So Steve Martin bombed at a speaking event at the 92nd Street last week, and many Speak Clear folk are asking for my reaction. Here’s my two cents… I think he, and his interviewer, should have analyzed the occasion, and asked many more questions before the event.

Many speakers think that public speaking is about planning a speech on paper, and than simply executing it, but it goes beyond that. A good speaker needs to think about the audience, and be in touch with the organizer of the event well before he or she puts pen to paper (or fingers to ipad). I think what Mr. Martin missed was the occasion. He would have avoided the embarrassment of being panned in the New York Times had he simply asked the organizers a few questions; Who is coming? What is the demographic of the audience? Gender? Do they want me to talk about my early work, or my current work, or both?

By asking the organizer questions, a speaker can come to understand and know what the audience needs from the speech. A speech is for the audience, and not the speaker. I think Mr. Martin may have lost sight of this.

What do you think? Was Steve Martin prepared? Was this his fault, or a result of the audience’s lack of civility?