tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post5740470633795945757..comments2024-03-27T20:39:04.792-04:00Comments on KILLER HOBBIES: SpeakingBetty Hechtmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-26296795476447150462010-06-05T11:11:03.439-04:002010-06-05T11:11:03.439-04:00I got locked out of my room,too. An hour before I ...I got locked out of my room,too. An hour before I was supposed to be picked up by the program chair, my key stopped working. After four trips to the front desk, she finally sent a maintainence guy who had to change the batteries in the key lock. <br /><br />I was very grateful that it happened when it did, because after my nighttime talk, no one was on duty. I'd have been sleeping in my car.Terri Thayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09953154767532970027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-1387596727186940982010-06-05T09:49:12.787-04:002010-06-05T09:49:12.787-04:00Terri, you really can't imagine all the nightm...Terri, you really can't imagine all the nightmare situations I had as a professional speaker. I was once locked in my hotel room--the keypad malfunctioned--with a group of 500 people waiting for me to appear. Another time, we had a fire alarm go off--but I was in Canada, so the announcement came in five languages over the PA system, and English was the last of the five!<br /><br />What I always tell new speakers is: "Remember, the audience WANTS you to succeed. No one wants to sit through a bad speech. They are actively hoping you'll be good."<br /><br />But that, sadly, is a bit of a lie. I've had people tell me they were "forced" to come hear me, by their bosses, etc., and some of them were doing everything to make life difficult short of lobbing apples at me.<br /><br />I suggest that every program person have a back-up speaker. It helps ease those worries about travel problems, or in the worse case I know of, it helps when the speaker dies in the hotel room the night before your presentation. (True story!)Joanna Campbell Slanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951637123269159053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-89565918226265179882010-06-05T00:47:20.753-04:002010-06-05T00:47:20.753-04:00I think the key is to relax. I was able to just ta...I think the key is to relax. I was able to just talk to this group and interact as Dru suggested and it really went well.Terri Thayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09953154767532970027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-4875806199213677762010-06-05T00:14:07.795-04:002010-06-05T00:14:07.795-04:00I am a reluctant speaker. I worry too much about ...I am a reluctant speaker. I worry too much about trying to follow notes and then missing some point which throws everything else off. I do best when I forget that I'm a speaker and just think I'm talking to somebody.Betty Hechtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-85750752268776194062010-06-04T17:01:25.455-04:002010-06-04T17:01:25.455-04:00I always enjoy speaking, Terri, and have developed...I always enjoy speaking, Terri, and have developed a lot of topics--which I'm always adding to. It must be very difficult to be the person to find and schedule appropriate speakers. I was the scheduled speaker in a circumstance similar to your toxic spill situation and had no way to get there. I felt bad, but the group understood and rescheduled me a few months later.Linda O. Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-55859372390549758122010-06-04T16:26:54.973-04:002010-06-04T16:26:54.973-04:00I once booked a speaker for a writers meeting. Whe...I once booked a speaker for a writers meeting. When she got to the mic, she looked at me in the front row and asked "What was it you wanted me to speak about?"<br />Never booked her again!Camille Minichinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04701150885595400018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-31363960145393416362010-06-04T05:38:33.417-04:002010-06-04T05:38:33.417-04:00I like when what the speaker has to tell us is in ...I like when what the speaker has to tell us is in conversational mode and is interactive, and of course when there are some laugh moments.Druhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978384022143035332noreply@blogger.com