Professional Speaker

I don't suppose anyone would class themselves as a professional speaker would they?

I don't want no funny comments like "no, but I could be classed as a professional breather."

Why, do you have to do some professional speaking?

I should LIKE to do some professional speaking!

Ahh!

I would rather eat my own head. But hopefully someone can help!

Well this is the problem you see zooo.

I'm most likely the same - I've always been a bit of showman at heart but when I was a kid I had a stutter ( came on over night and was like gareth gates on pop idol)I went to speech therpy and over 6 months it went, almost! In high stress situations it does show it's evil face, maybe other people wouldn't notice so much but I do! Anyway cos of the stutter I couldn't do any major roles in plays etc.

Then the bullying started me secret eating and the weight gain which is well documented elsewhere on the site. And for the last three years wouldn't have had the fitness to stand up for longer than ten minutes.

But now those days are gone and I would love to do this - I will have a better hook in about a years time after I have lost twenty stone.

I would like to talk about how to be succesful in life you need to take actio. - Something I did very well in business but failed to do for twenty years with my weight!

Anyway. Anyone want to book me? I'm soon to be a TV star and (hopefully) a published author.

But no I was wondering if anyone had any experiance of "starting out" in this business and getting both practice "gigs" and their first "paid for gigs".

Hi Big Fella,

I'm not a professional speaker (and barely an amateur breather) but I imagine that with any showbiz type profession you have to build up a 'rep' before people will start booking you for proper cash money.

Obviously, the more you do, the easier it gets and once your confidence is sky high, your stutter will be a thing of the past.

Sorry I can't offer more, but it's not really my field of expertise. I do wish you the best of luck though.

I've gained experience in public speaking through giving presentations on behalf of the County Council. I do this on an expenses-only basis.

The Speaker's confidence is perpetuated by the interest of the audience, so a well-structured, lively script/material is key. If you feel you have a speech impediment, reference this issue in your introductory material to put both you and your audience at ease.

Perhaps you could "test the water" by arranging a gig as a guest speaker at a local club/society meeting?

When I worked as a singing teacher I had several clients who were public speakers so you may benefit from learning some basic techniques like posture/breathing, phrasing, projection etc.

I did public speaking for several years and found a mix of fact/humour/visual aids/changes of volume and speed worked well. Basically it is a bit of acting with your personality thrown in.

Be prepared to ad lib but be wary of going off on a tangent. Get a feel for your audience and the atmosphere. It's easy to learn your speech and then get too focussed on it and lose out on interaction with your audience. Be careful about talking AT them - try and get a balance of talking TO them whilst still being in control. It is really about getting the balance right and this comes with practise and experience.

Rehearse in front of a mirror and then try out in front of a small group, as suggested earlier.

Bigfella - What about trying stand-up comedy first? And talking to weight loss or self-help groups. You wouldn't (probably) get paid but it would be experience and could propel you on to more bookings?

Quote: zooo @ June 8 2009, 8:57 PM BST

Ahh!

I would rather eat my own head. But hopefully someone can help!

View original

I have a spoon if that helps?

But on a serious note can your agent not advise Biggfella?

I admire people who can speak in public to large gatherings. I even have a sneaking admiration for the crazies who stand on busy street corners ranting about Jesus dying for our sins.

I'm a professional speaker in front of kids.
Put me in front of a group of adults though and I become barely coherent. I barely made it through my own wedding speech and they were my family and friends!
My wife on the other hand attends an organization called Toastmasters. I don't know if you guys have it in the UK but its a group who basically get together and work to improve their public speaking.
I am envious of her skills.

You know what they really do there, don't you?

When I run workshops, I'm far better with some people than others. I make it a rule for example to very rarely work with kids because they wind me up too much. I couldn't however get up in front of people with a powerpoint thingy and talk. I rarely have to do that with physical theatre though, it's all action.

Quote: Aaron @ June 9 2009, 2:44 PM BST

You know what they really do there, don't you?

View original

Christ what????? I was thinking of going to my local group.

Is it really the mason's?