If people aren't listening to you or watching you. Communication fails.
This is the function of garnering attention, keeping eye's on you.
3 Ways to Garner Attention.
1. Pause- Give people time to take in the fact that you are talking to them when you say "hi", allow important information, like your name and what you are saying to sink in.
2. Eye contact and Touch- Body language for "Hello, I'm here
"3. No lulls- Attention works like buying temperature, if it's not maintained it will fall. If neither conversation nor touch will fill the void. LEAVE THE VOID, keep eye contact, keep your state and let TENSION, take care of the attention.*
* Chief has posted works on using "tension" in the lounge, for more info on that subject chase those threads up.