public speaking tips « SpeakingInfo

Tip #7: How to Connect with the Audience

By Arlen Busenitz, on March 7th, 2010%

Two speakers. Same audience. One speaker had the audience’s full attention. They laughed at jokes, groaned on cue, and responded well. The second speaker felt like he was speaking to a painting of an audience. Virtually no reaction.

One speaker made a connection with the audience and the second did not. How can we connect with the audience?

Speaking Tip #7: Connect with the audience through interaction, stories, and a strong intro.

Spend time interacting with the audience before the presentation. Some speakers stand at the door and greet people coming. Float around and say “Hello”.
Have a strong intro that draws the audience in. Consider using the Hook & Reel Intro.
Tell stories. Stories instantly connect with the audience. If you lose attention, launch into a story.

Connecting with the audience takes work. Use these tips and it will help you connect next time you speak.

Dry Mouth Tips: 9 Solutions to Cure a Dry Mouth Caused by Speaking Anxiety or Social Fear – Part 2

By Arlen Busenitz, on January 21st, 2010%

A dry mouth can really hinder a presentation or conversation. In part 1 I shared 4 dry mouth solution tips. Here are 5 more dry mouth tips to help you when conversing or speaking from the stage.

#5: Lightly bite your tongue.

By lightly biting your tongue, you’ll find your mouth starts producing more saliva. Here again it is important that your body be hydrated.

#6: Use Sugar Free Candy

Many famous people will keep candy or lozenge in their mouth if they have problems with a dry mouth. Check with your pharmacy if you wish for specially made ones. Lemon flavored often helps. Unless you have an extreme dry mouth, remove it before you stand up to speak.

#7: Sleep with a Humidifier

A humidifier puts water into the air. In the winter the air becomes drier and can irritate the throat and dry out the mouth. Breathing in this moist air at night can prepare you for the public speaking event.

#8: Learn how to Overcome Fear of Public Speaking and Social Anxiety

Think of a good speaker that you know. Likely at one time this person experience stage fright, fear of public speaking, and speaking anxiety. At one point they learned how to overcome this fear.

You can do the same. Take time to read and study how to overcome public speaking fear and anxiety. There are several good public speaking programs that can help you.

#9: Using breathing Exercises to relax and breath your nose.

Good breathing exercises will help you relax and thus it make it easier for your body to keep your mouth, tongue, and throat moist. Breath in for a count of 3, hold for a count of 3 and breathe out for a count of 6. Repeat.

Before you speak, seek to be breathing your nose as to not dry out your mouth.

Dry mouth affects nearly every speaker. Use these 9 dry mouth solutions and it will help you keep the saliva flowing so you can captivate the audience and speak with confidence.

Public Speaking Tip: How to Use a Microphone

By Arlen Busenitz, on October 21st, 2009%

A speaker can prepare and deliver a great presentation. However, if people can’t hear the message, it’s like having a table full of pizza and no one able to eat it. The microphone is every speakers friend or worst enemy.

Have you noticed how most people have microphone phobia? They stand too far back or don’t speak directly into it. Do you do this? Unfortunately this can hinder the audience from hearing us adequately.

Here are three public speaking tips for using a microphone properly.

Microphone Tip #1: Test right before the event

Several weeks ago I spoke at an event where the microphone was working 20 minutes before hand, but then was shut off in the back of the room prior to my speech kickoff. To make matters worse, there was no sound person in sight!

What did I do? I spoke a little louder for a few minutes, until the sound person returned. Now, I like to check the microphone 20 minutes before a presentation and again right before the presentation.

Get on the same page with the sound person and run through a live check for volume, etc. This is especially important with hand held microphones as we need to find out how far to hold it from our mouth.

Microphone Tip #2: Stand close to the microphone

Many microphones have limited pick up distance. You almost have to eat the microphone. Have you heard the squealing feedback that sometimes comes across a sound system? That actually means you are too far away from the microphone. Move closer so the sound guy can turn down the microphone and reduce the feedback.

Microphone Tip #3: Turn it on

I love lapel mikes. They free up my hands and give me freedom of movement. However, they have two drawbacks:

First, I have to remember to turn them on.

Second, it can make for some interesting and embarrassing moments if we forget to turn them off.

At college their was a professor who forget to shut off the lapel mike when he went to take a restroom break. Imagine his surprise when he walked back in the room and wondered why everyone was snickering and trying to act normal!

The microphone is a speakers best friend. It helps save our voice and helps the audience listen to our message. Apply these tips and we can make the microphone our friend.

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