1、"Doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners." Did that get your attention? I sure hope so! Begin by startling your audience.
2、"Once upon a time..." Tell a story. Everyone loves a good story, especially if it is one that people don't expect, and one that is told exceptionally well. Begin with a story that is related to the topic; don't tell a story just for the sake of it.
3、"Please raise your hand if you..." Get them to participate immediately, The idea is to get the audience moving and doing something very quickly. Your worst enemy is stillness. So get them moving as often and as early as possible.
4、"To speak for your ears, I have overcome fears, To silence your groans, My skills I have honed." Start with a poem or a rhyme. Pick a poem that is short, lively, and related to your theme or your message.
5、Start your speech with a song. Ideally, you want to sing on key. But if you cannot hold a tune, think of it as a great start to a humorous speech!
6、Use an audio entrance. Pre-record the first lines of your speech to set the tone. Take care, though, that your recording sounds professional and not tinny, otherwise you will get a negative effect.
7、Blow up a balloon. Or do something equally unexpected. Catch the audience off guard. Make sure nobody is drinking hot liquid when you do this.
8、Perform a magic trick. There are many easy magic tricks you can find online. Take the audience by surprise and make it entertaining from the start.