Wednesday, October 17, 2012

A Guide to Effective Public Speaking - Part 1




A study once indicated that most people were more afraid of public speaking then they are of actually dying. I’ve been a professional comedian for 33 years, and a corporate put-on comedian for 23 years, and to this day, I still go through varying degrees of nerves before a show. And I remember when I first started out, there were nights that I literally wasn’t sure I’d be able to go on.                                   
But over the years, after a lot of trial and error, I’ve learned how to channel that nervous energy and develop some sure fire ways to help anyone to become more effective at public speaking. Before I offer my tips, the first thing to do is find out if you are someone who might be a good candidate for assistance.                                                                       
For example, if the first words out of your mouth when you meet someone in public are, “your car sir,” or “would you like fries with that,” then chances are you are not speaking up enough for yourself to get ahead. Or, have you ever tried robbing a bank and at the moment you were supposed to order the teller to hand over the unmarked bills, did you freeze up and forget what to say? If so, assuming that you’re now in prison, why do you want to improve your public speaking? After all, nobody likes a snitch.                                          
Nevertheless, if you have suffered from any of these symptoms, however, I believe I can help. Please keep in mind, this advice is not for everyone. If you’re a witness against the mob, and about to enter a government protection program, your fear of public speaking and dying are most likely one and the same. So these tips are probably not for you.                     
To begin, let’s take a look at a common speaking situation. For example, if you are asked to make a speech by the boss, it’s natural to feel nervous and frightened. That’s why the most important thing in any speech is to grab your audience in the first thirty seconds. This can usually be achieved by giving out some sort of gift, such as for example, free money.                                                                          
The next tip is to try to make sure that you are calm when you approach the podium. Among the methods I use are exercise, deep breathing, and hyperventilating until I pass out. I know this sounds pretty radical but consider the fact that many football players get so anxious they actually purge before a big game. I can empathize with that, which is why whenever I’m getting ready for a big show, I like to watch football.              
In addition, you also have to correctly prepare for the group you’re going to be speaking to. For example, I find that yoga works as a calming method, if I’m going to be speaking to a group of Yogi. I use meditation whenever I’m going to be in front of meditators, or for that matter, mediators, and I find that screaming into a pillow until my throat is raspy, helps prepare me for an audience of Hells Angels.                     
Perhaps the toughest issue is to overcome one’s inner demons and fears before going to the podium. As a result, I’ve helped a lot of nervous speakers get over their shyness by ordering them to run onto the field during professional sporting events and disrupt the action. Naturally they get arrested but while the cops are subduing them, the crowd's cheers are an overwhelming boost to their confidence. And you should see how quickly former nervous nellies are ready to step up to the plate to make that free phone call.                                          
So, next time you see a spectator run onto the field at a ballgame, and you think he’s some kind of nut, keep in mind, he could very well just be a very shy person following my orders.

Harry Freedman, is a comedian and corporate entertainer. Emails are always welcome at Harry@hfreedman.com