“Acceptance speeches used to not be autobiographical at all,” says former Clinton speechwriter David Kusnet.
“Roosevelt didn’t talk about recovering from polio. John F. Kennedy didn’t talk about PT-109 or being a Catholic or being the grandson of Irish immigrants. Eisenhower didn’t talk about World War II. The first candidate to be autobiographical in a speech by the convention was Richard Nixon. And after Nixon, every candidate from an underprivileged background talked about how they got out of poverty, and every candidate from an underprivileged background looked for something in their environment that would humanize them.”
This quote from a story called Speech Therapy from The New York Metro Magazine highlights the challenges faced by the rich and powerful, from movie stars to presidents, when giving an acceptance speech.
The quote Kusnet was referring to was the one given by Richard Nixon at the 1968 Republican convention.
“I see another child tonight. He hears the train go by at night and dreams of faraway places he would like to go. It seems like an impossible dream. But he is helped on his journey through life and tonight stands before you, nominated for president of the United States of America,” Nixon said.
Halle Berry’s emotional acceptance speech at the 2002 Oscars was one of the most memorable in Academy Awards history.
She didn’t leave many dry eyes in the house with her emotional acceptance speech for the 2001 movie Monster’s Ball.
“This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll,” she said. “It’s for the women next to me, Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, and it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color who now has a chance because this door has been opened tonight.”
The joy of accepting an award can often be accompanied by the fear of public speaking.
Whether you’re nominated for an Oscar, accepting a sports award, or a community award, these tips will help you with your acceptance speech.
1. Be brief.
There is nothing worse than someone who goes on and on. This not only discourages the audience but lessens the impact of the award. If you have been notified in advance, always ask how much time you have and then honor that time. If the treat is a complete surprise, it’s better to make it shorter than longer.
2. Don’t get political
Avoid bragging or taking the opportunity to score points or present your own personal agenda. Make the content of your speech relevant to the audience and the occasion.
3. Make it memorable.
You want to make a good impression, and being smart helps, especially with memorable one-liners. “I Loved That You Hated Me” is an absolute Louise Fletcher classic when she accepted the Oscar from her for playing the evil nurse in 1975’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. West Coast Eagles captain Ben Cousins’ ‘This isn’t the end, just the beginning’ on losing the 2005 AFL Grand Final to the Sydney Swans was another classic.
4. Touch the emotion of people
Show emotion and you will connect with people on a deeper emotional level. Michael Malone did this brilliantly at the 40 Under 40 Awards when he spoke from his heart about the milestones his autistic son had achieved. “Now we treasure those moments. Why is it that we don’t recognize those things in all of our children? We only value those things when they are taken away from us,” he told the nearly 900 guests upon receiving the 1st Among Equals Award.
5. Thank you
Nothing is more powerful than thanking others who have helped you achieve your goals. Mentors, coaches, supporters, friends, and associates are appropriate people to thank. Don’t get too carried away Malone went public with his son’s autism and thanked his wife, Beata, for raising her children while he built a multimillion-dollar business.
6. Avoid notes.
If you know that you are going to get a prize, always prepare yourself in advance. Don’t read from notes – use keywords as memory triggers. Something is always missing when an award winner pulls out a blank sheet of paper and reads the notes from it. The audience is disappointed and downplays the shock.
7. Avoid negative or apologetic statements.
Awards are all about celebrating success and achievement. Your comments should reflect this. Be optimistic, not pessimistic.
8. Avoid jokes.
Leave this to the professional comedians and stand-up comedians. The risks of failing far outweigh the upside.
9. Keep still.
Don’t move too much. It will distract from your message and credibility.
10. End with a call to action.
What do you want the audience to do? You are the role model – inspire them to greater heights!