearly just calmly walked of the stage. I think she handled that pretty well for her age.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone were to interrupt me I would make a little constructive comment about his / her rude, unexpected, interruption; but try to continue on with my speech. Of course, I’d say that now but when it does happen I might be in utter, unbelievably in shock, and dumbfounded that I wouldn’t know what to say or do. That is probably why we have to step up the game by preparing ourselves for the rude interruptions that may occur during our speech.
If I was interrupted in the middle of a speech I would feel a bit awkward and out of place. I think since Taylor is young and this was her first time winning an award she wasn't expecting to be interrupted. She was caught her off guard and she didn't seem to know how to react. I think she could of handled the situation a little better then just walking off the stage when Kanye was done speaking his mind. Like Katrina said, she could of made a joke or made a funny comment to ease the mood and continue on with her acceptance speech. Obama because of his experience, I believe, was able to recover great after being rudely interrupted. I guess it depends on personal experience and how confident you are on public speaking.
ReplyDeleteTonya
Being interrupted during a speech could throw people even off, even if they are not prepared. I wouldnt be thrown off unless I dont know kanye pulled a vma on me..lol. but even then I probably would not have given him the mic until I had said my thank you's. Taylor Swift is very sweet and she probably thought it was part of the vma act or something.
ReplyDeletePresident Obama is more equipped to handle interruptions as so. When Senator Wilson yelled "you lie" at him. He didnt even let it phase him. he just paused until the audience calmed down and continued what he was saying.
Im sure as public speakers we have to prepare ourselves for every bad scenario: What if the mic goes out? What if someones phone rings loudly? What if someone yells your name? If we prepare ourselves for the worst case scenarios then I believe it would help us out.
Frances
I agree with what a lot of people said above. There is a very big difference between Taylor Swift and Obama's reactions because of experience and preparation. Taylor Swift won an award and it was an amazing moment. I'm sure that she was on Cloud 9 as she was delivering the Thank You speech. To have something like Kanye's interruption totally jarred her; like she fell from the cloud and landed splat on the ground. In that situation, I think that it would take a certain kind of personality and some experience to be able to handle it grace. Taylor Swift didn't necessarily do anything wrong with how she handled it. She could have, as some people suggested, made something of a joke out of it or took it in stride and stolen the moment back from Kanye. However, had she been a different kind of person, she could have made a scene and made it look worse for herself. As it was, her reaction, looking a bit helpless and frazzled, made the crowd root for her all the more. I know personally I probably would have been shocked and I may have acted like a deer in headlights, like Taylor.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Obama, he is a more seasoned speaker. He has probably dealt with interruptions throughout a lot of his life. And as someone else noted, he must have been somewhat ready for some opposition. He probably didn't think it would happen in the manner it did, but I'm sure he still has it going in the back of his mind. He knows that he has to be able to brace himself for the worst.
I think that in regards to an interruption, the way the speaker should choose to handle it should depend on their audience and what they're talking about... If it is something like the VMA's I can see throwing a joke around would be fun and well accepted. Something like Obama's situation, a joke might not have gone over well. Sometimes, ignoring comments can be the best method because saying something could make things worse. The important thing I think is for the speaker to stay calm and confident.
I agree with Katrina's last paragraph on how to recover from an interruption. Although there are many different forces that can interrupt a speech, sometimes you need to adjust and choose how you respond to certain situations.
ReplyDeleteIn Taylor's defense, her mic was shut off after the rude interruption, and she was unable to bounce back. This may have been to her advantage, because instead of showing anger or stuttering through words to recover, she was able to walk off the stage gracefully. However, there was a brief moment where it was obvious to the audience that she felt like a deer in headlights. Even if her mic wasn't cut, I think these brief "freak out" seconds would have made everything she said afterwards seem less confident.
This is why I think it's important to be as natural as you can when giving a speech, instead of just trying to memorize words of a piece of paper. The more natural you can think, the easier it is for you to communicate to your surroundings (and interruptions). I believe in being able to speak more natural, President Obama was able to speak back to his interruptions when Taylor could not. He didn't even miss a beat. And for him, these interruptions almost made him seem more confident then he had before. Maybe these interactions aren't always a bad thing? (Especially if it's a fire alarm at the beginning of MY speech... don't steal my idea. haha just kidding.)
Sara Perry
Taylor Swift wasn't able to handle the situation through no fault of her own. Im pretty sure Kanye has over 30 lbs on her and a surplus of alchoholic rage. She was given another chance to gain her audience back because she kept calm and had some help from Beyonce. Many other celebrities have failed this heckler test though. Micheal Richards or Cramer from sienfeld is probably the most notable failure of hecking. Ruining your career with racial comments is something I don't support, but I would have probably liked to see Taylor swift do a little more to grab the attention of the audience " even though Kanye is the attention king). A good reaction would be the middle ground between these two reactions. Adressing your heckler is sometimes a good technique, but if the heckler is drunk (like Kanye) it might just add fuel to the fire. I think the most useful response is a glance pause and the continuation of your speech.
ReplyDeleteThomas McDowell
Ah--Good example Thomas, I had foirgotten about that! Smiles--S
ReplyDeleteIt seems clear that both the senator and kanye were completely out of line. In Taylor Swift's case, she could have definitely handled it better but she is only 17. With experience and more confidence, she could have been more assertive and not looked so helpless. Because it happened at the VMA's, I agree with TerraForever in that she could have made a joke of the situation, maybe refer to kanye not getting enough attention, having too many drinks, wish she was having more fun like kanye and not having to accept an award for being the best female singer, whatever... As I have aged and gained more experience, being able to adapt and change directions on the fly has been not only helpful but useful in getting out of situations, awkward, dangerous, etc...hecklers and losers cutting into your acceptance speech is just another situation.
ReplyDeleteObama is great orator and has a good command of his space,the podium, and so when a heckler yells out something, he does not get rattled. He might be fuming inside but he understands that showing his true emotions during his speech is certainly not going to help his delivery of his health care proposal. When he speaks, he is as present mentally as you can be as a speaker while still remaining flexible in that moment. He is like a buddhist monk in meditation during his speech because he is focused not on his breathing but his words and his goal of delivering his message.
People can respond in a number of ways, good and bad, to these situations. I once saw Carlos Mencia at the Punchline and he overreacted to a heckler who made a comment about a political stand that the comedian was speaking of. The comedian was hilarious throughout his whole routine until he suddently stopped to acknowledge the heckler,and then responded with this diatribe of not very funny or rehearsed material that somehow ruined the night. He allowed the heckler to throw off the great rhythm he had.
For someone who is normally so polished on stage and in his element up there, I was definetly surprised and underwhelmed by his response.
Ron B.
The Show must go on! yes, you can do what you want to get back the focus only give you have 10 audience or less. but with both big moment like this time play the biggest road. be a grate speaker, first must ready for things like this happen and try to lost audience as less as the speaker can. if things have to explane then, make a differen time or a way to clear it. once there is no battle with the time.
ReplyDeleteJohnny Zhang
From a speaking perspective, the two situations are different. In one instance, Senator Wilson retorts in the middle of Obama's speech; whereas, in the VMA's, Kanye West physyically steals the stage presence from Taylor Swift by taking the mic from her. Although the two videos are hard to compare, I feel like Obama handled the situation better, for the fact of continuing his speech. The President has also had experiences where he has been heckled or rudely interrupted in his political career. If one is going to address the interrupter, then it should be done promptly and with dignity. Otherwise, I would just continue with my speech and try to make light of the situation.
ReplyDeleteRyan Takao
My cell phone ringing in class? Never! Text messages are pretty likely though. Anyway, I'll have to agree with most of the other comments here when they said that Taylor Swift didn't handle the situation that well (or at all), while Obama most certainly did. There's only two ways to deal with hecklers: ignore them or shut them up. Now Taylor Swift certainly wasn't ready to go back and forth with Kanye on the issue, but if she had made a quick dismissive comment and moved on then she might have faired better. Someone mentioned her lack of a retort made her seem more innocent and polite and that's definitely true, so maybe that was the best strategy. Personally, if I were winning a music award and someone came up and grabbed the mic to say someone else should have won, you can bet I would have kicked their ass right off the stage and finished my speech. Clearly that wouldn't be everyones first instinct, but sometimes you have to show people that what they did was wrong. Now as for the interruption of Obama's speech the rules are a little different. Aside from the difference in venue and situation, the President has a little more of an edge in that situation. As someone pointed out earlier, the President commands respect, meaning that he doesn't necessarily have to put the heckler in line as remind them of who they are speaking to. A quick dismissal was the best possible way for Obama to go, since getting into a debate in the middle of a speech is obviously below him. He handled the situation as I would, which would be to treat the person as you would a child who was nagging an adult during a conversation. I probably would have went a step further and put my finger to my lips and said "Shhh...wait your turn." Now as far as what to do to prepare, you really can't. If you're naturally quick on your feet, then you can come up with something. If you're not, it's probably best to just ignore it. Trying to get into a battle with a heckler can easily be a losing situation, just look at the guy who played Kramer and you can see what NOT to do. Basically you can't plan for it, since every situation is going to be different. If you're not good at the spur of the moment stuff, just know your speech inside and out so some idiot in the crowd can't throw you off. Better yet, bring a paintball gun and before you start warn people what happens if they talk while you're talking.
ReplyDeleteBoth Obama and Taylor Swift carried on with their speech not actually recoginizing the interuption. I think if it were me I would probably acknowledge it. I might even make a joke out of it depending on the circumstance. Sort of my way at getting back at the person and giving me to get my senses straight so I can continue the speech. I don't think I would ignore it. It would give me a chance to acknowledge the opposing oppinion.
ReplyDeleteDon’t let a interruption disconnected you from your message or concentration. Public speaking is largely about thinking critically so avoid letting a interruption provoke your feelings or emotions. I think Obama is a talented public speaker or does a great job at keeping a head clear, however most other speakers would probably get distracted and turn a public speech into a public debate. – Mark Burwell
ReplyDeleteDont let interruption change your message however there is a difference between what Kanye West did compared to Obama being interrupted with "you lie" during his address to Congress. What Kanye West did was disrespectful and done out for reasons of jealousy. What The Republican Congressman did during the address was speaking out in descent. He didn't inturrupt him in anyway by stopping his speach like Kanye West did.
ReplyDeleteRyan Bennett