Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog

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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!

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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.

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