Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog

« Previous 3 articles | Next 3 articles »

Sunday, August 23

Two years of public speaking blogging and looking ahead - through new spectacles!

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Sun 23 Aug 2009 09:44 PM BST

Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog: two years old

This blog recently passed its second anniversary and it continues to bring in bookings to speak, speechwriting and other scriptwriting commissions plus presentation skills training (even if I do occasionally have to turn down work). There are also readers who write in with queries about public speaking which I am happy to answer (even if it does take me a while; mind you, quite a few don't even bother to thank me for replying!) I am also very pleased with the increasing subscriber numbers. And you know that old saying about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery? Well, in the past few weeks, a somewhat similar tips blog seems to have appeared, albeit outside the UK (and no, I'm not going to link to them!)

I intend to continue blogging about my own engagements and some public speaking stories in the media and pass on any Public Speaking Tips arising from them - at least one in every post. But I am also planning a number of additional opinion posts, sometimes perhaps controversial, rather like this one from earlier in the year.

Public Speaking Tip #332: Opinions about the 'correct' way of tacking various aspects of public speaking can vary enormously. You need to read as much as possible and talk to other speakers and then discover what works for you.

Thank you for reading this blog over the past two years. Onwards and upwards!

And speaking of looking ahead...

Eyesight and public speaking

Readings form part of some of my presentations. Switching from speaking directly to an audience or from brief notes to delivering a short reading varies the style of performance and the formality of the language used. Sometimes I know the material off by heart but give the appearance of reading it; on other occasions I am genuinely reading. The text is usually much smaller than that of my notes.

By May of this year, I was struggling with small print (hardly surprising in view of how long it was since I had last had an eye test) and netbook use for scriptwriting and blogging was producing increasing numbers of typos. As for those tiny keys and screen on a Blackberry...! And I had noticed that even my large, brief notes were becoming increasingly larger!

Public Speaking Tip #333: How is your eyesight? Problems with reading your notes at a speaking engagement may not be entirely down to poor lighting in the venue!

In the past, I had always used small, independent opticians but my partner Val recommended a well-known high street chain as she had been very pleased with the service from them. I booked a test for 8 May.

My requirements were simple: a pair of reading glasses but with smaller lenses than my last ones. I always feel slightly self-conscious wearing specs for even part of a talk (mainly because my right eye needs such magnification) so I look over the top of this 'barrier' as much as possible but even doing this felt slightly uncomfortable due to the size of the lenses. Smaller ones are also fashionable at the moment so that was another a plus.

I also wanted a pair of prescription sunglasses. Many of my speaking engagements involve train journeys through the New Forest and I am often reading/writing en route. A journey through the Forest in sunlight can be a glorious experience - but not if you are too dazzled to see anything on paper or out of the window!

I took a taxi to the opticians to make sure I was there on time. I could have gone by bus; they kept me waiting. The optician was a very amiable chap and I was relieved that this test was unlike my last one years earler which had involved having some instrument actually touching each eye and also having my eyelids virtually glued together by having something which seemed to resemble Orangina squirted into them.

During the check, we chatted about how Ronald Reagan famously wore only one contact lens when he delivered his speeches (you can read more about this here).

I made an appointment to collect my new glasses a week later but when I tried them on, the sunglasses were OK but I was seeing double through the others. The young man in the shop said that they obviously hadn't added the prism which my old glasses had. At no stage did he apologise, though. I was booked in for a re-check a few days later.

When I went for this, I was kept waiting even longer than before. I saw the same optician and he also said the problem was forgetting to add the prism and that it was his fault and apologised. I told another assistant that in view of all the extra time and travelling due to their error, I would expect a discount. He said he would ask his manager but from his tone it didn't sound likely that I would get one.

I then waited nearly three weeks for the replacements to be ready, during which time I was sometimes really struggling with written materials at my presentations. As the waiting grew longer, I started doing some research in internet forums to see if others had experienced problems with this chain. They certainly had! There was also a national newspaper article exposing poor service in a branch in another town.

More than four weeks after that first test, I went to the branch again and tried on the new glasses. This time I was seeing double through both the reading glasses and the shades! The assistant who I had spoken to last time told me that 'eye tests are subjective' (surely you can either see through a pair of spectacles or you can't?) and, as he asked me to read different paragraphs on a card and I was unable to, his manner grew snappy with me, bordering on downright rude. He was getting angry with me because their product was of no use!

And then it came out: a short but highly effective speech...

Now, I'm not someone who enjoys complaining to businesses. We all mentally rehearse certain key phrases we want to include when doing so but I had often found that they didn't always come out sounding the way that I wanted. But on this occasion, exasperated by the attitude of this irritable minion, I spoke off-the-cuff. Nothing I said over the next 30 seconds or so was as I had planned - it was much better than that!

I told him that I had come to them on a recommendation, that I am self employed and my time is money and that I had now made four journeys to their branch in a month and still didn't have a pair of glasses that were useable. I said that I had never had these problems in all the years that I had used small opticians where it had been two visits: one for the test, the other to collect a pair of glasses that were fine. I told him that I wanted my deposit returned and I mentioned the name of the department at their head office which deals with complaints and then the name of the opticians' regulatory body (thank you internet!).In short, I told him that I had had enough - and why.

I surprised myself. It all came out word-perfect, angry but not shouting, assertive but not aggressive, just very firm, informed and sure of my position. And, as I have said, it was impromptu. I just wished it had more listeners but by now it was nearly closing time and there were just a few staff in the shop.

But the effect on my intended 'audience', the stroppy assistant, was immediate. His whole manner changed, he apologised, he said I could certainly have a refund there and then but they would like one more chance to put things right although this would involve yet another re-check. So I agreed.

I went back a couple of days later and saw a different optician who was very thorough. He said my old glasses had been made incorrectly (really?) and he would do some calculations to try and get everything right this time. I was told these new glasses would take another week (in view of the circumstances, I thought they might be a bit quicker!) and they would phone me when these were ready. In fact, they took nearly two weeks and they didn't call me, I had to phone them. But, on 25 June, I finally collected some new reading and sunglasses which both work and this has really helped during my talks and the journeys to them.

Oh, and I did get that discount - more than 50% off! (Mind you, during my internet research, I had discovered that the head office can fine individual franchises a sum into four figures if they get to hear about really poor customer service!) so I'm not going to name the firm. After all, the whole experience gave me rather more than some inexpensive glasses!

Public Speaking Tip #334: Regular public speaking can make a surprising difference to your communication in other arenas - some quite unexpected.

Leave Comment | Permanent Link | Cosmos

Friday, August 14

New venues, old friends - all in a speaker's month

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Fri 14 Aug 2009 11:58 PM BST

I have mentioned before that the summer months can be quiet for a speaker as many clubs and societies won't meet again until the autumn. Nevertheless, June 2009 produced five bookings, each with some tips to pass on.

Waterford Probus. Dorset

On 1 June, I was booked to speak to Waterford Probus again. My last visit was in December 2007 when it was a mixed meeting. Since then, they have moved, after two decades, to a new venue - Hoburne Park, Christchurch, and they seem very pleased with it.

It was an extremely warm morning but the meeting room was air-conditioned and comfortable (unlike the one where I have so often spoken at Hoburne Naish a couple of miles away!) My Groucho Marx talk was well-received by the 35-or-so present and, after a good question and answer session, we had lunch, where a manager was very attentive to the club.

It was a real pleasure to speak in such a comfortable room and to see a club so delighted with their new venue. I hope this continues. Of course, I have sometimes also come across clubs who have changed to a different meeting place which has definitely not been an improvement!

Public Speaking Tip #327: If you are making a return visit to an organisation who you have spoken to before but they have moved from their usual venue, bear in mind that the whole atmosphere may be different for speaker and audience. It should be an improvement (but sadly this isn't always the case!)

Bashley Afternoon Women's Institute, Hampshire

June 11 found me speaking to Bashley Afternoon Women's Institute for the first time since early 1998 and the title of my talk was the same as last time: My Life as a Freelance Comedy Writer! But of course, it wasn't exactly the same presentation because it has evolved a great deal since then; some material has gone, whole new sections have been added and existing content reworked, both in terms of language and delivery. I can now choose from a couple of hours of relevant, tried and tested to fill 45 minutes under this title. Add to this the fact that many members would have moved or passed away, new ones would have joined and those who were still there might not have remembered too much about what I did eleven years earlier! Nevertheless, I tried not to repeat myself too much.

Public Speaking Tip #328: It is possible to deliver the same talk to the same organisation if a long period of time has passed/there has been significant turnover of audience members or material.

It was another very hot day but the talk went well with the audience of around 35 ladies. I am grateful to their President's husband for the lift from New Milton station and back.

Fugelmere Ladies' Luncheon Club, Hampshire

On 15 June, I was back at Peppone's restaurant at the Bownhurst Golf Centre, Crondall near Fleet for another after lunch talk for the Fugelmere Ladies' Luncheon Club. As with the meeting last June, it was a hot day and an audience of around 50. Something which didn't happen last time but which I was warned about over lunch this year was the proprietor of the restaurant interrupting the speaker and trying to get in on the act. Apparently this was becoming a regular occurrence and, sure enough, halfway through my talk, the doors behind me opened as he chose that moment to show a couple of ladies the room (presumably for some forthcoming function!) I have been interrupted by all manner of events over 14 years as a speaker so this didn't throw me and he said 'You are so cool!' and left. Now, Patrick Campbell, who I had been talking about when I was so rudely interrupted, was famous for appearing on a certain TV quiz show so after the manager had left, I looked in the direction of the doors and held up a card that said 'BLUFF'. It got a laugh. Alternatively, I could have held up one saying 'TRUE' after he'd said I was cool!

Public Speaking Tip #329: If you need to ad-lib around some unexpected interruption, props may be as effective as language.

This literary talk can be a challenge after a lunch (especially on a hot afternoon) and it requires a different approach so perhaps I was on my toes. The audience enjoyed it and once again, thanks to their President Pam for the lift from Fleet station (no delay getting in this year!) and back.

LANBARA, Kent

The following afternoon I was back speaking to the Longbridge and New Barn Active Retirement Association near Gravesend following their AGM. The last time I was there was in November 2005 when I was guest speaker at one of their Ploughman's, Puddings and Personality Lunches (I hope you will be kind when trying to work out which of these I represented...)

I have blogged before about how much I love speaking to Kent audiences and this one is no exception. There were about 140 present, the response was fantastic right from the start and the result was a word-perfect delivery of my Patrick Campbell talk.

Public Speaking Tip #330: A large audience can really lift a speaker.

Afterwards, I sold copies of Nick R's in a Twist! and was pleased to learn that one of these will soon be winging its way to Baton Rouge.

My thanks to Peter Darvile for the transport from Longfield station and back.

Merley Evening Townswomen's Guild, Dorset

The next evening I was a little closer to home, delivering My Life as a freelance Comedy Writer for an audience that was new to me, Merley Evening TG, and at a community centre that I didn't even know existed (I thought I had spoken at every Merley venue!) There were about 35 present and the response was excellent.

Afterwards, I chatted to fellow speaker Mrs Doswell who is in her eighties but still gives regular talks (including Experiences of a Wartime Lady Brewer!) and was recognised by the mother of someone I was at school with. Over the years, at speaking engagements, my audiences have included pupils who I was at school with and teachers (there are a few who I don't bumping into again!), former adult education students, old work colleagues...

Public Speaking Tip #331: If you do enough of it, public speaking can sometimes be a bit like Friends Reunited!

Many thanks to Mrs Bawn for running me, not back to Wimborne Minster for the bus, but all the way to Bournemouth.

Three talks on three successive days in three different counties? Maybe not such a quiet month after all!

Leave Comment | Permanent Link | Cosmos

Small audience can still = big response

by Nick R Thomas A.L.A.M. (Public Speaking) on Fri 14 Aug 2009 10:14 PM BST

An Evening of Sorcery and Song - Mel Mellers and Will Allenby at the Barrington Theatre, Ferndown

After a successful presentation, you don't always want to go straight home and after my talk to Southampton East Probus, I set off for Ferndown's Barrington Theatre where comedy magician Mel Mellers was putting on a show with baritone Will Allenby. Both work solidly on cruise liners so it was a rare opportunity to see them on dry land!

I have known Mel for many years and have seen his act probably 50 or 60 times (including one year when I was in charge of cueing the music for each of his shows during a Bournemouth summer season) but I have never seen him on stage as part of a double act but this is what he did some of the time here. As well as each of these performers doing two solo spots, they also mixed the comedy magic with music and it worked well.

Public Speaking Tip #326: Could you team up with another presenter and mix some of your content with theirs? It could throw open entire new markets for you.

Although Mel has appeared many times on national TV and Will has been regularly featured on BBC Radio 2 for 20 years, the venue wasn't full, possibly due to lack of promotion or people simply not wanting to go out on this warm, mid-week, late-Spring evening but the performers' enthusiasm wasn't dampened. I have blogged before about how small audiences can still be extremely responsive and the energy of Mel and Will's performance drew a standing ovation and resulted in this excellent review.

My thanks to Will Allenby for the lift back to Bournemouth after this interesting and entertaining show.

Leave Comment | Permanent Link | Cosmos

follow NickRThomas at http://twitter.com