Critique My Speech

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pubrunner

Legendary Member
[quote name='swee'pea99' timestamp='1306335349' post='1682581']
Two thoughts:

First, more full stops. Break the whole thing down into smaller, simpler units.

. . . . . . .Lever proved a very nervous public speaker, gabbling his words while his notes shook visibly in his hands. After a few minutes, Lamont quietly handed him a piece of paper. From his vantage point in the balcony directly overhead, my friend saw that it bore three words, in clear block capitals:

SLOW DOWN

LOUDER


Good luck!
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[quote name='PpPete' timestamp='1306397287' post='1683625']
Speaking in front of an audience is very different from the written word. As has been mentioned above, break it down into the shortest possible sentences..... and if there are commas left in the final version, when you are speaking, give them a pause like you would a full stop. Give full stops a pause like it was it the end of a chapter.

That will sound artificial if you do it in front of the mirror.... but it will slow it all down to a pace at which the audience will be able to take in the impact of each phrase before you go on to the next.
[/quote]

+1 to the above

Hope it all goes well - we expect feedback on how it went !:biggrin:
 

pubrunner

Legendary Member
Also, if you're having it printed to read from, have it printed nice and big (12 point minimum) in a clear font like Arial, with one and a half, or double line spacing. And don't necessarily try to learn it by heart, but know it as well as possible. This gives you a better chance of looking up at the audience most of the time and then re-finding your place on the page with a quick glance down.

+1

Personally, I'd print it out to at least 14 or 16 - don't want to be squinting at your notes.

Ensure that your notes are in the correct order; if speaking from a lectern, make sure you have everything laid out in an orderly way.

Don't start speaking until you are ready.

Make sure that you are wearing comfortable clothes - no tight (strangulation) collars.

Enjoy the moment !
 

Spinney

Bimbleur extraordinaire
Location
Back up north
Is printing it out to read the best way? Many speakers use a set of index cards (can you still buy them?) with bullet points on them.

Maybe printing out is OK for a 10 minute talk - but consider highlighting key words etc so you can just glance at your notes. And, if you have somewhere like a lecturn to rest your notes, it may help to move a finger down the page to the point you last glanced at, to help you find your place next time you need to look. This will also give you something to do with your hands!

As Arch said, sorry if you are already used to public speaking, but another thing to be aware of is what your hands are doing. Fiddling with change in a trouser pocket is a no-no (gives the wrong impression of what you might be doing, especially for blokes!). Having a lecturn or similar to rest your hands on is a great help (just don't let the audience see your knuckles going white! ;))
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Take along an old pair of your trousers and a shirt. Hang them up behind you before you go on and the audience arrive.
They will see the clothing... bit of a talking point for them.. you arrive.. and say.. "I used to wear those"
 
And practice practice practice. Run through it time and time again like you are doing it for real. People who know me in a work context will probably laugh when they read this, but if I have to give a speech, at, say 10am, I am up at 6am, I write it out, read it out, re write it, re-speak it until I have it completely dialled. The process can take up to three hours, but I've never done a bad one since I started using this method. It means you are completely confident of the content of the talk and can then concentrate solely on the performance and delivery when you are doing it.
 

Durian

Über Member
Take along an old pair of your trousers and a shirt. Hang them up behind you before you go on and the audience arrive.
They will see the clothing... bit of a talking point for them.. you arrive.. and say.. "I used to wear those"


That's a really good idea and a great opening few words.

Good luck with the talk.
 
It's a great idea but could use a bit more 'theater' I think - If he starts off standing there in front of the old clothes he's given the game away, 'told them the punchline'. Much more impactful to reveal them during or after his opening para I reckon.
 
OP
OP
gb155

gb155

Fan Boy No More.
Location
Manchester-Ish
It's a great idea but could use a bit more 'theater' I think - If he starts off standing there in front of the old clothes he's given the game away, 'told them the punchline'. Much more impactful to reveal them during or after his opening para I reckon.


I have to agree , sorry Ian mate

I ( along with some help) have reworked it, will post it up tomorrow
 

Chilternrides

New Member
[QUOTE 1408161"]
Have you prepared for any questions that may come up? Be prepared for toughies, and make it clear you are either happy to be interrupted (probably not best first time out, you won't know your flow) or "I'm happy to take questions at the end", keeps you in control of the time.

[/quote]

Good advice, that.

Another way of dealing with questions, assuming you will have a whiteboard, flip chart or even a notepad available:

1. Make it clear that you won't be dealing directly with questions as they arise.

2. However, when they do arise, write a number on your script at the point the question was asked and then...

3. Write the question up on the board (a memory jogger will do, no need to write the whole thing out) in number order the same as on your script.

4. This way, when you address the questions at the end, you will have a ready reference to the point in your script that prompted the query.

Great story, and will be all the stronger for the input of some of the comments already posted. Good luck with it.
 

Shaun

Founder
Moderator
Nothing to add to the good advice that's already been given. Looking forward to reading Mk 2 of the speech. :thumbsup:
 
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