Re: A Crying Shame

["Robert L Bass" <Sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"JoeRaisin" wrote:
>
> The podium is a security blanket for public speakers.  It presents a
> physical barrier between the speaker and his/her audience.  It also serves
> as a place to organize one's notes.  I found that the better my notes the
> less I needed to refer to them - just knowing they were there was enough to
> help me relax and not lose my place.

I had similar experiences in public speaking.  For over eight years I served
as a lay minister, preaching in Connecticut's state prisons and (occasionally)
at Hartford Correctional, the county facility.  I usually wrote my notes on
one or two 5x7 cards, just an opening sentence or two and scripture reference
for each "phase" of a message.  Once in a while I actually looked at my notes
but mostly I spoke from memory.  The act of writing things down helped me to
comit the message to memory.

> I was also taught that getting out from behind the podium and moving around
> makes for a more dynamic and interactive presentation but that doesn't work
> so well in most political settings.

McCain tried it and to a certain extent it was effective.  Had he not been
burdened with a failing economy, soaring anti-Bush sentiment and Palin's
ineptitude, he might have actually won.  I usually spoke from a podium.

> Of course anyone with any skill at public speaking doesn't get completely
> stumped if his notes get screwed up.  I always found that going over my
> presentation at least three times within 24 hours of event ensured a smooth
> talk.

Same here, but I almost always wrote my message the day before giving it.  I
usually stick to my script but when appropriate I can speak extemporaneously.
The real key, for me at least, is to maintain contact with the audience.
That's more about eye contact and body language than where you stand.  It also
helps if you're saying something the audience is interested in hearing.  :^)

My wife has been after me to get back into the ministry but I rarely have the
energy these days to speak that long, let alone to stand up for the better
part of an hour.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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