Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog

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Saturday, November 29

In the news - and in your speech?

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Sat 29 Nov 2008 05:52 PM GMT

Probus Club 2 of Purbeck, Swanage

On 30 October, I made a return visit to the Probus Club 2 of Purbeck who meet at the Pines Hotel in Swanage. This time I was booked for my presentation on the Life, Literature and Laughter of Patrick Campbell, a talk I put together five years ago, just after my last visit to them. I always end it by telling the audience that this wonderful Irish writer is perhaps so fondly remembered because his was the humour of a more gentle time.

Well, those words had never been as appropriate as they were during this particular week when the headlines had already been dominated for five days by the Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross controversy. (I have written about this story and 'comedy pushing boundaries' on my other blog). This major news item made the conclusion of my talk extremely effective and topical.

Public Speaking Tip #264: Is there some element of a presentation which you have delivered many times which has suddenly acquired extra resonance because of a current (perhaps controversial) news story? Don't waste this opportunity to deliver your existing material with extra impact.

The 40 or so Probus members in attendance that morning were a very appreciative audience but it was during the lunch afterwards that I received one of the best compliments I've ever had. There was a gentleman sitting opposite me at the table who was very visually impaired. He didn't realise who I was (my voice in conversation being rather different from when I'm projecting during a talk!) and he said 'That chap this morning was a good raconteur, wasn't he?'

I also received a written testimonial from their Programme Secretary Bill Knight, who wrote:

"Thank you so much for your talk which was greatly enjoyed by us all. It was a delight to get to know more about Patrick Campbell's life...I already know that several of our members are busy browsing second hand book shops and surfing the web for copies of Patrick's books".

I must thank Bill for the lift from Swanage Travel Interchange and back on one of the coldest, wettest days that I have ever travelled anywhere to speak. I decided to abandon the usual pilgrimage up to Peveril Point which I make whenever I am in Swanage, turning back when I got as far as the mermaid statue near the pier.

And when I arrived home, the news was still full of that story.

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A public speaker in Clover!

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Sat 29 Nov 2008 07:05 AM GMT

Ringwood Clover Group

On 23 October I arrived for my talk at the Clover Group in Ringwood, Hampshire, in very good time - I was at the venue even before the caretaker was!

Before I spoke, a cheque was presented to local builder Mr Raymond Brown on behalf of the appeal to refurbish the Ebenezer Hall in the Greyfriars Community Centre where this group usually meets (they have moved temporarily to the Activities Centre nearby while this work continues).

Public Speaking Tip #262: Although organisations often meet in the same room, year in, year out, you should be prepared for the fact that you may occasionally be asked to speak in an alternative venue, for example, while building work is completed. This may even involve speaking in a church itself if the church hall is unavailable!

Mr Brown gave a short report about how the work was progressing and then it was my turn to speak. The Power of Humour in Everyday Life went down very well with thr 35 ladies who had turned out despite the very bad weather.

One interesting point is that when I had accepted the booking a few weeks earlier, their Speaker Secretary said that I had spoken to this group a couple of years earlier and my talk had been much appreciated.Now, I have almost perfect recall where my hundreds of bookings are concerned but I couldn't for the life of me remember speaking to a group with this name. On the night, I asked whether this had changed from Ringwood Homemakers. They had, mystery solved. Just one thing, though: I certainly had spoken to them before when they used that name (and a great audience they were too) but it wasn't a couple of years ago - it was in January 1999!

But I could understand the lady thinking that because the years have flown by for me as well!

Public Speaking Tip #263: A nervous, novice speaker may feel that time is dragging as they deliver their first material to an audience; 20 minutes may feel like an hour or more. But when you get into the habit of accomplished, regular speaking, the presentations - and the years - start to pass by very quickly!

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Wednesday, November 26

Havant I spoken here before?

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Wed 26 Nov 2008 07:52 AM GMT

Jubilee Ladies Luncheon Club, Emsworth

I delivered an after-lunch talk on 21 October (my first booking involving a lunch or dinner since early August - I was beginning to develop withdrawal symptoms!) It was for 69 members of the Jubilee Ladies Luncheon Club in Emsworth, Hampshire.

The venue was the Brookfield Hotel which is in a different part of the village from where I have spoken more recently but I realised that I had delivered a talk there before, albeit in a smaller room and nearly a decade earlier!

Public Speaking Tip #261: In any area, whatever its size, there are usually a limited number of venues (hotels, restaurants and halls) which are used for events with speakers. Get to know them because the chances are that you will be going back - even if it's some time later!

I chose to speak from one side of the room from a small table which had just been used for serving the coffee. It was a good position, not too far far from anyone and clearly visible.

The Power of Humour in Everyday Life went extremely well and there many compliments and booklet sales afterwards.

A very enjoyable lunch followed by a great treception for my talk. My thanks to Moya Wipple for the lift from Havant station and back and for her letter afterwards, which said:

"I should like to thank you very much indeed for your very amusing talk on 'The Power of Humour in Everyday Life;' a topic that went down very well with all of us at the lunch. It was a refreshing change...Thank you for all the effort you put into your talk...We look forward to hearing you again in the not too distant future".

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