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Tom Antion - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Tom Antion is a small business advocate and a veteran of over 2700 paid speaking engagements around the world. He is the author of "Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing" and "Wake 'em Up Business Presentations" along with many other training courses on Internet marketing and professional level speaking.
Tom is the past president of the National Capital Area Speakers Association and the publisher of the largest ezine in the world dedicated to Public ... [More]
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- Public Speaking - Mock Ups
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] To add some humor to your public speaking engagement you can make fake newspaper articles and headlines and book covers by using your computer software and printer. To mock up a newspaper article, simply find the column function of your word processor and set the column width to approximate a real newspaper.
- Public Speaking - Line of Sight
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you speak a lot you run into some crazy room setups. It's your job to be there early to make sure all the little preparation details taken care of. One of these details is the visibility of you and your visuals from each chair in the audience.
- Let Your Products Sell Your Name - For Public Speakers
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Wouldn't it be great if you didn't have to be one long, giant commercial for yourself all the time? If maybe your products and your name did the promoting for you? When someone hires you to speak at a high profile event, they are taking a large gamble on your ability to engage an audience's interest, and the extent of your knowledge.
- Public Speaking - No Brainstoppers!
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I made this term up so don't try to find it anywhere else. A "brainstopper" is something you say or do that causes the mind of an audience member to stop to think. This can be a good thing, but most of the time when I catch a coaching student delivering a brainstopper, it is a bad thing.
- Public Speaking - Asides
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] In the theater, an "aside" is something said to the audience that is not to be heard by the other actors. If the aside was delivered on a television sitcom, the actor would look right at the camera and talk to the viewers at home instead of talking to the other actors.
- Public Speaking - Words That Sell
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] The title of this article is the same as a famous book by Richard Bayan that is used by marketing professionals around the world. As I was looking through it the other day I realized that the same kinds of words could be used in public speaking to get the same kinds of effects.
- Public Speaking - Funny Question and Answer Sessions
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Question-and-answer sessions are great opportunities to show off your sense of humor and get audience participation during a public speaking engagement. Let's see how we can have some fun with them.
- Public Speaking - Roast Humor and Insults
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Being roasted is an honor, but you must be careful to honor people while you are roasting them during a public speaking engagement. Joke about things that are obviously untrue, then exaggerate them to make them more obvious. Or, you can outrageously exaggerate things that are true.
- Public Speaking - Glossary P - T
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] PA: Abbreviation for public address system. Panel: A group of presenters, normally seated, that hold a discussion on a particular subject. Audience members are invited to pose questions to individual presenters or to the group as a whole. Parody: A humorous imitation of a serious piece of literature or ...
- Public Speaking - 20 Questions to Ask BEFORE Hiring a Speaker
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] 1. Is the speaker's topic right for my audience? 2. Does the speaker have verifiable references? 3. Does the speaker have audio and/or video demonstration materials? These materials should show you what the speaker is like in front of an audience. Caution: Don't get hung up on the...
- Public Speaking - Show 'em When You Cross Cultures
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Regardless of one's nationality and culture, cartoons and comic strips are the most universally accepted format for humor in public speaking engagements. These pieces of visual humor are seen in newspapers and magazines in most areas of the world. They may be found in newsstands in large cities, or in large libraries.
- Public Speaking - Stage Fright Strategies
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Stage fright Is Good and Makes You Better Looking Too! Before you learn how to speak in public, it is important to be ready to speak in public. Stage fright is a phenomenon that you must learn to control if you want to be good at public speaking. Actually, stage fright isn't the most...
- Public Speaking - I Get So Emotional
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If you want to get real action out of your audience during a public speaking engagement, then tugging on their heart strings can help make it happen. This is where your storytelling ability can really make you shine.
- 22 Questions to Ask Before You Use Any Shopping Cart System
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] Many seasoned professional speakers agree that you can make more money selling your knowledge in the form of products than you can speaking. You can use traditional methods to sell products such as direct mail, catalogs and advertising. However, if you have a great online presence, the entire world is your marketplace at a fraction of the cost of most traditional methods. To easily sell to this worldwide marketplace, you need a great shopping cart system.
- Make Money Speaking - Tips For Improving Your Humor
[Business:Presentation] Public speaking is #1 on the list of fears. When you learn to use humor in the delivery of your message, it becomes more fun for you and your audience.
- Public Speaking - Room Setup Makes a Big Difference
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] The arrangement of chairs, the sound system, the lighting and the overall climate of the room can make a big difference in the way a public speaking engagement is received. You may not think you have much control over these items, but think again, because you do.
- Public Speaking - Top Ten Ways to Make Money Public Speaking
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] SELL YOUR KNOWLEDGE This is my overriding principle that came from years of hard knocks trying to get people to hire me to speak. I get more speaking engagements than I ever had before when I quit trying to sell them and began selling my knowledge in as many different formats as possible. The idea is that infinitely more people can buy what you know through books, tapes, CDs, Ebooks and videos than could ever hire you to speak. Your name recognition because of your knowledge distribution makes speaking engagements much easier to come by because the people that could hire you have already heard you and your message on your knowledge based products.
- Shopping Carts - Difference Between Soft and Hard Goods
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] There are several things to look at when choosing a shopping cart. One of these is looking at the difference between soft and hard goods in shopping carts. It is understandable if you don't know the difference between these two things at the moment.
- Shopping Carts Selection - Important Criteria For a Good Shopping Cart System
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] There are many important criteria you need to know about before choosing a good shopping cart system . . . or evaluating the one you have. Too often, small business owners get sucked into buying some type of hyped up and expensive to maintain shopping cart that doesn't work nearly as well as the seller promised it would.
- Shopping Carts and Payment Methods
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] Shopping carts and payment methods are two things that sit together like butter and bread. Once your customer has decided on the various things they want to purchase, they're going to have to pay money to get the products shipped to their home address or to get access to their digital download product. The customer usually will have to input a major credit card and expiration date before the software application allows the transaction to be approved.
- Shopping Cart Basics
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] Briefly learn why it's important for you to learn the basics of shopping carts. You can spend a fortune and get nothing. Don't let that happen to you.
- Customized Shopping Carts Are Overrated
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] Customized shopping carts are overrated because, more often than not, they are too expensive to maintain and do less than they are supposed to. The number one reason these carts are overrated is because a really good off the shelf shopping cart system does more things more reliably than a customized cart. The difference between the two is that the customized one will cost you money while the off the shelf one will make you money.
- Shopping Carts - The Reasons You Need a Shopping Cart
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Ecommerce] There are many reasons you need a shopping cart on your website. However, all too often the reasons you need a shopping cart are overshadowed by everyday paranoia that it will cost too much or that it's simply an unnecessary expense for your small business. This couldn't be further from the truth.
- Wedding Toasts: Only 3 Words Matter
[Relationships:Wedding] This article discusses the three major elements involved in preparing a touching wedding toast.
- Wedding Speeches: A Quick Outline
[Relationships:Wedding] Writing and delivering a wedding speech can be very difficult. This article gives a quick wedding speech outline.
- Eulogy Speeches: Use a Story to Help You Get Started
[Writing-and-Speaking] So you "have" to do a eulogy speech . . . or maybe you "want" to get a chance to express in public all the deep feelings you have for your loved one who has passed away.
- Why Choose First Class Travel?
[Travel-and-Leisure] Today, when airlines offer more economy seating and more cut-rate fares, some customers and industry watchers predict the end of first class travel. It's too early to mourn the end of first class travel, though.
- Public Speaking: Glossary U - Z
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Upstage: The area of the stage farthest from the audience. Also to steal the focus of the audience from the intended main performer.
Venue: See Site.
View-graph: Alternate name for overhead transparency.
Wings: Extreme sides of the stage normally hidden...
- Public Speaking: Glossary K - O
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Keynote: The main speech at a meeting delivered to all attendees in a general session. Originally the main point of a speech.
Lavaliere: A corded or cordless microphone worn around the neck or attached to a piece of clothing. See Hands free microphone.
Lectern: A stand with a sloping top from which a speaker delivers his or her program. Sometimes incorrectly called a ...
- Public Speaking: Glossary F - J
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Flipchart: Large pieces of paper either bound or loose that are supported on an easel.
Flop sweat: 1. Fear of performing 2. Perspiration while fearful of performing or while bombing.
Fluff: Normally lighthearted information in a ...
- Public Speaking: Glossary A - E
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Acronym: A form of abbreviation where the letters of the abbreviation form a new word as in HUD for The Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Ad-lib: Unplanned words or phrases spoken during a presentation.
Alliteration: The repetition of the same first sound or the same first letter in a group of words or line of...
- Public Speaking: Specific Objectives
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Make sure you find out exactly what you are supposed to accomplish when you are asked to do a public speaking engagement. It is best to have it in writing.
- Public Speaking: Storytelling DON'Ts
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When setting up a story: Don't say the words funny, reminds me of, or story. These words are so overused they alert the audience that a story is coming. This causes audience members to resist your...
- Public Speaking: Storytelling DO's
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Use stories during public speaking engagements to illustrate points and state the point in addition to telling the story. Always make your story relevant to the subject at hand.
- Public Speaking: Room Setup Checklist
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Personalize this checklist for your presentations....
- Public Speaking: You Must Have a Good Sound System
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If it is hard to hear, people won't listen. When speaking in public you must have an excellent sound system because some of the time you will be speaking while your audience is laughing. Stand-up comics need good sound too, but they are a little different because they tell a joke, then people laugh (they hope). They tell another joke, then people laugh. A good public speaker will be rolling right along making points, showing product features, telling stories, and dropping one-liners and must be heard all the while.
- Public Speaking: Bribes
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I don't believe in penny pinching when you get in a pinch...
- Public Speaking: Listen to Everyone
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you are speaking at an event that has multiple speakers, try to listen to as many of the other speakers as you can. In particular, don't miss the...
- Public Speaking: Rapport
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] THIS WILL SURPRISE YOU (especially if you know me) You can be a lousy public speaker and still be great on the speaking platform. By lousy, I mean that technically you do everything wrong. You look terrible. Your grammar and diction stink and you might have dandruff.
Do not think for a moment that I want you to be these terrible things. In fact, I sell videos teaching you NOT to be pitiful technically when you present. What I want you to see is the bigger picture...
- Public Speaking: Deep Penetration
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Many people that know me or have had me do a public speaking engagement for them know that I am a real stickler for pre program research. This research allows you to connect with the audience on much deeper levels than you could have without it. There are many ways to do this research.
- Public Speaking: Learn Public Speaking Material Easily Using Bits (AKA Chunks or Series)
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] A bit is a section of public speaking material that is so related that it makes it easy for you to memorize. Each point flows naturally from one to the next so you can deliver the information without notes (if you know your material).
Until I learned about bits, I never thought I could be that great at speaking because I'm not great at memorizing long talks. I discovered that no one memorizes long talks. They have a mental or written outline consisting of...
- Public Speaking: Tips for Television, Videotape, and Videoconferencing
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Here are some things you should keep in mind when a television camera is trained on you:
- Tie One On (for men only)
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I got this tip many years ago from speaker Paul Radde. After shooting one of my first major videos, I noticed that my tie was crooked for most of the video. It looked bad in person, but it looked TERRIBLE on video...
- Photographic Memory
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Would you like the audience to think you have a photographic memory? Would you like them to look at you in awe?
- Pausest
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] A true NO ZZZZZs presenter doesn't feel that he or she must jabber away constantly to keep the audience awake. Skilled presenters use silence to add to the effectiveness and polish of a program. Theatrical folks have identified a whole bunch of neat pauses which I'm sure they have a ball playing with. I'm only going to address some of the most obvious and important ones here.
- Serious Q & A Sessionst
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Trick: Purposely omit material that you know will evoke certain questions. When the questions come, give a preplanned answer that appears spontaneous. They'll think you are a genius.
- Give 'em What They Want
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] As a professional public speaker you don't mope around crying because your product sales would suffer or because your ego is suffering. You give it your all whether there are 3 or 3000 in the audience.
- Time of Day Matters
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Public speaking has aspects related to time of day that you must know about. The first speaker of the day for an early morning (7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) program should not expect hearty laughter. People are not conditioned to laugh a great deal in the early morning. Many won't even be awake yet. Use more information and less humor. I was asked by a sales speaker to open up an early morning public seminar. He said, 'I just want you to get them laughing before I start speaking.' I told him that it was not a good idea, but he insisted. I opened up the seminar with some sure-fire humor to test their responsiveness and got little response. I cut my material and brought the speaker on stage. He couldn't get them laughing either. I sat in the audience and watched. By 10:15 a.m. they were laughing at just about anything...
- Public Speaking: Give Me a Brake
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] ... a mental brake that is. Here are some mind tricks when you speak too fast.
- Public Speaking: The WOW! Factor
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If you want to push your name up the memorability chart, put something unique in your speaking engagements that causes the audience members to go WOW!
- Public Speaking: Dynamic Range
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I invented the concept of 'Dynamic Range' in public speaking to help you improve your versatility as a business presenter, and to help you pick appropriate audiences for your skill and interest level (Did he say 'pick' my audiences?). Yes, I did say pick your audiences.
- Public Speaking: Add Magic to Your Presentations
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] There is just something about a magic trick during a public speaking engagement that grabs people. The nice thing about it is that as a public speaker who uses magic to make a point, you are not held to the high standards you would be held to if you were a professional magician.
- Public Speaking: Be Careful
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I was doing an event for 3200 people in California and it was a really big deal. I had a two stage managers with headsets counting down 30 seconds till show time, a personal assistant and complete video crew for tape and image projection. Everything was hustle and bustle and rush, rush, rush.
- Public Speaking: Gimme Three Steps
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Do you remember that song by Lynyrd Skynyrd? 'Gimme three steps, gimme three steps mister, gimme three steps towards the door.' I try to remember that song when I am moving on stage during a public speaking engagement.
- Public Speaking: On Stage Tips
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] * The larger the crowd, the larger and slower the gestures...
- Public Speaking: Timing
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Timing in public speaking is one of the most important aspects of humor and NO ZZZZZs speaking. Not only is timing involved in an individual piece of humor, it is also involved in the placement of that piece of humor in the overall presentation. Timing is also involved in spontaneous reactions to 'expected' unexpected developments during the presentation
- Public Speaking: Stand Still
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] One of the most common problems I see, even with experienced public speakers, is that they do not seem to be capable of standing still when they should. It is very distracting to try to listen to a public speaking presentation when someone is wandering and swaying around on stage.
- Public Speaking: Start Low
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you present in public . . . start low.
- Public Speaking: Bounce Around
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you have all managers or all executives, it is relatively easy to hone in on their interests and concerns...
- Public Speaking: Vulnerability
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] An old boy coal miner friend of mine once told me, 'The schoolhouse door is always open.' John, I want to thank you for reminding me that we all can get better....
- Public Speaking: Lay Down the Law
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Lay Down the Law: Getting everyone to agree to your plan in the beginning puts enormous peer pressure on an individual violating any of the rules...
- Public Speaking: The Front Row
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] In the research I did on my recent public speaking trip to Thailand, I discovered that a meeting or seminar custom is to seat VIP attendees in the front row. No one of a lesser status either socially or in business would think of sitting closer to the front than their boss, or someone of a higher social ranking...
- Public Speaking: Equipment Photographs
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I've talked about this tip before, but ran into the same situation again this month while doing a public speaking engagement in Morocco. The primary languages there are Arabic and French. Just arranging for an overhead projector was very difficult.
- Public Speaking: Bilingual Help
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] One good idea is to take pictures of the various items you may need (overhead projector, white board, etc.) and carry them with you to the event.
- Public Speaking: International Perspective on Humor
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] United States public speaking audiences are becoming more and more diverse. It is your responsibility as a public speaker to be aware of and acknowledge significant portions of the audience that come from differing backgrounds. If you are speaking in a different country, again, it is up to you to find out about local customs and types of humor that are appreciated in that locale. The response to humor is quite different for different cultures. Paying close attention to this fact will give you a greater chance of connecting with international audiences in and out of the U.S. You will also be more aware of etiquette and customs that will make you a welcome speaker anywhere you go.
- Public Speaking:Words are Funny
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Some words are simply funnier than others. Your word choice can be the key to creating a successful witty line or a dud. All professional comedy writers agree on the following fact. The sound of certain words can virtually guarantee a laugh. In particular, the 'K' sound in words is the granddaddy of all funny sounds. In Neil Simon's play, The Sunshine Boys, Willy, a main character, gives his nephew a lecture about comedy:
- Public Speaking:Toasts
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Toasting is not nearly as common as it once was. However, the polished public speaker should have a few short toasts ready to go if and when the occasion arises. Here are a few fun toasts and a few touching ones too:
- Public Speaking:Simile
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Simile is a comparison of two things which, however different in other respects, have some strong point or points in common. The words 'like' and 'as' will normally be used when making the comparison.
- Public Speaking: Humorous Signs
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I run across funny signs all the time. I try to take a mental note or take a picture of the sign for later use during a public speaking engagement.
John Jay Daly, a speaker friend of mine, does a hysterical slide presentation called 'The Wacky, Wonderful World of Washington.' Many of the slides are of signs that he has seen around Washington, D.C.
- Public Speaking: Self-Effacing Humor
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Self-effacing humor, or making fun of yourself is quite a contrast. It is a very powerful form of humor that gets its strength from highlighting your weaknesses. It seems that people who have the ability to laugh at themselves in just the right amount during a public speaking engagement are perceived as secure, confident, strong, and likeable.
- Public Speaking: Quotations
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Quotations are safe to use during public speaking engagements because if the quotation is not funny, it doesn't matter since you are just reciting it. You did not write it. It can still be used to make your point.
- Public Speaking: Proverb Fortune Cookie Humor
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] You can throw in a cute diversion to a boring public speaking engagement by attributing a saying to an ancient Chinese philosopher. Since these sayings are not attributed to anyone in particular, feel free to change or update them to fit your situation and to enhance their humor.
- Public Speaking: Places are Funny
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Some places are simply funnier than others. Cleveland is funny. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is funny. I live just off Goodluck Road. That's funny. My computer consultant used to live on Easy Street in Temple Hills, Maryland. That's funny. It was hard to find him because people were always stealing the sign, and it's not easy to steal an Easy Street sign.
- Public Speaking: Parody
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Parody is a humorous imitation of a person, event, song or serious piece of writing. I have a great time when I use this technique in a presentation and so do the audience members.
- Public Speaking: One-Liners
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] One-liner is a general term for very short pieces of humor. Using one-liners is probably the best and easiest way to begin adding humor to your public speaking engagements. These brief bits of humor are quick and easy to deliver and they don't have to be all that funny to be effective. If you are a little apprehensive about using humor, this is the place to start.
- Public Speaking: Numbers are Funny
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Most businesses have numerous uses for numbers, both written and oral. Some numbers are funnier and more interesting than others. A number like zero has other names that are funny that aren't even numbers.
- Public Speaking: Malaprops
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] A malaprop is an absurd misuse of words. It can be from words that sound alike (sadistic and statistic) or from explanations that don't make any sense. You can use these on purpose as a humor technique during your public speaking engagements. Consider some of the classic examples below:
- Public Speaking: Juxtaposition
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Juxtaposition is the placing, side by side, of two ideas or items usually for the purpose of comparison or contrast.
- Public Speaking: Food is Funny
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Food is funny. I heard a comic many years ago say 'Life is a Twinkie.' When there is no other way to explain some office calamity I say, 'I guess life is just a Twinkie.' I laugh off the tension, then I seriously take care of the problem.
- Public Speaking: Fake Facts and Statistics
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Stating falsehoods as if they are absolutely true is another fun way to play with the audience during a public speaking engagement. However, you must make the statements obviously false by your words and your facial expressions. When you use this technique in this fashion, you don't want to leave any doubt in the audience's mind whether you are being funny or not.
- Public Speaking: Exaggeration
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Expanding or diminishing proportions can be a fun way to create humor in a public speaking engagement. It's similar to a caricature artist that outrageously exaggerates the features of an individual, while still keeping the person recognizable.
- Public Speaking: Definitions
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] You can use a quick comical definition to liven up a public speaking engagement. As always, make sure the word defined is relevant to the point you are trying to make. Here are some definitions I like:
- Public Speaking: Comic Verse
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Often a short poem will illustrate your point better than hours and hours of talk. Poems can be inspiring and motivating as well as funny, and they also add variety to your presentation. You must flawlessly memorize any poetry you use. Any stumbles will ruin the effect of the verse. If the verse is long, you may want to consider reading it, but total memorization will have more impact. Poetry, whether funny or not, should be used sparingly in any business presentation.
- Public Speaking: Caricature, Cartoons, and Comic Strips
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When certain prominent features of something or someone are highlighted and other features are diminished, that is called caricature. Studies have found that it is easier to identify a political leader from a caricature than from a real photograph.
- Public Speaking: Callbacks
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If you refer to a word or phrase you mentioned earlier in your presentation, that's a 'callback.' It works well if the previous piece of material got a good laugh, or if it was a groaner. If the previous material was good, mentioning it again will get more laughter and will make you look polished for being able to tie the previous material to the present material. If the previous material was poor, the callback will show your willingness to tease yourself, which is an admirable quality the audience appreciates.
- Public Speaking: Bloopers
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Bloopers are clumsy mistakes that are usually made in public. The television show 'TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes' and many blooper books are indicators of the interest we have in other people's goofs.
- Public Speaking: Audience Gags
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Audience gags are offbeat jokes that occur unexpectedly during a presentation. Dr. Joel Goodman, from the Humor Project, does one where a telephone rings during his presentation. He answers the phone that was hidden in the lectern and pretends to talk to his mother. The same joke would be called a running gag if the phone rang at several other times during the program.
- Public Speaking: Anachronisms
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] A person, place, or event that is placed in a time period in which it does not belong is called an anachronism. For instance, Paul Revere riding a motorcycle or George Washington sitting in front of a computer would be anachronisms. You see advertising strategies using anachronisms all the time, especially around Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays and Columbus Day. I saw an ad for fluorescent light bulbs that had Thomas Edison working on a phonograph. The caption read: 'If Thomas Edison wouldn't have wasted his time on this (incandescent bulb), his phonograph might have been a CD player.'
- Public Speaking: Alliteration
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you are speaking in public, humor need not be knee slapping funny to be effective. Here is a mild form of humor to add to your public speaking engagements. Alliteration is the repetition of the same first sound or the same first letter in a group of words or line of poetry.
- Public Speaking: Ads
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] You can concoct fake ads, or use real ads that are funny in your public speaking engagements. They can be read aloud, projected, or distributed as handouts.
- Public Speaking: Acronyms and Abbreviations
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] You can use acronyms and abbreviations as a form of humor during a public speaking engagement. An acronym is basically a form of abbreviation where the letters of the abbreviation form a new word, i.e., HUD means the Department of (H)ousing and (U)rban (D)evelopment. There are many acronyms and abbreviations that are universally known such as the IRS and the CIA. There are many more that are unique to your audience. All you have to do to make them humorous for use in your public speaking engagement is to change one or more of the words that go with your well-known abbreviation or acronym.
- Public Speaking: Deadpan Expression
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Yesterday I attended a professional public speaking meeting of the National Capital Area Speakers Association. The presenter was not funny, but got laughs from the crowd.
- Public Speaking: Odd Body Angles
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] You'll guarantee more laughs with this technique...
- Public Speaking: Old Humor is Good Humor
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Public speaking humor is only old if your audience has heard it before and if they remember it. Most people don't remember the exact details of jokes, one-liners, and stories. This is not contradictory to the fact that one of the uses of humor is to make your points more memorable.
- Public Speaking: Finding Humor for Specific Industries
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If you are looking for stories and humor in a specific industry, you must work a little harder than you would have to find general humor. Certain professions like medicine and law have many individual books, newsletters, and articles written about them. But if you are a plumbing executive, or you are speaking to the plumbing industry it is unlikely you could go down to your local public bookstore and find a plumbing joke book.
- Public Speaking: To Laugh or Not to Laugh... that is the Question
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Some humor 'experts' say that you should not laugh at your own jokes and stories when you are speaking in public. This may work for some, but it is definitely not my style. When I'm in front of an audience, I'm having a great time. I'm there because I love humor and laughter and I love sharing it with the audience. I can't help laughing sometimes. I laugh at what I say. I laugh at what they say. I laugh at unexpected occurrences during the presentation. That's my style. I believe that to fully connect with an audience, you must be accepted as one of them. If I expect them to laugh, then I should laugh too.
- Public Speaking: Humor Placement
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] You are probably wondering how you decide where to put the humor you have so carefully selected to use in your presentation. You weren't wondering? Well, I'm going to tell you anyway.
First of all, starting with a funny story or joke is expected and trite. You may want to postpone your story until the audience is resolved that you will be bestowing a rare case of sleeping sickness on them and then you surprise them with the humor. Don't be afraid to do the unexpected. Humor is one of the attention getting devices that can take your audience to the peaks of intensity.
- Public Speaking: Rule of Three
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] One of the most pervasive principles in the construction of humorous situations is the Rule of Three. You will see it used over and over because it is simple. It is powerful and it works (see I just used it there in a non-funny situation). Most of the time in humor the Rule of Three is used in the following fashion: The first comment names the topic, the second sets a pattern, and the third unexpectedly switches the pattern which is funny. Here's a few examples from brochures advertising my seminars:
- Public Speaking: Humor Delivery Tips
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Don't signal your punch line. If the humor in your punch line depends upon the words ruptured camel, don't say the following: Did you hear the one about the ruptured camel?
- Public Speaking: How to Deliver a Punch Line
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] The punch line gets its name from the delivery technique used. You must punch the line out a little harder and with a slightly different voice than the rest of the joke. Lean into the microphone and say it louder and more clearly than you said the setup lines. If the audience does not hear the punch line, they are not going to laugh.
- Public Speaking: How to Make a Point with Humor
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] One of the old saws of public speaking says that you should 'Tell em what you're gonna tell 'em. Tell 'em. Then tell 'em what you told 'em.' When you want to make a point during your presentation, you can use a similar formula. You tell 'em the point, illustrate the point, then tell 'em the point again. This formula, however, can seem boring and redundant if you don't spice it up a little. One way to do it is to use humor. Here's the formula:
- Public Speaking: Get Them In Fun
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Don't do anything to take them out of in fun. Don't speak about controversial subjects like religion or politics and don't make unfriendly comments to audience members. If a problem occurs which must be dealt with, find an in fun way of doing so. For instance...
- Public Speaking: Why Use Humor?
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Why should I bother using humor in my public speaking? Can't I just deliver my information and sit down? You sure can and that's what most people do. The problem is that most people are not effective public speakers. They are nighty nite, snooze inducing, say your prayers, hit the sack, unlicensed hypnotists. They are ZZZZZs presenters. They might be experts in their field and be able to recite hours and hours of information on their topic, but is that effective?
- Public Speaking: Heirloom Handouts
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If you want your public speaking handout material to be kept forever, you must give each audience member a reason to keep it. I do this by strategically adding important reference material to EACH PAGE of the speaking handout. This material was picked specifically for that day's audience.
- Public Speaking: Say it with Flowers
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] A public speaking friend of mine had a deal with a local flower shop. When he had a program he would buy up all the fresh flowers that the flower shop could not sell. He got them for a really cheap price. The flowers were destined for the dumpster anyway so the florist was thrilled to get anything for them.
- Public Speaking: Columbo Technique
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Do you remember the soft-spoken, cigar smoking detective on the hit TV series 'Columbo'? Most people do because the show is still in reruns all over the world and once in a while a new episode comes out. One of Detective Columbo's trademarks is that he would start to leave and when he was almost out the door he would stop and say, "Oh. Just one more thing." The same technique can be used by speakers (without the cigar).
- Public Speaking: How to Close a Speech
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] One of the worst mistakes you can make as a public speaker is talking too long. Not only will you send some folks to never, never land, you will make some of them downright mad. It doesn't matter if your entire speech was brilliant and the audience came away with information that will change their lives. If you talk too long, they will leave saying, "That speaker just wouldn't quit." Don't let this happen to you! Say what you have to say and sit down. Before you do, give them a well thought out closing.
- Public Speaking: Transitions
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Most public speaking books will tell you to be a polished speaker you have to tie all your information together so it flows smoothly. You must lead your audience and alert them that slightly different, but related information is coming. This is called transition or segue (pronounced seg-way).
LET ME STATE RIGHT NOW THAT I FULLY BELIEVE SMOOTH TRANSITIONS ARE A NECESSITY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS SO BORED THEY FALL RIGHT OUT OF THEIR SEATS AND SMASH THEIR HEADS ON THE FLOOR.
- Public Speaking: Attention Gaining Devices
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Attention spans are short. Here is the 'Wake em Up' way to keep the audience with you. After you have created your talk, go through it and make sure that every 2-4 minutes you use some kind of attention gaining device.
- Public Speaking: The Centerpiece Area
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Whenever you are public speaking at an event where food is being served at round tables, you can use the centerpiece area as part of your program. I recently saw Dr. Shirley Garrett do this at large public speaking engagement. She was using juggling scarves on stage.
- Public Speaking: Banquet/Luncheon Tips
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I have done many public speaking engagements in settings where meals were part of the program. You may want to politely remind the program coordinator to consider some of the following points:
- Public Speaking: Frequency Check
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] It is pretty common to have multiple wireless microphones going during the same public speaking engagement. The AV crew that sets everything up usually makes sure that they are all on different frequencies so that no cross over occurs. You should still double check it anyway. BUT WHAT ABOUT MICE?
- Public Speaking: Dueling Flip Charts
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Here is a very interesting way to use flip charts when public speaking. Put one on both sides of the stage and pop back and forth between them. You can have an audience member volunteer at each flip chart helping you record input from other audience members.
- Public Speaking: Cool Color Commentary
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Flip Chart Color... Permanent markers give the most vivid color but dry out faster if you leave the cap off. They also frequently...
- Public Speaking: Improvise Your Flipchart
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Oops! I broke my own rules and did not follow a checklist on my last public speaking engagement. It was two minutes until start time and I realized there was no flipchart in the room. Oh oh!. Better think fast. I was not using an overhead projector either, so I could not simply write on a blank transparency. Now one and 1/2 minutes left . . .
- Public Speaking: Props
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] In public speaking the term "prop" is a shortened version of the theatrical term "property," a word used to describe any object handled or used by an actor in a performance. As a speaker you are a performer whether you believe it or not. You have an obligation to use whatever means necessary to get your message across to the audience...
- Public Speaking: Pick Your Audience
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] (Did he say "pick" my public speaking audiences?). Yes, I did say pick your audiences. Some of you may not have this luxury because you must do speaking as part of your job, but those of you that do, will move up faster in the speaking world. When you are a beginning public speaker it is important for you to experience different types of audiences just FOR the experience. As you climb the speaking ladder where the audiences are bigger, or more important to your career, and the stakes are higher, you must learn to just say no.
- Public Speaking: The Differences Between a Man and a Woman (in the Audience that is!)
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] There is nothing I like better than an all female public speaking audience. All female audiences tend to laugh more easily and louder than all male audiences. All-male audiences are the toughest because the male ego gets in the way of laughter. They look around to see if anyone else is laughing before they laugh, and they won't laugh as loud because they think they will look less powerful.
If you speak to an all-male audience it is more critical to...
- How to be a Great Speaker without Using PowerPoint
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] RESEARCH YOUR AUDIENCE It amazes me how some speakers will show up for a speaking engagement and really not know anything about the audience they are speaking to. Many speakers just get lazy and feel that their message is so important that anyone would want to hear it. They couldn't be more wrong. Your core message may be about the same for everyone, but knowing your audience will allow you to slant the information so that the audience feels it was prepared just for them. They will relate much better to the information and think much more highly of you for creating something specifically for them. Of course, in many cases you were only slanting your information, but I won't tell if you won't.
- Public Speaking: Get 'em On Stage
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Good public speaking should use attention gaining devices. Here is one that works every time: Virtually every speaking presentation I do, I find some excuse to get someone on stage with me. When an audience member is on stage, the rest of the audience is glued to the action for the following reasons:
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- Click Here
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[News-and-Society:Pure-Opinion] Coupons save people money. Everyone likes extra cash flow. A good deal to many customers is a cheap one, or one with a rebate. So why not make this customer, a customer for life- give them a deal. They save money, you make money... everyone is happy.
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[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] If you are convinced that "more is more" when it comes to web design, you have a lot to learn. Forget the extra pictures and the hundreds of buttons, the less the eye sees, the more it absorbs. That is why I have eliminated the extra "fluff" on my own website and have had amazing results.
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