• Connecting Speakers with Audiences™

Speaker Preparedness

Make sure time is on your side
Make sure time is on your side 2560 1930 I Need A Speaker

Event planners juggle many responsibilities. They want to be sure that everything works well for the events they plan.

One crucial element in planning is time. Speakers are typically booked for a set time frame. In the planning stages, event planners will review the length of time allocated for each speaker.

Speakers who complete their presentations with time to spare may cause a problem, because they will affect the schedule for the remainder of the event. The same is true when they speak too long.

When practicing, speakers need to time themselves. It’s important to respect the time frame they have been given and do their part to help make the event run smoothly.

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Yes, we do recommend practicing with distractions
Yes, we do recommend practicing with distractions 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

Most public presentation coaches will emphasize the need to practice before speaking in front of a live audience.

Some speakers will claim that it’s difficult for them to find a quiet place to practice their speech without interruption.

Surprise! You may be better suited to a space with distraction.

Why? Practicing amidst noise and movement may actually prepare you better for the live gigs. While you’re speaking at an event, there may be background noice during virtual presentations. At live talks, there may be cell phones ringing or doors opening and closing as people come and go.

Knowing how to stay focus amidst distraction will help when you’re speaking live. Try it.

 

 

Photo credit: Pexels

What do you want to know about public speaking or event planning?
What do you want to know about public speaking or event planning? 2560 1550 I Need A Speaker

I Need A Speaker is here to serve! We want you to have your best possible speaker event or make the stage your happy place.

Help us help you! Tell us what you want to know. E-mail info@ineedaspeaker.com with your questions or comments about

  • event planning
  • how to choose the right speaker for your event
  • engaging with audiences
  • how to get started in speaking
  • what to consider when setting your price
  • building confidence
  • public presentation training

or anything else you’d like to know! We are happy to answer your questions.

Thanks for being part of I Need A Speaker’s international community!

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Hats off for inspirational graduation speeches
Hats off for inspirational graduation speeches 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

It’s time to celebrate this year’s graduates. Whether they have successfully completed eighth grade or medical school, these graduates are likely reflecting on their past achievements and planning their future ones.

As we honor scholars at ceremonies and parties, it can be difficult to find the right words. I Need A Speaker’s team discovered NPR’s fantastic compilation of graduation speeches that will inspire and motivate all of us. Click here for examples of some of the best graduation speeches.

Now that you’ve seen and heard from great speakers, it’s time to write your own remarks for the occasion. Here are some tips to make the task easier:

  • Get your ideas on paper. Write out everything you’d like to include. You can edit later.
  • Decide if you’ll use a theme (discovery, journey, gratitude, encouragement, etc.).
  • Use an attention-grabbing introduction.
  • Consider using a relevant story.
  • Think about what makes this individual or class unique.
  • Be positive.
  • Keep your comments brief and impactful.
  • Remember to introduce yourself.
  • Thank the people who supported the graduate(s) and made the event memorable.
  • Take a moment to mention the people who could not be there.
  • Use appropriate humor.
  • Speak at a relatively slow pace, emphasizing key words. Pause when you want to add drama.
  • Talk about lessons learned and the endless possibilities that lie ahead.
  • Remember there is more to school than academics. Acknowledge the relationships formed in school, on teams, and through clubs that graduates will cherish for years.
  • Practice!

After you’ve written out your thoughts, string them together in a way that creates a natural flow. Add and subtract … then subtract some more.

Make it short. Make it powerful. Make it inspiring.

 

Congratulations to graduates of all ages!

 

Photo credit: Pexels

How visualization helps you succeed
How visualization helps you succeed 1707 2560 I Need A Speaker

You can do many things to prepare for a talk. Record yourself. Request feedback from a willing audience. Practice. The list goes on.

One way to help you achieve your speaking goals is to visualize the steps you need to take in order to be a successful, effective speaker. For example:

  • Imagine yourself conducting research.
  • Picture yourself drafting a clear, engaging message.
  • Visualize yourself practicing.
  • Mentally watch as you respond to audience questions.

You know what to do to develop your presentation. Researchers Taylor, Pham, Rivkin, & Armor (1998) say that by imagining yourself successfully completing each step, you’ll maintain motivation and help make it happen!

 

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Write a memorable wedding toast – in just minutes.
Write a memorable wedding toast – in just minutes. 2560 1710 I Need A Speaker

Outfits have been purchased. Gifts have been wrapped. Now it’s time to write your toast.

Where do you start? Some people tell us they can stare at a blank sheet of paper or gaze at a laptop screen for hours without inspiration.

We’re here to help with tips that will make the process easier and calm those butterflies.

  1. Remember the purpose of the toast. Your intent is to honor and congratulate the couple, encouraging others to join you in this celebration.
  2. Know your audience. Would a sentimental or funny approach work better? Are there people in the audience who would love to hear stories related to the couple?
  3. Start by mentioning your feelings about being asked to speak at the wedding. Are you excited? Honored? What makes you feel that way?
  4. Take a moment to talk about your relationship to the newlyweds, and share a favorite story.
  5. Discuss how both people complement one another. What makes their relationship work? Why is it so special? How will their married status enhance their lives?
  6. Ask guests to raise a glass as you deliver your closing remarks, ending with congratulatory wishes for lifelong happiness.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be able to write an appropriate, memorable tribute to the pair.

As you plan your delivery, keep these additional tips in mind:

  • Make eye contact with the couple and wedding guests, including everyone in the room.
  • Practice in advance so you’re more comfortable when you’re called upon to speak.
  • Plan for a brief presentation of less than three minutes.
  • Remain classy and appropriate.
  • Avoid past relationships, inside jokes, use of expletives, and inappropriate humor.
  • Limit your alcohol content prior to the speech to ensure your best performance.

Now we raise a virtual glass to you and your wonderful wedding toast!

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Women, please take the stage.
Women, please take the stage. 1707 2560 I Need A Speaker

Yesterday I heard a disturbing statistic. I learned that approximately 70 percent of conference speakers are men. Seventy percent. Wow.

Although I’m sure these speakers have a great message, I know that women also have inspiring and useful information to share. Let’s make room on the stage, please, to welcome more diverse speakers.

I Need A Speaker is on a mission to amplify new voices. Please encourage the women you know to learn more about I Need A Speaker and how their voices can be heard. Audiences are waiting for you.

 

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Do this before beginning your public speaking career.
Do this before beginning your public speaking career. 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

I was in a Clubhouse room the other day, and someone raised a hand to be invited to the stage. The individual explained that he was ready to begin exploring opportunities for public speaking.

“What’s your central message?” the moderator asked.

The individual replied, “Well, I can adapt to suit the audience. I have expertise in a number of areas.”

Ouch.

The first thing to do is to have a central message. Know what it is, and know who needs to hear it. Then you can start looking for opportunities to share it.

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Check the link. An error can lock out your audience.
Check the link. An error can lock out your audience. 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

Dafna Gold Melchior – one of our wonderful speakers – recently posted this on LinkedIn. With her permission we’re sharing this message:

“Check the link. Double check the link. Otherwise you could discover that your esteemed guests were sent somewhere else…

I delivered a workshop last night, on behalf of an organization. 150 people signed up via a production company, which sent them an invite with a link. I was in the Zoom room early, checked sound and share screen with the helpful tech person.

At a few minutes to the hour, we started wondering why no one was joining… Turned out the production company had mistakenly sent the wrong link…

By the time I too was sent the (wrong) link my audience had received, there were 8 people left (5 with cameras off). So three lucky people received my workshop, and I assure you I gave them my all, as I would have with 150 participants.

I’m sharing this to spare you the same frustrating experience. I beg you, have those who handle logistics on your behalf check and re-check the link.”

Follow her advice.

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Why Clubhouse may be your best training resource
Why Clubhouse may be your best training resource 2560 1920 I Need A Speaker

Clubhouse is one of the most popular new social media apps. Currently available to iPhone users only, Clubhouse describes itself as “a new type of social network based on voice—where people around the world come together to talk, listen and learn from each other in real time.”

As of 1 February 2021, Clubhouse has 2 million users. I haven’t turned off my Clubhouse notifications, and my phone regularly lights up with mentions of current, new, or scheduled “rooms.” As a user, I can drop into these rooms and listen to a discussion or raise my hand to participate. I can create my own room solo or with other people.

So what’s the appeal for someone who is a public speaker? There are several benefits, actually … networking, learning, promoting yourself. But today I want to focus on a really important benefit that’s especially beneficial for emerging public speakers: practice.

If you’re anxious about public speaking or feel like you need to speak more confidently, take the Clubhouse “stage” and share your thoughts. The tone of the app is an informal, using a pop-in-quietly-and-leave-quietly design. Schedule your own room on a topic you know well, or raise your hand in someone else’s room to contribute.

You’ll have the opportunity to receive valuable feedback. And when people ask questions, that tells you what information you might want to include when speaking in front of a live audience.

When you do this with regularity, you’ll refine your message, obtain more experience in delivering it, and advance your public speaking goals.

 

Photo credit: Pexels

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