Quieting the Crowd
Stephen B. Hamann
•Charity Auctioneer
•Event Host
•Master of Ceremonies
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At most fundraising events, there is usually a time when it is necessary to quiet the crowd.  That point at a Dinner/Auction when you move your guests from the Cocktail and Silent Auction area to the Main Dining Room.  Getting everyone settled, in their seats and quieted can be a difficult transition.

It is also an important transition when it comes to your overall timeline.  If you wait too long, the evening stretches on. Remember, the most successful events, start early and end early!

I participate in many Catholic fundraisers and they have it made!  When the time comes to get the evening going, they send up their Parish Priest to the front of the room, he raises his arms and says, "In the name of the Father. . .", and the whole crowd goes silent!  Works like a charm!

First of all, you need to consider that your participants are having a great time!  If they weren't, you would find them all sitting down, quiet, hands folded on their tables and waiting for dinner to start.  Instead, they are all talking, saying hello to friends and discussing what they "won" at the Silent Auction!

They have been drinking!  One, two, maybe three drinks during Social Hour. Even if you served heavy hors d'oeuvres, many people are feeling the effects of the alcohol.  That can be a good thing for your Live Auction, but adds a serious road block to getting everyone settled.

Look around and you will probably find the vast majority of your participants are ready to roll and it is a few loud folks keeping the sound level up in the room.  Don't let a small minority of people stop you from launching your evening!

And most important, while you are waiting for them to quiet down, they are waiting for you to get started!  Some people just won't stop talking until they are forced!

Here are a few of the techniques I've observed to quiet the crowd:

• Tapping of the wine glass.  This is really only effective if you plan this in advance and you have "tappers" throughout the room.

• Drum roll or musical introduction.  If your band has the attention of the crowd, this works well.  Otherwise, it is just more loud noise.

• Dimming of the lights.  This is generally a good indication to your group that something is about to happen and as long as you immediately follow up with something, it does work.

• Yelling at the crowd.  I once saw Larry Himmel loudly yell "shut up" in the microphone.  Although it did get attention, many thought it was a bit over the top.

• "Shhhhing" on the microphone.  Someone at the podium makes the "shhhhing" sound in the mic.  I found that this works best with female TV anchor mistresses of ceremonies.

• Voice of God.  This is kind of a Hollywood technique where someone from behind the curtain directs people to sit down.  Many hear the voice, don't see a corresponding face, and continue to talk.

The best way I have seen is the Parish Priest.
Don't have one handy?  Here is a proven method that works well.

1.      Five minutes before you want to begin, have someone go to the podium and say, "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, we will begin our program in five minutes.  Please take your seats".

2.       Thirty seconds before you want to begin, dim the lights.

3.      When you want to begin, have someone go to the podium and say, “And now ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce to you. . .”.

4.      Your speaker comes to the podium, pauses to give the crowd a chance to settle, and begins.  Doesn't wait for a silent crowd.  Begins.

It is essential for your speaker to realize that the first few (or more) sentences they say will typically not be heard while the crowd quiets itself.  It is best for them to plan their speech with the important stuff kept for the second half of the talk.

contact:
Steve Hamann
619/723-0324 : cell
619/390-3733 : fax
 slhamann@cox.net : email
 www.slhamann.net : website

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