Public speaking tips from a Hong Kong comedian: how to feel more confident in front of a crowd
- Conquer stage fright and learn to wow an audience with advice from a winner of the Hong Kong International Comedy Competition
- Every week, Talking Points gives you a worksheet to practise your reading comprehension with exercises about the story we’ve written
Hong Kong Garron Chiu offers up some tips for public speaking and feeling comfortable in front of a crowd. Photo: HandoutIf you ask a group of people what they’re afraid of, many will likely say public speaking. However, most of us will be thrown into situations where we must speak in front of an audience, whether it be a speech for school or a presentation at work.
Thankfully, public speaking is a skill that can be gained and perfected with practice, said Hong Kong comedian Garron Chiu. Stage fright isn’t much of an issue for Chiu; he has been conquering local and international stages for over a decade.
Love for entertaining
Chiu, 35, moved to Hong Kong from Los Angeles at the age of four, attending international schools before returning to the US for university. Even as a teen, Chiu was no stranger to entertaining an audience, having participated in theatre, band and debate at school.
“I’ve always been comfortable on stage,” Chiu said. “I will get nervous at times ... maybe when I was really young, but I got comfortable on stage pretty quick.”
Chiu capitalised on his stage presence and coached the debate team at Boston University, his alma mater. He currently does public speaking training at his job, where he works in advertising.
His love for comedy ignited when he was just a teenager, thanks to television programmes that exposed him to legends like Chris Rock and David Letterman.
In 2012, shortly after returning to Hong Kong, Chiu ventured into an open mic comedy night at the Hong Kong Brew House in Lan Kwai Fong.
“I watched, and I was like, ‘I’m coming back next week,’” he said.
Since then, Chiu has become one of the most well-known comics in the city. He was featured on Comedy Central Asia in 2017, won the Hong Kong International Comedy Competition in 2018, and even opened for American comedian Jim Gaffigan in 2019.
All this experience has helped Chiu learn a few things about performing and being confident in front of a crowd, and he offered a few tips you can keep in mind to become a better public speaker, no matter the setting:
Calm your nerves
Even before hitting the stage, nerves can feel overpowering. While everyone has different techniques for feeling calm and comfortable in front of a crowd, Chiu does breathing exercises.
“At certain shows, I get a little nervous. I get a wearable, like a Fitbit, and I do breathing exercises until my heart rate [goes] below 95,” he said. “I don’t tend to focus on my set right before I go on. I’ll play sudoku or listen to a podcast and calm down.”
Importance of stage presence
When on stage, “you’re supposed to be the person that people like,” so make sure to smile, Chiu said. Stand up straight and look at the crowd when you speak; this will help you gauge the audience’s reaction and interact with them.
If maintaining eye contact feels too awkward, Chiu said to look at a point in the distance, such as a clock or an exit sign, so it seems like you’re looking at the crowd. If you don’t know what to do with your hands, keep them as loose as possible, and they will naturally express your story for you.
Watch your words
Chiu warned against talking too quickly or too much, as being concise is the best way to make a point.
“Cut out all the fat – you don’t want any extra words,” he said. “A lot of people talk 100 miles an hour, like, ‘I’m saying all these things. I must be smart.’ Sometimes, you don’t have to say that much.”
One thing you should say on stage, however, is “for example.”
“This is the most powerful phrase,” Chiu said, explaining that it allows you to introduce an interesting anecdote and captivate the audience with a funny tale.
Don’t give up
Even if you feel frustrated or don’t do as well as you hoped, stick with it because you won’t improve without practice.
“A lot of people, their mistake is [thinking], ‘I did so poorly. I don’t want to do another show for months,’” he said. “If I’m doing poorly, I want to get on stage [again] as soon as possible.”
Chiu said doing comedy and becoming comfortable in front of a crowd has contributed to his confidence at work and in everyday life.
How to improve your public speaking skills: Tips from an award-winning speaker
“A little bit of confidence goes a long way,” Chiu said. “There are people at any corporate job who move a little further because they can present better or talk in front of people better.”
He advised readers to start early. Whether that means joining a debate team, the drama club or a poetry slam, exposure from a young age goes a long way. And before you know it, you could be comfortably speaking or performing in front of an audience of hundreds – or even thousands – of excited people.
To test your understanding of this story, download our printable worksheet or answer the questions in the quiz below.