WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY FIRST?
When you're preparing a speech, what should you say first? What should your opening sentences be?
It all depends on a number of important variables, some of them obvious, none of them difficult to deal with.
First of all, who is in the audience and how many people are you speaking to? This is a key question to ask when you're creating your speech. What kind of a group is it? A fundraising event, or the monthly meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce? A company conference or a roast, toast or retirement farewell party? A wedding, sales meeting or something else? Knowing who and how many you're speaking to is the first clue to what to say first.