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Age can affect how audience members respond to your message. For example, a presentation on safe snowboarding would not likely interest most retired persons. But it may hold great appeal for athletic students in their late teens and early twenties.

Naturally, when you’re speaking to a large group of diverse listeners, their ages may vary considerably. How can you consider age when targeting these varied listeners? Try tailoring your supporting materials (such as examples and quotations) to the needs of different age groups within your audience. For instance, older listeners may not understand references to the popular musical groups or late-night comedy shows that younger people tend to appreciate. And younger listeners might not understand references to classic film stars like Greta Garbo or Cary Grant or even early rock stars such as Elvis Presley. For younger listeners, you also might try to avoid referring to events that took place before they were born unless you place the events in context for them. When speaking to an audience of mixed ages, be sure to either add some context to your references or use references that would appeal to a wide range of listeners.