From Magician to Speaker Part 8
By Quentin Reynolds

Putting Your Talk Together.

The biggest fault made by novice speakers is writing out their talk as though it were a writing
assignment. The written word is meant to be written and the spoken word spoken.

That is not to say you shouldn't write out your talk.

You should. It's vital that you do. It's just important to realise that we are taught in school to write a certain way and that is not the way we speak. The written word tends to be more formal and structured. What you want is a conversational style - your conversational style!

You have your title and your theme, the main point you want to make and your stories.

Keeping conversational style in mind, write them out or give a friend your list and have him or her interview you, record the interview and have it typed out.

Once you have your script, read it aloud. Does it flow?  Does it sound natural? Does it sound like you or you trying to be someone else?

All we're aiming for now is a talk that sounds like you are talking intelligently to a friend.

You'll need to do some editing - removing words that are repeated too often, adding in words that help create pictures in your audiences mind.

Most important of all you need a good opening and a good closer.  A good opening will grab the audiences attention.

You might start off posing a question. Maybe you might start bang in the middle of one of your stories (a Hollywood tactic). Or perhaps give a striking fact that would be relevant to the audience.

Do not start with a joke. You are not a comedian. You are a speaker.  If you start with a joke and it doesn't get a laugh you have diminished your authority and credibility. Keep your funny stories until you have won them over.

Next issue we'll talk more on openings and I'll show you what to do when you tell a funny story during your talk and it doesn't get a laugh.

© Quentin Reynolds. Quentin Reynolds works as both magician and speaker.
You can read about one of his programs at http://www.PsychicGameShow.com

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