Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Great Presentation Skills: Say It With Fewer Words
By Patricia Fripp CSP, CPAE
You've got a great, major public speaking presentation, and suddenly you're asked if you can get your message across in five minutes! Don't panic. For today's television generation, sound bites can be more powerful than lengthy dissertations. Here's how to compress your speech without losing impact.
Don't apologize or mention that you usually have much more time. Be confident that you can communicate in five minutes. Begin fast. Start with a an attention-getting statement such as, Your job won't exist five years from now, or In the next 5 minutes I want to convince you the best action you can take is ... Use a strongly visual story. Illustrate your points -- how it is now, how it will or could be -- with a story so vivid that the audience can "see" it. Divide your 5 minutes into three parts. Present a problem, a payoff, and your point of view: The number one piece of advice I can give you today is..., your story illustrates your idea and your walk away line could be what will happen if they do what you suggest!
Get 30 days of public speaking training for only $5.00!
You've got a great, major public speaking presentation, and suddenly you're asked if you can get your message across in five minutes! Don't panic. For today's television generation, sound bites can be more powerful than lengthy dissertations. Here's how to compress your speech without losing impact.
Don't apologize or mention that you usually have much more time. Be confident that you can communicate in five minutes. Begin fast. Start with a an attention-getting statement such as, Your job won't exist five years from now, or In the next 5 minutes I want to convince you the best action you can take is ... Use a strongly visual story. Illustrate your points -- how it is now, how it will or could be -- with a story so vivid that the audience can "see" it. Divide your 5 minutes into three parts. Present a problem, a payoff, and your point of view: The number one piece of advice I can give you today is..., your story illustrates your idea and your walk away line could be what will happen if they do what you suggest!
Get 30 days of public speaking training for only $5.00!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Public Speaking: Bilingual Help
When going over room setup and audio / visual requirements with a foreign logistics person, make sure you do it in advance of the presentation (hopefully several times), and have a bilingual person there to ensure that both you and the logistics person are on the same wavelength.
Be in the room very early on the day of the speaking engagement (at least two hours before the public enters the room) and, if possible, have your bilingual helper there too. Terms that are familiar to most English speaking speakers are difficult to translate into a foreign language. 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. When you want something, all you have to do is show the picture which, when you are desperate in a foreign country, is worth a million words.
Get a full 30 days of public speaking training for only $5.00!
Be in the room very early on the day of the speaking engagement (at least two hours before the public enters the room) and, if possible, have your bilingual helper there too. Terms that are familiar to most English speaking speakers are difficult to translate into a foreign language. 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. When you want something, all you have to do is show the picture which, when you are desperate in a foreign country, is worth a million words.
Get a full 30 days of public speaking training for only $5.00!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Public Speaking: Frequency Check
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?When speaking in Thailand last week I ran into a situation that has never happened to me or the other seasoned presenter before. We each had a Logitech Trackman RF Mouse. RF stands for "Radio Frequency" which means that the wireless mouse doesn't have to be in line of sight with the receiver like an infra red mouse would. It also means that I couldn't keep my mouse from moving the cursor on his computer (the other guy was on right after me with no break).
We tried every trick we could think of with no luck. We finally decided to shut my whole system down quickly after I was finished and boot his up as fast as we could while he made some opening comments to the crowd.
With more and more wireless technology being used during presentations you must thoroughly check out all systems and consider presenters who are on both before and after you. This is yet another reason to be there early and find out what is going on during other programs. Had we not noticed this ahead of time he would have had a really shaky beginning to his program . .. if the program were switched . . . it could have been me!
Learn the techniques that will skyrocket your speaking career!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Public Speaking: The Rule Of Three
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:
In the 'How to Get There'; section
From Washington, D.C. take Rt. 50 . . .
From Baltimore, MD take Rt. 95 . . .
From Bangkok, Thailand board Asian Air . . .
By Metro take the Red line . . .
By Car take New York Ave. . . .
By Steamship take the Chesapeake Bay
While in front of a group I might point to an audience member and say You can make a difference in your company. [Pointing to the next person] You can make a difference in your department. [Pointing to third fun person] You can [pause] Well not everyone can do this.
The Rule of Three is also used in constructing
bits (see bits article on this website).
Three jokes or one-liners on one topic is enough to create a rise in the audience, but not enough to tire them about that subject. Don't forget that the Rule of Three is good in non-funny situations too. Even honest Abe Lincoln used it twice in the powerful, but short, Gettysburg Address: 'We cannot dedicate. We cannot consecrate. We cannot hallow this ground'; 'and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.'
Learn to be the best presenter possible!
In the 'How to Get There'; section
From Washington, D.C. take Rt. 50 . . .
From Baltimore, MD take Rt. 95 . . .
From Bangkok, Thailand board Asian Air . . .
By Metro take the Red line . . .
By Car take New York Ave. . . .
By Steamship take the Chesapeake Bay
While in front of a group I might point to an audience member and say You can make a difference in your company. [Pointing to the next person] You can make a difference in your department. [Pointing to third fun person] You can [pause] Well not everyone can do this.
The Rule of Three is also used in constructing
bits (see bits article on this website).
Three jokes or one-liners on one topic is enough to create a rise in the audience, but not enough to tire them about that subject. Don't forget that the Rule of Three is good in non-funny situations too. Even honest Abe Lincoln used it twice in the powerful, but short, Gettysburg Address: 'We cannot dedicate. We cannot consecrate. We cannot hallow this ground'; 'and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.'
Learn to be the best presenter possible!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Public Speaking: Audience Gags
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.
Ten Wanted Men
I staged a gag at a seminar one time that was loads of fun and took less than one minute to complete. Before the program, I picked out about 10 fun-loving audience members to help me. I gave them secret instructions that were to be carried out on a certain cue during the program. To start the gag, I had my assistant interrupt the seminar to give me an important note. The note read (I used a serious expression):
"It appears that someone is in attendance today with another man's wife. There is a large and irate man on his way here right now. If you want out, there is a backstage door you can use to escape quickly."
At this point, 10 men jumped up out of their seats and ran keystone cop style out the door. Once they realized what was happening, several women jumped up and ran out too. It was great fun and the gag sure woke up everyone who had a heavy lunch.
Stone the Speaker
Here's another gag I do when I really want to focus attention on an important point. Either before the program or at a break, I recruit audience members who are sitting near the front. I give each one a piece of crumpled paper and instruct them to throw it at me when they hear a certain word.
Some presenters tell me that is the dumbest thing they ever heard and that they would never do it in a professional presentation. They say that until they understand the rationale. I use this gag when I want to focus attention on an important point? Guess who is riveted on what I say until they hear the key word? Of course, all the recruits with the crumpled paper. Then, after they throw the paper and I make a big reaction, the rest of the crowd is totally focused in their effort to see what is going on. That is when I make my key point. I have virtually guaranteed the attention of each audience member.
Learn to make a humorous presentation the easy way!
Ten Wanted Men
I staged a gag at a seminar one time that was loads of fun and took less than one minute to complete. Before the program, I picked out about 10 fun-loving audience members to help me. I gave them secret instructions that were to be carried out on a certain cue during the program. To start the gag, I had my assistant interrupt the seminar to give me an important note. The note read (I used a serious expression):
"It appears that someone is in attendance today with another man's wife. There is a large and irate man on his way here right now. If you want out, there is a backstage door you can use to escape quickly."
At this point, 10 men jumped up out of their seats and ran keystone cop style out the door. Once they realized what was happening, several women jumped up and ran out too. It was great fun and the gag sure woke up everyone who had a heavy lunch.
Stone the Speaker
Here's another gag I do when I really want to focus attention on an important point. Either before the program or at a break, I recruit audience members who are sitting near the front. I give each one a piece of crumpled paper and instruct them to throw it at me when they hear a certain word.
Some presenters tell me that is the dumbest thing they ever heard and that they would never do it in a professional presentation. They say that until they understand the rationale. I use this gag when I want to focus attention on an important point? Guess who is riveted on what I say until they hear the key word? Of course, all the recruits with the crumpled paper. Then, after they throw the paper and I make a big reaction, the rest of the crowd is totally focused in their effort to see what is going on. That is when I make my key point. I have virtually guaranteed the attention of each audience member.
Learn to make a humorous presentation the easy way!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Public Speaking: 1000 Ways To Market Your Book
1001 Ways to Market Your Book by John Kremer
When I'm promoting a book (or any other information product) I keep this book by my bed and read about 20 minutes a night before I go to sleep. After about a month of this I have a two-year marketing plan for the product. This book has every kind of non-traditional way to sell your book you could ever possibly think of.
Most places that sell books that ARE NOT bookstores pay for the books upfront at a wholesale price and there are no returns . . . unlike bookstores that return unsold books (usually in a damaged condition) and you jumped through lots of hoops and made no money. This book keeps you out of that mess.
When I'm promoting a book (or any other information product) I keep this book by my bed and read about 20 minutes a night before I go to sleep. After about a month of this I have a two-year marketing plan for the product. This book has every kind of non-traditional way to sell your book you could ever possibly think of.
Most places that sell books that ARE NOT bookstores pay for the books upfront at a wholesale price and there are no returns . . . unlike bookstores that return unsold books (usually in a damaged condition) and you jumped through lots of hoops and made no money. This book keeps you out of that mess.
Learn the best marketing techniques especially for speakers!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Public Speaking: Professional Speaking Marketing Strategies
Learn a strategy that will get you more speaking engagements at higher fees.
AmazingPublicSpeaking.com $5.00 30 day trial with over 300 public and professional speaking videos.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Public Speaking: Transitions
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.
Come with me to the amusement park. Look around a little bit and tell me where the excitement is. Of course, it's over on the roller coaster where transitions are sharp. They are sharp and exciting even though you can see them coming. The excitement isn't over at the kiddie choo choo train (notwithstanding, the excitement you might feel watching your little munchkin on there for the very first time) where turns and motion are mild so the little ones don't get too upset. The excitement is also at the bumper cars where you can get blind-sided because cars are coming at you from all directions. The excitement isn't at the baby boat ride where a 2cm wave would flip your little bundle of joy out of the boat.
OK. when speaking in public I'll admit, some thought should be given to transition, especially with older, more traditional audiences, and when you have a very high content presentation. But you don't have to be a trite, snoozer by saying things like, . . . speaking of bananas. I'm now going to talk about bananas. You could, however, do a segue like that and then make fun of yourself for doing it by saying something like, Don't you think that transition was really smooth? Transitions are one of the places where you could plan to use some humor. This works well with technical audiences because they won't feel you are wasting their time. Since, in their minds, you are REQUIRED to do a transition anyway, it's OK if it's funny.
Segues aren't important at all for 85 percent or higher humor content presenters or stand-up comics. You can just speak away and as long as they are laughing, no one much cares about transitions. If you are not in this category, then you can begin paying a little attention to bridging the gaps between your points and topics. Just don't be trite and don't think you have to say something to make the transition.
You can make transitions by changing stage position, pausing, using visual aids, giving out a handout, picking up a prop or sharply varying the sound you make come out of the public address system. Do anything that breaks the pattern of what you were doing in the previous segment and introduces what you plan to do.
For verbal transitions, one-liners, anecdotes, and questions work well. Also, people seem to like and need recaps, so I am in favor of saying things like, To recap this section . . .
When speaking in public, whatever you do, think in terms of roller coasters and bumper cars so you keep your audience excited and alert all the time.
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.
Come with me to the amusement park. Look around a little bit and tell me where the excitement is. Of course, it's over on the roller coaster where transitions are sharp. They are sharp and exciting even though you can see them coming. The excitement isn't over at the kiddie choo choo train (notwithstanding, the excitement you might feel watching your little munchkin on there for the very first time) where turns and motion are mild so the little ones don't get too upset. The excitement is also at the bumper cars where you can get blind-sided because cars are coming at you from all directions. The excitement isn't at the baby boat ride where a 2cm wave would flip your little bundle of joy out of the boat.
OK. when speaking in public I'll admit, some thought should be given to transition, especially with older, more traditional audiences, and when you have a very high content presentation. But you don't have to be a trite, snoozer by saying things like, . . . speaking of bananas. I'm now going to talk about bananas. You could, however, do a segue like that and then make fun of yourself for doing it by saying something like, Don't you think that transition was really smooth? Transitions are one of the places where you could plan to use some humor. This works well with technical audiences because they won't feel you are wasting their time. Since, in their minds, you are REQUIRED to do a transition anyway, it's OK if it's funny.
Segues aren't important at all for 85 percent or higher humor content presenters or stand-up comics. You can just speak away and as long as they are laughing, no one much cares about transitions. If you are not in this category, then you can begin paying a little attention to bridging the gaps between your points and topics. Just don't be trite and don't think you have to say something to make the transition.
You can make transitions by changing stage position, pausing, using visual aids, giving out a handout, picking up a prop or sharply varying the sound you make come out of the public address system. Do anything that breaks the pattern of what you were doing in the previous segment and introduces what you plan to do.
For verbal transitions, one-liners, anecdotes, and questions work well. Also, people seem to like and need recaps, so I am in favor of saying things like, To recap this section . . .
When speaking in public, whatever you do, think in terms of roller coasters and bumper cars so you keep your audience excited and alert all the time.
Attention Speakers: Learn to make $5500 or more everytime you speak!
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Public Speaking: Creating Material Out Of Adversity
It's 5:30 AM Eastern time. I'm the only one sitting here at the gate area at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport for my 6:25 AM flight back to Norfolk. While I'm sitting here I had one reminder and one revelation.
The Reminder
As I sit here freezing to death after my brief shuttle ride from the
hotel I'm reminded that I broke my own rule of not going north for any reason in the
winter. Why I broke this rule, I really don't know. I don't like snow. I don't like slush.
And I don't like the cold. I must be getting senile.
The Revelation
Being the upbeat guy that I am I decided to see how I could turn this
situation into a positive. That's when I came up with the revelation/idea that is
destined to change the world and is about as "green" as you can get.
My idea is for the United States to purchase the northern part of
Mexico. How much could it cost? A couple hundred billion or so? Who cares? Whatever the
price tag it will be worth it when you hear the rest of my idea.
After we make the purchase and attend the closing (this won't cost much
because so many real estate attorney's are hurting for business) we shift the entire
northern United States to the south. Can you imagine how much natural gas, oil, coal,
electricity and wood we would save? It would more than pay for the purchase.
Also, our population growth would stabilize because people would be able
spend way more time outside instead of accidentally spawning way too many kids in an
effort to keep warm using body heat.
I suggest you begin immediately contacting your local congressperson to
move this idea forward.
=====================
Note to speakers from Tom: Do you see how you can come up with
bizarre/memorable/funny material for your speeches just by forcing your mind to look for the
bright side of any situation. Oops. They're boarding now. I'm heading south.
The Reminder
As I sit here freezing to death after my brief shuttle ride from the
hotel I'm reminded that I broke my own rule of not going north for any reason in the
winter. Why I broke this rule, I really don't know. I don't like snow. I don't like slush.
And I don't like the cold. I must be getting senile.
The Revelation
Being the upbeat guy that I am I decided to see how I could turn this
situation into a positive. That's when I came up with the revelation/idea that is
destined to change the world and is about as "green" as you can get.
My idea is for the United States to purchase the northern part of
Mexico. How much could it cost? A couple hundred billion or so? Who cares? Whatever the
price tag it will be worth it when you hear the rest of my idea.
After we make the purchase and attend the closing (this won't cost much
because so many real estate attorney's are hurting for business) we shift the entire
northern United States to the south. Can you imagine how much natural gas, oil, coal,
electricity and wood we would save? It would more than pay for the purchase.
Also, our population growth would stabilize because people would be able
spend way more time outside instead of accidentally spawning way too many kids in an
effort to keep warm using body heat.
I suggest you begin immediately contacting your local congressperson to
move this idea forward.
=====================
Note to speakers from Tom: Do you see how you can come up with
bizarre/memorable/funny material for your speeches just by forcing your mind to look for the
bright side of any situation. Oops. They're boarding now. I'm heading south.
Learn More Great Speaking Tips. Get 30 days of public speaking training for only $5.00!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Public Speaking: How To Make An Audio CD
Check out this FREE webinar replay of Tom Antion and Mike Stewart's
"How To Make An Audio CD"
Click here to watch the webinar!
Learn to be a product machine and create an information audio empire. Spread your message across the globe and build wealth for you and your family.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Narrative Theory Storytelling
Storytelling helps create powerful visuals for your speeches. It will liven up any speaking engagement and helps make an important point to your audience.
Learn more important storytelling techniques. Get 30 days of public speaking training for only $5.00!
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