Choosing Your Entrance Song.

Imagine yourself, waiting to go on stage to speak to a thousand people, your name is announced, what music would you want to walk out on?

Music affects the human brain in many positive ways. It can help you cope with stress, improve your attention and reduce anxiety. As a public speaker, I listen to music right before an address to get myself pumped up. I would love to walk out on the same music and have thought about a bunch of songs (Lenny Kravitz and Linkin Park being on top).

So how do you go about choosing a song that works for you?

Even before you decide on the artist and the song, think about your audience, your topic and how does the song match your personality.

In case, your body language isn't as exciting as your entrance song, there would be a terrible misalignment even before you start. If your rock song entrance was followed by a slow paced presentation, that's a recipe for disaster. If you played an Elvis song for a Bieber-loving audience, there will be a disconnect in what you want to achieve and what you get. So choose wisely.

Something's to consider for song choice

Genre: Rock and is great for sales conference where you want to pump up the crowd (eg. Nirvana - Smells like Teen Spirit). Hip hop beats (eg. Fort Minor - Remeber the Name) can also strum up the excitement in large crowds. Pop songs (eg. Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk) work well for sessions like fireside chats. Just ensure that the genre matches your personality and speech style.

Artist: Stay away from controversial artists who have been incarcerated for crimes or drug abuse.

Song: Pick songs which are well known or have a great tempo. Like they say, it's not about what you said but how you made them feel. Be wary of songs with racist or vulgar lyrics as it may spoil your brand rather than build it.

Finally, don't walk out on music, if you can't feel it.

What are your tips when picking up an entrance song? Which song would you walk out on?