State of the Union Applause
January 29, 2003

Listen (How to Listen)

Dale Connelly: The State of the Union speech is famous for being interrupted by applause. Here in the studio is Oscar Standerfer, an ovation consultant and applause coach. Thanks for coming in.

Jim Ed Poole: Happy to be here.

DC: Everyone else is reviewing the content of the speech, but as an expert, I'm wondering what did you think of the applause last night?

JEP: It was good. Republicans are excellent Ovaters. Very enthusiastic when it's their guy at the podium, and of course they carried most of the burden last night.

I did work with Republicans during the eight Clinton years when they literally had to be dragged to their feet during the State of the Union.

And Democrats ... they were playing on that side of the ball last night ... mostly defensive applause, trying not to seem disrespectful.

DC: You talk about it like it's a sporting event.

JEP: The State of the Union speech is the applause Olympics. If you're a serious ovater, you look forward to this one every year.

DC: Don't your hands get sore?

JEP: Yes, that's why ... if you're going to be in politics and hope to get to one of those seats in the House Chamber for a State of the Union address ...you really have to work out and get your hands ready.

I noticed a lot of people last night who hadn't prepared and were limping.

DC: Limping?

JEP: Instead of a steady, strong, even handed clapping, like this ...

(sfx: steady clapping)

... they were favoring one hand or the other, like this ...

(sfx: lopsided, limping clap)

... which is the result of blisters or a hurt wrist or they've got a lot of rings on and they're literally tenderizing the meat on their hands when they clap.

DC: Ugh.

JEP: And once you get into that position, there's not much you can do. You've got to sit there and tough it out, 'cause the people at home and are watching, and if you seem distant or insincere, they'll punish you for it at the polls.

What I have people do when they come to me for coaching is ... I have them work out with the Audience-in-a-box. It's this great little gizmo with a flip top lid. Listen.

(sfx: door open w/creak)
(sfx: applause)

How about that?

This gets you into the mood so you can really toughen up your hands, and as long as the lid stays up, the applause just rolls and rolls.

DC: This feels like being part of a big crowd!

JEP: Right! Using this ... I can work with people on hearing their applause cues ... like any mention of the flag!

DC: Or our troops!

JEP: Exactly. And they can keep up their pacing and timing ... thinking about duration and texture. And this is very important ... I can use this to teach them to LISTEN to the applause to anticipate when it's going to stop ...

(sfx: door close, applause out)
(sfx: DC continues applauding)

See? You got caught there.

DC: Ooops.

JEP: You don't want to be left out there hanging at the end. If you can be FIRST, that's different. Getting the hands out of the lap fast is a sign of leadership. But it's only leadership if the others follow you.

(sfx: box begins to open, then quickly closes)
(sfx: (DC) lone applause)

What are you doing?

DC: Ooops. Sorry. Went unilateral there.

JEP: Which is OK. You can do it. But it's a lonely place to be. Hard to keep the ovation going when you're unilateral. The pressure to stop becomes unbearable, even if you don't think you're done..

DC: I can see why people need an applause coach.

JEP: Every audience is a pack animal.

(sfx: box open and applause)

JEP: Ah hah! Where are you? You're lagging behind!

DC: Sorry, sorry, sorry.

(sfx: box close, applause out)

JEP: OK, relax.

DC: Boy, that's tough. How do you ...

JEP: Timing. It's all about timing.

DC: Timing.

JEP: Timing.

DC: Well, I ...

(sfx: box open, applause)

JEP: Man, are you slow!

DC: Oscar Standerfer, thanks for coming by.

JEP: Are you gonna stay seated? Everybody else is up.

DC: Sorry ... how's this?

JEP: Late, late, late.

DC: Oscar Standerer, Ovation expert and political applause consultant, thanks for coming in.

JEP: It was my pleasure, and I'm humbled by your sincere response.