Another year of public speaking challenges

Going into this, my fourteenth year as a public speaker, it occurred to me that each of the preceding years and, indeed, those which led up to my first-ever professional engagement, featured new challenges in terms of delivering material in front of an audience:

1990: The year I started writing for national radio satirical shows. I attended my first  BBC comedy writers' meetings at Broadcasting House for Radio 4's topical show Week Ending and spoke up - very briefly and nervously!

1991: I did my first stand-up comedy open mic spot. It was London's Comedy Cafe and I didn't get a single laugh during the whole 10 minutes. But I did it.

1992: I joined a comedy groupi n Bournemouth. We never performed live, just recorded a cassette to sell, but it was early experience in using my voice.

1993: My first local radio interview. It consisted of a pre-recorded, 15-second sound bite and I was even nervous delivering that!

1994: My first TV appearance, a short, pre-recorded, fly-on-the-wall feature for BBC TV's South Today.

1995: My first TV appearance in front of a studio audience. It was on Meridian TV's What's My Line? I froze with nerves which led to my resolution to join...

My first public speaking course. Twelve, two-hour lessons which made a huge difference, even more so when I opted to take...

My first public speaking exam, the LAMDA Bronze Medal, which I passed with Honours.

1996: With my tutor Angela Brennan's encouragement, I accepted my first paid speaking engagement which was for Southbourne Literary Society.

I delivered my first 'how to' presentation which was for Ringwood Writers' Circle.

A couple of days later, I had my first stand-up comedy spot and interview on national radio - The Radio 2 Arts Programme with George Melly, recorded in front of a studio audience of 600.

I also performed stand-up comedy on cable television.

I delivered my first after dinner speech.

I took (and passed) my first Women's Institute speaker's audition (Hampshire Federation)

I delivered my first talk involving readings.

And I gave my first live local radio interview which was for BBC Radio Solent.

And in each subsequent year, the 'firsts' continued:

1997: First motivational lecture, Harnessing Life's Humour (now called The Power of Humour in Everyday Life). My first black-tie dinner. My first one-day writers' workshop. I taught my first adult education classes.

1998: My first WI Council Meeting presentation (Avon Federation, 45 minutes with an audience of 500 ladies). My first qualification as an adult education tutor. My first literary festival.

1999: My first, tentative steps in self-publishing material to back up my talks. My first guest lecture for Master's degree students (Bournemouth University).

2000: My first videoed talk. My first after dinner speeches for corporate clients.

2001: The first of my bookings giving presentations as a consultant at corporate training days (ICL Fujitsu).

2002: My first engagement for a business networking group.

2003: Sadly, the year began with my first-ever eulogy, delivered at my mother's funeral. I ran my first one-day public speaking workshop for a local government client (key staff from Christchurch Borough Council and Highcliffe Castle). I introduced my first literary/biographical talk: An Attractive Impediment: the Life, Literature and Laughter of Patrick Campbell. My first training session for charity volunteers (from the Motor Neurone Disease Association).

2004: My first speech at a civic function (a mayor-making ceremony). I spoke for the first time at a focus group.

2005: My first gig as an MC (at a wedding exhibition). My first presentation as part of a training day for a government department (the Home Office Central Management Unit). My first two-handed presentation (joint quiz master at the first Bournemouth Literary Festival). My first how-to presentations for film clubs, taking my spoken word experience to a visual medium. My first training session for entertainment professionals.

2006: My first booking as a solo quiz master.

2007: Believe it or not, my first-ever presentation with slides! My first-ever quiz where I wrote all the questions.

2008: My first historical society talk.

I can't claim that every one of this was a resounding success, especially in the early years (that stand-up comedy gig in 1991 went so badly that I didn't do another for four-and-a-half years!) But each of these 'firsts' presented me with new challenges and, ultimately, developed my confidence and versatility as a speaker/trainer.

So what about 2009? Speaking on cruise liners would be great! The year might bring talks in holiday centres or maybe podcasts. I know of one first I have coming up: in the summer, I will be delivering morning, afternoon and evening talks all on the same day - three towns, three different subjects!

So what will be your public speaking 'firsts' in 2009?

Public Speaking Tip #278: However well you are progressing as a speaker, you need a constant flow of new challenges in terms of types of audiences, events and presentations if you are to keep developing your potential.