I'm sorry you didn't get it Steve, we totally failed you. Without irony. Please let us know how we can get through to people like yourself in the future.

Thanks for the willingness to listen :-) I don't have a complete prescription but here goes....

· Start with the assumption that the audience have NOT done their homework in advance
· Inform and enthuse them so they are quite likely to do any necessary homework afterwards
· Hand out supporting material as people LEAVE (Classic this: Don't give people stuff to read when you really want them to listen)
· Select speakers for their oratorical skills and knowledge of the subject.
· Start with at LEAST 5-10 minutes of explanation of the issue. Foreground not backgrounds.
· If it's also meant to be a "media event" - and it probably should be - invite and brief the media.
· Consider not singing or playing at all
· Consider having questions from the audience (use roving mike)
· There are quite a few folkies with political campaigning experience - get them to advise you how to do things.