Two years ago I blogged about how I was offered a choice of two dates for a booking, one of which would have meant my having three engagements in one day so I chose the alternative. But I was left with a curiosity about what this would be like so when a similar opportunity arose for July 21 this year I took it. The venues were all in Hampshire and Dorset and within fairly easy reach of each other - even by public transport - but I did have the challenge that three different topics were involved, each with a different set of props to take with me, and I would not have time to get back and change these over between talks.
If you are offered bookings in quick succession, you have to be realistic about whether you can get to them by whatever means of transport you are using. I have managed to complete a morning talk in Christchurch and then make it to a lunch near Wimborne Minster the same day and in 2000 I was guest after dinner speaker at an event run by the Glass National Training Organisation in Sutton Coldfield and got up at 6am the next morning to be on a train from Birmingham New Street to Southampton where I changed for Pulborough in West Sussex in good time to speak to a WI group that afternoon.
Public Speaking Tip #339: It may well be possible to undertake two or three speaking engagements in a short space of time - possibly even on the same day - as long as you are sure you can get to each one without cutting it too fine. In other words: be realistic about the logistics!
New Milton RAF Association, Hampshire
My morning talk was about the Algonquin Round Table for around 25 members of the New Milton branch of the Royal Air Forces Association - my fourth booking for this group since 2001.
This one didn't seem to be as well received as my three previous presentations for them. That's sometimes just the way it goes: you do your best but not every subject you speak about will necessarily have the same appeal as others for a particular audience.
Public Speaking Tip #340: You can play safe and only ever have one tried and tested presentation and keep searching further afield for audiences to hear it - or introduce new topics for repeat bookings from organisations you have spoken to before. These titles may occasionally not go down as well with these audiences but they increase your experience and versatility as a speaker. And, for some organisations, they may actually be the most appealing choice out of the talks that you are offering.
Afterwards I enjoyed chatting, as always, to Mr Ray Russell, who I have met so many times over the years at this organisation and others within the New Forest area.
Then, after a quick lunch in a cafe in New Milton, it was back by train to Bournemouth from where I would be setting off for my second talk that day.
Britiah Gas Retired Employees Association, Poole
Maybe I should have had an even quicker lunch or extended my rail ticket to Branksome because I missed the connecting bus from Bournemouth Square to Newtown and had to take a taxi which knocked a slightly bigger hole in the budget than I had expected! Traffic was really heavy that rainy afternoon but I arrived at Newtown Conservative Club in time to speak about the Power of Humour in Everyday Life for around 45 members of the Poole British Gas Retired Employees Association.
This talk, my fifth for them, went really well with this lovely society. They always want to book me again and I am running out of topics for them to choose from so it's time to think about working on some new talks.
Public Speaking Tip #341: The prospect of revisiting an organisation whose members really enjoy your presentations is a good incentive to introduce further topics.
After my talk, I chatted to members who included a lady with some fascinating stories about appearing on the Weakest Link. Then I travelled by bus to Bournemouth railway station to set off for my third booking that day.
Woodley and Crampmoor Women's Insitute, Hampshire
I arrived at Romsey station at around 7pm but my talk wasn't at a venue in the town but in a village a couple of miles outside it called Woodley. Usually when a venue is some distance from the station, I get a lift and somebody from the organisation booking me phones to confirm the times a week or so beforehand. But no-one had called and when I tried ringing the contact number a couple of days before the engagement I got no answer meaning they were probably on holiday. My own fault: I should have tried to call them much sooner when I hadn't heard anything.
There were phone numbers for taxi companies at the station but I didn't see any point in adding extrra expense. I wasn't due to speak until about an hour's time and I wasn't feeling especially tired yet so I thought I'd walk. True, there had been heavy rain throughout most of that day but it wasn't too bad at this point...
I had to pass through the town. I came to a bus stop where none of the friendly locals seemed too sure whether there was a service due which would be heading where I wanted to go. I checked with an elderly gentleman whether I was walking in the right direction for Woodley. 'It's a long way', he said. Well, maybe for him, I thought - and carried on walking.
I arrived at Woodley Village Hall at around 7.40pm. My raincoat was now just that: a coat full of rain. My tie, new on that day, was like a wet piece of string around my neck (luckily it was the washproof type).
Fortunately I had packed my books and leaflets securely so there was very little runny ink.
After their business meeting had finished, I explained why I was in such a state. The ladies were very apologetic about my not getting a lift but, as I have said, it was my fault - I should have contacted the Speaker Secretary myself.
The talk, My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer, got a fantastic response. There were only 17 there but this was another of those small WIs whose warmth and laughter more than makes up for their low numbers. And a decent number bought copies of 'Nick R's in a Twist!' afterwards..
Public Speaking Tip #342: If an audience knows that you have gone through a great deal to get to them, they will usually be especially receptive.
And when you get that level of appreciation for your presentation, the trials and tribulations involved in getting to the venue suddenly don't seem so important. (Not that I'm planning to make a habit of getting completely drenched before every booking!)
Following my talk, I enjoyed some excellent refreshments, judged the competition and chatted. The ladies bagged up my sodden coat and I really must thank one of them, Sylvia, who drove me all the way back to Southampton Central station where I was able to immediately leap onto a train (OK, so maybe I wasn't quite up to 'leaping' by that stage!) which meant that I was back in Bournemouth far earlier than expected after such a hectic day.
Overall, I think I pulled it off. Things could have run more somoothly with a little more attention to public transport details but I do thnk that driving to all those venues would have been far more stressful. I proved to myself that three talks on three topics in three towns in one day is achievable and, despite the challenges, I look back on the day with affection - although doing this every day would be a bit much, however lucrative!
Public Speaking Tip #343: Days when you stretch yourself as a speaker can become treasured memories.
