Some people are just natural speakers

[girlsmiley]

I am not one of them.

 

[Lancecastor]

I am not surprised.

Try Toastmasters.

 

[unregistered]

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Put me down as not...

 

[Wat_Tyler]

I'm good at it.


I was told once to visualize the crowd as naked, but in most cases, I suspect that would induce projectile vomiting.


Being prepared helps a lot.


And do go off on tangents when telling a story.

 

[RedAllan]

I tend to wander off on tangents, which is fine unless there is a time restraint.

I prefer large groups, but the next thing I am due to do will be a small group and timed, I must also get better at preparation and control my tendency to ad-lib.

Still I can't be that bad, people don't run off, and I get asked back.

 

[Lancecastor]

I've heard only great things about Toastmasters.

I once worked with a guy who wanted to go into the family business (politics).

Trouble was, he had a wicked stuttering problem; plus he's just not very smart.

(The latter is of course no impediment to a life in politics.)

Anyway, he enrolled in Toastmasters and within two or three years he became a competent, though not inspiring public speaker.

He's been in Parliament ever since.

 

[Beco]

I am not one of them.

We've already figured that out....

 

[RobDownSouth]

I've been active in Toastmasters since 2007. I highly recommend it...but make sure you audition more than one club. Each club has its own distinct flavor...some lean toward motivational speaking, some towards sales presentations, and more than a few develop religious lay speakers.

They also have specialty clubs, for example, the biggest club here in Houston is a club restricted to singles. 70 people (most clubs are 20-25 people). They have a meeting then go out drinking. I've spoken there twice, it's a really fun club but its on the other side of Houston from me and a 90 minute commute during rush hour.

I enjoy public speaking.

 

[Riles]

I love it.

During all my years as a student, through Elementry to College I competed in public speaking competitions hosted by various clubs on Provincial, National and International levels.

Prepared Speech was my preference, but I also tried my hand for a few years with Extemporaneous.

 

[eric60red]

I used to stutter, and could not talk to a group. i took a public speaking course and now give me an audience and i will not shut up. i will talk on most subjects including sexual fulfillment

 

[Siren_Smiles]

I love public speaking. I started with pageants and then competed through speech club at school, specializing in extemporaneous. My record live audience stands at 35,000 people.
My favorite job (other than working for myself) had me briefing 100-200 people a week.
I've been asked to teach other people joining the lecture circuit and it's really fun for me. We cover everything though, not just the public speaking part but also how to prepare a presentation from start to finish.

 

[RobDownSouth]

I love it.

During all my years as a student, through Elementry to College I competed in public speaking competitions hosted by various clubs on Provincial, National and International levels.

Prepared Speech was my preference, but I also tried my hand for a few years with Extemporaneous.

You made it to international level? I never got that far....mainly because at that level it's almost all motivational speaking (I typically do 70% humorous).

I travelled quite a lot until a few years ago, and would always pop into a local Toastmaster club to practice my contest speeches in front of a fresh audience. The only time that didn't work was in Mississauga Ontario....I showed up and found out the club conducted meetings in French....

 

[RobDownSouth]

I love public speaking. I started with pageants and then competed through speech club at school, specializing in extemporaneous. My record live audience stands at 35,000 people.
My favorite job (other than working for myself) had me briefing 100-200 people a week.
I've been asked to teach other people joining the lecture circuit and it's really fun for me. We cover everything though, not just the public speaking part but also how to prepare a presentation from start to finish.

Aren't very large audiences fun? I found that doing humorous speeches I have to pause two seconds (onemississippi..twomississippi) after delivering punchlines because the crowd dynamic is different, it takes the collective group a bit longer to laugh.

Ever done a presentation under "hot lights"? (Super Trooper spotlights, etc) When you have one on you, you learn very quickly NOT to look directly into the light. When you have two on you, and they follow you around the stage, forget about looking at the audience, you won't see them, except in extreme peripheral vision.

I used to gauge audience reaction by looking at their faces, but you can't do that with spots.

 

[Siren_Smiles]

Aren't very large audiences fun? I found that doing humorous speeches I have to pause two seconds (onemississippi..twomississippi) after delivering punchlines because the crowd dynamic is different, it takes the collective group a bit longer to laugh.

Ever done a presentation under "hot lights"? (Super Trooper spotlights, etc) When you have one on you, you learn very quickly NOT to look directly into the light. When you have two on you, and they follow you around the stage, forget about looking at the audience, you won't see them, except in extreme peripheral vision.

I used to gauge audience reaction by looking at their faces, but you can't do that with spots.

The bigger the better as far as crowds go and yes, the dynamic changes considerably.

Yes to the single hot light. I've never had to speak under the multiple lights that track you, just walk and smile. lol I don't think I would care for that much, I really do like to read the crowd and not being able to see them would make that tough.

 

[Lancecastor]

French only Toastmasters in Mississauga?

I wouldn't have believed that for a moment...

http://peel.cioc.ca/record/CDR0881?UseCICVw=51&

...cept it's true. Crazy.

 

[RobDownSouth]

French only Toastmasters in Mississauga?

I wouldn't have believed that for a moment...

http://peel.cioc.ca/record/CDR0881?UseCICVw=51&

...cept it's true. Crazy.

C'est vrai! mais c'est merde aussi.

 

[Killswitch]

I love public speaking. I started with pageants and then competed through speech club at school, specializing in extemporaneous. My record live audience stands at 35,000 people.
My favorite job (other than working for myself) had me briefing 100-200 people a week.
I've been asked to teach other people joining the lecture circuit and it's really fun for me. We cover everything though, not just the public speaking part but also how to prepare a presentation from start to finish.

Impressive.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

I've been active in Toastmasters since 2007. I highly recommend it...but make sure you audition more than one club. Each club has its own distinct flavor...some lean toward motivational speaking, some towards sales presentations, and more than a few develop religious lay speakers.

They also have specialty clubs, for example, the biggest club here in Houston is a club restricted to singles. 70 people (most clubs are 20-25 people). They have a meeting then go out drinking. I've spoken there twice, it's a really fun club but its on the other side of Houston from me and a 90 minute commute during rush hour.

I enjoy public speaking.

You made it to international level? I never got that far....mainly because at that level it's almost all motivational speaking (I typically do 70% humorous).

Good advice on finding a Toastmasters club. I was active in a club for several years when I lived in Colorado. I didn't advance past the "competent communicator" level simply because I just wasn't that motivated to chase after the Distinguished Toastmaster designation.

I did finish runner-up at a District humorous speaking competition, which, of course, meant I had to have previously won at the club, area and division levels. I also did an hour-long presentation on advanced PowerPoint techniques at a Toastmaster Leadership Institute.

I can't think of a better way for anyone to overcome their fear of public speaking or for already confidently competent speakers to improve their presentation skills than to join Toastmasters.

 

[Siren_Smiles]

Impressive.

Thank you

 

[Lancecastor]

C'est vrai! mais c'est merde aussi.

Naturellement!

 

[RobDownSouth]

Good advice on finding a Toastmasters club. I was active in a club for several years when I lived in Colorado. I didn't advance past the "competent communicator" level simply because I just wasn't that motivated to chase after the Distinguished Toastmaster designation.

I did finish runner-up at a District humorous speaking competition, which, of course, meant I had to have previously won at the club, area and division levels. I also did an hour-long presentation on advanced PowerPoint techniques at a Toastmaster Leadership Institute.

I can't think of a better way for anyone to overcome their fear of public speaking or for already confidently competent speakers to improve their presentation skills than to join Toastmasters.

The CC (Competent Communicator) level is an excellent "line in the sand". If you get that far, you won't be afraid of audiences anymore. Personally, something clicked for me around speech number 5 (of 10) and I realized...hey, I can DO this!

....that was about 250 speeches ago.

I got my Distinguished Toastmaster designation two years ago, I'm working towards a second DTM but this time around I'm focusing on what I know are my own weak areas.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You made it to international level? I never got that far....mainly because at that level it's almost all motivational speaking (I typically do 70% humorous).

I travelled quite a lot until a few years ago, and would always pop into a local Toastmaster club to practice my contest speeches in front of a fresh audience. The only time that didn't work was in Mississauga Ontario....I showed up and found out the club conducted meetings in French....

Humorous? Theyre laughing at you, retard.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

Humorous? Theyre laughing at you, retard.

Rob and I disagree on many, if not most, things political. But I can assure you that anyone who has achieved the speaking skills of a DTM is most certainly NOT being laughed AT.

Not unless he intends it.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Rob and I disagree on many, if not most, things political. But I can assure you that anyone who has achieved the speaking skills of a DTM is most certainly NOT being laughed AT.

Not unless he intends it.

I had one moment that I can recall where people laughed at me.

When you do 70% or more humorous speeches, people expect you to be funny (or at least try to be).

Every once in a while, I try to push myself out of my comfort zone.

One year, the week before Memorial Day, I had a serious speech about soldiers sacrificing for their country. I had a surplus military helmet liner as a prop.

I had a big stage finish, where I had a line "should I stumble, should I fall..." and then pitched forward, the helmet falling back off my head....

I'd rehearsed this maybe 5-6 times, had it down to a science, a very dramatic finish.

I'm on stage, I say my line, I pitch forward, the helmet liner falls off behind me, just as I'd practiced....

and hits my right heel....goes straight up in the air, two and a half gainer, and lands perfectly...PLOP...right back on my head.

Panda-fucking-monium.

People are laughing and going ooooooooooh! Momentum was absolutely destroyed.

People kept coming up to me after the speech, asking how long did I practice doing that helmet trick??