Public Speaking: Glossary P - T

PA: Abbreviation for public address system. Panel: A group of presenters, normally seated, that hold a discussion on a particular subject. Audience members are invited to pose questions to individual presenters or to the group as a whole. Parody: A humorous imitation of a serious piece of literature or ...

Public Speaking: Storytelling DO's

Use stories during public speaking engagements to illustrate points and state the point in addition to telling the story. Always make your story relevant to the subject at hand.

Public Speaking: You Must Have a Good Sound System

If it is hard to hear, people won't listen. When speaking in public you must have an excellent sound system because some of the time you will be speaking while your audience is laughing. Stand-up comics need good sound too, but they are a little different because they tell a joke, then people laugh (they hope). They tell another joke, then people laugh. A good public speaker will be rolling right along making points, showing product features, telling stories, and dropping one-liners and must be heard all the while.

Public Speaking: Top Ten Ways to Make Money Public Speaking

SELL YOUR KNOWLEDGE This is my overriding principle that came from years of hard knocks trying to get people to hire me to speak. I get more speaking engagements than I ever had before when I quit trying to sell them and began selling my knowledge in as many different formats as possible. The idea is that infinitely more people can buy what you know through books, tapes, CDs, Ebooks and videos than could ever hire you to speak. Your name recognition because of your knowledge distribution makes speaking engagements much easier to come by because the people that could hire you have already heard you and your message on your knowledge based products. In the mean time, the money from the product sales keeps your business thriving.

Public Speaking: 20 Questions to Ask BEFORE Hiring a Speaker

1. Is the speaker's topic right for my audience? 2. Does the speaker have verifiable references? 3. Does the speaker have audio and/or video demonstration materials? These materials should show you what the speaker is like in front of an audience. Caution: Don't get hung up on the...

Public Speaking: Give Me a Brake

... a mental brake that is. Here are some mind tricks when you speak too fast.

Public Speaking: Dynamic Range

I invented the concept of 'Dynamic Range' in public speaking to help you improve your versatility as a business presenter, and to help you pick appropriate audiences for your skill and interest level (Did he say 'pick' my audiences?). Yes, I did say pick your audiences.

Public Speaking: On Stage Tips

* The larger the crowd, the larger and slower the gestures...

Public Speaking: Start Low

When you present in public . . . start low.

Public Speaking: Show 'em When You Cross Cultures

Regardless of one's nationality and culture, cartoons and comic strips are the most universally accepted format for humor in public speaking engagements. These pieces of visual humor are seen in newspapers and magazines in most areas of the world. They may be found in newsstands in large cities, or in large libraries.

Public Speaking: Bilingual Help

One good idea is to take pictures of the various items you may need (overhead projector, white board, etc.) and carry them with you to the event.

Public Speaking:Toasts

Toasting is not nearly as common as it once was. However, the polished public speaker should have a few short toasts ready to go if and when the occasion arises. Here are a few fun toasts and a few touching ones too:

Public Speaking: Quotations

Quotations are safe to use during public speaking engagements because if the quotation is not funny, it doesn't matter since you are just reciting it. You did not write it. It can still be used to make your point.

Public Speaking: Numbers are Funny

Most businesses have numerous uses for numbers, both written and oral. Some numbers are funnier and more interesting than others. A number like zero has other names that are funny that aren't even numbers.

Public Speaking: Definitions

You can use a quick comical definition to liven up a public speaking engagement. As always, make sure the word defined is relevant to the point you are trying to make. Here are some definitions I like: