Video clip
Some of you (well, Lisa Braithwaite, at least!) have asked in the past to see a video clip of me. In December, following the excellent Communicate with Clarity seminar run by Jeremy Jacobs, some of us attending gave testimonials on film. Jeremy is running another seminar very soon. You can see what we had to say about the last one here.
It can be strange seeing yourself on film, just as it is the first time you hear your voice on tape, but it is useful. I have blogged in the past about how uncomfortable it can be when someone insists on filming you but at this session it was only Jeremy and guest speaker Geoff Burch who were videoed the whole time - those of us who gave these sincere, unsolicited testimonials all volunteered to do so. The result has been something valuable for everyone.
Public Speaking Tip #285: Being filmed voluntarily can be useful for you to assess how you come across as a speaker. You also give a better performance when you have chosen to be videoed rather than having it inflicted on you!
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"This is an unusual blog; the art of public speaking is crucial to politics and yet there's not much devoted to it specifically. This blog does, with posts combining accounts of the writer's recent engagements with some handy hints. Given some of the turgid speeches we're forced to suffer in the Commons, more MPs could do with reading it". politics.co.uk
"Nick spoke at our joint meeting with Kingston 41 Club. It was a brilliant evening. Nick is an engaging speaker, witty, topical and very interesting. He spoke for three quarters of an hour without notes, a most knowledgeable man. I cannot recommend Nick enough and can assure you that engaging him is a worthwhile endeavour. I wish you a great evening like ours". Manny Martins Vice Chairman of Hamble Valley Stick Club and 41 Club Regional Councillor, Region 24.
"Your speech to our 9 Rotary Clubs in North Surrey was much appreciated by me and I have received lots of feedback which was very positive about you. It was so refreshing to hear someone who has the wit to make us laugh throughout the evening without resort to 'blue' material and swearing. I do hope many others will get the chance to experience your talents". Howard Smith, Assistant Governor Area 1 Rotary District 1140.
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Wednesday, February 4
Me Tube!
by
Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking)
on Wed 04 Feb 2009 11:59 PM GMT
Tuesday, February 3
Postponed presentations
by
Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking)
on Tue 03 Feb 2009 11:59 PM GMT
Two speaking engagements cancelled (for the moment)
Well, it didn't happen. As I posted yesterday, I was quite prepared to travel from snowy East Sussex to Southampton for an afternoon talk today and then on to East Dorset for another in the evening but just after 9 this morning I received an apologetic message saying that the first engagement was cancelled as conditions in Southampton were too bad to expect the mature audience to attend. I got on a train and headed for Dorset, having left a message with the second organisation to say that I was happy to speak if their meeting was still on and I received a reply saying that everything seemed OK. But within an hour I got another call to say that it had started snowing in the village where I was due to perform and people were pulling out of attending so this one was cancelled as well. I headed on back here to Bournemouth anyway. Over the years, I have probably lost 1% of my bookings, if that. I pulled out of two through ill-health, missed a tiny number through transport problems, lost one a few years ago through a-never-to-be-repeated booking mistake on my part (lesson learned!) and there has been the odd event where continuing building work on a venue has rendered it unusable. But I have never lost two speaking engagements in one day or any because of weather conditions. Late-running trains, coughs and colds, food poisoning, swimmer's ear, severe eczema...I have turned up and spoken despite these problems (although if they had all happened simultaneously it might have been more challenging!) But all is not lost; the Southampton booking has already been rescheduled for later in the year and I'm sure the Dorset one will be as well. And if either of these had gone ahead today despite the weather then attendances would have been well down so perhaps it's all for the best. Public Speaking Tip #285: If an organisation has to cancel a booking for you to speak they will usually reschedule the event. This may even work out better in the long run. Monday, February 2
Snow excuse not to speak!
by
Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking)
on Mon 02 Feb 2009 11:58 PM GMT
UK weather conditions vs. my speaking schedule
This is going to be interesting... I have been staying in the South East. The plan was to get a train back to Bournemouth today ready for my two speaking engagements tomorrow (Southampton in the afternoon and an East Dorset village in the evening) Snow started falling yesterday and continued today. Much of Britain has been affected, the South East particularly so (seven inches last night). It's the worst for eighteen years and transport systems have been severely disrupted with motorways closed and rail services cancelled or restricted. Heathrow airport was shut and my brother James was unable to fly out to the States to deliver his Legal Tech presentation in New York - the first time he has had a speaking engagement affected in this way. Earlier this evening, I was told at the local station that I would probably not be able to get any closer to Bournemouth than Portsmouth as the rail service was shutting down at 22.00 and I was advised not to travel. I now plan to set off Bournemouth tomorrow if I can, stopping off to speak in Southampton on the way. Just one problem: I'm booked for my Patrick Campbell talk and the visual aids and props I use are back in Bournemouth! But I know the content extremely well (I should do - I've now delivered this one over a hundred times!) I have a couple of his books with me so I'll have a picture of him to pass around and my clothes will be suitable for a speaking engagement. It's not ideal but I think the audience will make allowances under the circumstances and it's better than cancelling. I'll have none of my booklets to sell or leaflets with lists of Cambell's books to give out but at least I can complete the engagement. Public Speaking Tip #284: Provided you are not delivering a power point presentation, you may still be able to complete a speaking engagement without all your usual aids/props. Of course, this assumes that conditions don't get any worse and that the clubs don't cancel on me. I'll let you know how it goes - if it happens at all... |
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