{"id":30027,"date":"2015-10-13T04:00:09","date_gmt":"2015-10-13T09:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicityhound.com\/?p=30027"},"modified":"2025-10-22T14:58:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:58:44","slug":"prepare-for-nasty-questions-at-book-signings-speaking-gigs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/purelysupp.com\/publicity\/marketing\/public-relations\/prepare-for-nasty-questions-at-book-signings-speaking-gigs\/","title":{"rendered":"Prepare for Nasty Questions at Book Signings, Speaking Gigs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If the topic of your book or public speaking engagement is remotely controversial, be prepared for a tough, angry, hostile question at your next book signing or speaking gig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the very best ways to deal with the question?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t answer it.<\/strong> Simply respond to it<\/strong> by pivoting to your key message. A key message is the Number One thing you want your audience to remember as a result of your presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s what Chelsea Clinton did when she was signing a copy her her new book, “It’s Your World” at a book signing in Austin on Friday and got this question from Robert Morrow<\/strong>, a conservative activist who showed up, mobile phone in hand, shooting video of her:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Has your mother ever told you that you’re the daughter of Webb Hubbell<\/strong>, and not Bill Clinton<\/strong>?” Morrow asked, referring to the fallen Justice Department official and Clinton confidant who the tabloids have claimed had an affair with Hillary Clinton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without skipping a beat, Chelsea closed the book she had signed, looked up, and responded. “I’m so proud to be my parents’ daughter.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morrow asked a follow-up question about whether her book targets girls. After she answered, he asked: “Would you say Bill Clinton also targets teenage girls, except for sexual reasons?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She ignored the question and talked instead about the positive reaction to her book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding with a prepared key message avoids saying anything that makes you look angry or combative<\/strong>—exactly what gadflies are trying to force you to do. Knowing your key message helps you feel more confident<\/strong> and keeps you from getting tongue-tied or rattled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea, a political lightning rod, has been media trained.  She knew Robert Morrow because when he approached her, she greeted him with, “Hi Robert” and a smile, without appearing frightened or uncomfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t have the budget to hire a media trainer, less than an hour of preparation can help. Use these tips when you’re doing a media interview, too, even if you’re confident the interviewer will treat you fairly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Prepare for Difficult Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t have a controversial topic, you won’t have to worry 99 percent of the time. Still, it pays to be prepared.  <\/strong>You never know who might end up at your book signing, mobile phone in hand, pointed directly at you, intending to post the video online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are three tips on how to prepare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 1. Don’t obsess on a long list of negative questions people might ask.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, craft a well-thought out, easy-to-understand key message you can pivot to when someone asks a question that’s out of bounds. You can use that same key message with other questions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You probably already know the answers to 9 out of 10 innocent questions people might ask. But trying to guess every oddball, tough, angry, hostile  question—and then figuring out how you’re going to answer them—can drive you crazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. If you don’t know the answer to an innocent question, it’s OK to say so. But here’s a better option…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A more effective alternative is to say something like, “That isn’t clear. But I can tell you that….” And then bridge to your key message or something you do know. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a helpful video from Brad Phillips,<\/strong> aka “Mr. Media Training” and author of the book “The Media Training Bible.”<\/a> He explains this technique, used by the correspondents of the major networks when they’re reporting live, and the in-studio anchor asks a question they can’t answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Don’t speculate. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never speculate about anything. It can come back to bite you later if your prediction is way off base.<\/strong> Answer, “I won’t speculate, but what’s clear is that…..” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Know the various bridging statements.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bridging statements transition from the question to your key message. They include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it would be more accurate (or correct) to say\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHere\u2019s the real problem\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat I\u2019ve said comes down to this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet me emphasize again\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat matters most in this situation is\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find seven more bridging statements here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Most Controversial Topics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are the most controversial topics that generate the most debate and heat. Do your books or speech topics tie into any of these, even remotely? If so, it’s imperative<\/strong> that you’re ready with your key message.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n