Us bloggers write as much in order to get our views publicly aired as we do to satisfy our need to create a work of art - a word painting for lack of a better simile. A real neat turn of phrase, a pleasing juxtaposition of long and short words creating a natural rhythm while artistically expressing a thought or concept or criticism or praise. A poem in prose form. That is the true goal; expressing our opinions in style.
Not wishing to adopt false humility, I can state that I think I have this area covered quite well. However, when it comes to speaking in public, I am envious of just about anyone who gets up behind a lectern or a microphone and lets loose a stream of words no matter how banal or inane. The problem is that when I speak, I sound like the word painting I was just talking about. That doesn't go over well at all. The two disciplines don't mix or even come close to each other.
Yes, a speech needs, first of all, to be written out so that the speaker can practice its delivery or sometimes just thought out and with experience the speaker doesn't need to actually see the words on paper. The content is all important, the style less so. A speech must convey a message in the simplest form and catch the listeners' attention from the first moment. Fancy phrases won't do it unless you are really aiming for your speech to be read and understood only 50 years in the future, and even so, it must be relevant and interesting now.
So how do you deliver a speech that will energize your audience, be reasonably erudite and grammatically correct? I don't know and am hoping for some helpful hints from our readers.
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4 comments:
The key to a a good speech is really just knowing what you are going to say, and telling it over the same way you would tell a good story. When my kids have something to say from school, I tell them NOT to read it off the paper, because if they understand it they could tell it to me as easily as they could tell me their favorite joke.
I think when the key is to "write out a speech!" That's how it sounds, like a written out speech. If you write out points on index cards, and you understand and know what you want to say, or speak from the heart and understand exactly what you are saying? It sounds unforced and easy.
to deliver a speech to energize your adudience you have to get them at the outset, you must build a good "grabber" into the opening sentences and then build on their interest. A speech MUST be structured and prepared, people will lose interest if it is rambling and long winded. I disagree with FBB in that a speech can be written and even read as long as the deliverer is familiar with it and has practiced it enough to know what he/she will be reading. It is advisable to look out at the audience with regularity but, if reading, make sure not to lose your place. The familiarity is important because you can glance away with confidence.
I am a firm believer that almost every speech needs to contain humor, if you get your audience to laugh you will get them to listen. Once you've gotten 2-3 laughts you will generally have them hooked but dont stop there, make sure there is humor ( if practical) sprinkled throuout the speech. Many people dont like it but the fact is ( I believe) that self deprecation works very well. Dont worry about people really deprecating you, the'll remember the humor and will recognize it for what it is.
Above all, unless you have a natural talent for speaking and making people laugh and listen make sure to prepare and practice, practice, practice ( A speech teacher in undergrad - a couple of decades ago - used to say "practice 200 time and then.. practice another 200 times)
I am not sure what you are talking about, in that I have heard you speak, and it is always well structured, well thought out, and well delivered. Your being uncomfortable tends to add a dimension of realism, especially when speaking at a family gathering, where your feelings come to the fore.
I agree with Wolfie as to humor. I also believe very strongly in brevity. Long windedness is for blogs and written material, where people can turn away and choose to return at their discretion. One cannot get out of a speech (there are only so many times one can "go to the bathroom" when a particular indiviual gets up to speak without it becoming obvious.)
I think the reason people pay attention at dinners where people are interviewed on camera is exactly because they are speaking naturally. when you read a speech and deliver it in a read monotone and cadence, it just doesn't sound the same. You can write it and memorize it, but if it doesn't sound like it's naturally emanating from the speaker, no one is interested.
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