GULP... I have to present a seminar on Thursday. TIPS, PLEASE!!

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

My job normally is a deskbound one, but this Thursday night I have to present a small, short seminar. It's quite an informal setting (upstairs in a restaurant), but the guests will have paid to attend and so I don't want to disappoint them.

I'm crapping myself.

I'm trying to write my speeches (I have to give two, each 25 minutes long) but I don't really know how to write a "speech". I've only written features and books! I'm finding what looks/sounds good written down actually sounds shit when said out loud!

Plus, I want it to be informal - lots of Q&A - but does that slow things down to the point I'll have to hurry people along so I can make my next point..?

I'm so inexperienced with this, I don't even know what questions to ask you all. So if you've ever had to do this and can impart ANY ADVICE AT ALL, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Lots of good advice - I would reiterated the 'tell them what you're going to say, tell it to them, then tell them what you said' and add 'practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more', all with a clock in front of you so you can see how long each section lasts.

I start by writing a more or less 'full script' then boil it down to bullet points, I don't try to learn anything off by heart, IME no-one minds if you use notes.

Look at the audience, smile, make some jokes even if they're corny ones. I like questions and interaction as I speak, but I'm good at dealing with awkward customers as I've had a fair bit of practice - if it's new to you it might be easier to take questions at the end.

Don't worry about being 'perfect' - I often speak too fast, I get lost, I have to use my notes - but I get asked back, and people are happy to pay me . . .

Oh, and one final bit of advice - know your subject upside down, inside out, back to front, and then know it a bit more - nothing inspires more confidence than being absolutely certain that you know more about the topic than anyone else in the room

Thank the audience for coming and outline the format of the evening, who the guest speakers will be etc. Tell the audience how you want to handle questions - you can do Q&A on the fly, or at the end of your session - just tell them what you would like to do. (If interrupted, say "Thats an excellent question, one which I will answer a little later if I may?" ) Cover any housekeeping issues - when you intend to break for coffee/comfort breaks etc.

Lagoona's approach to planning the content is spot on.

Posture:

Stand with feet comfortable distance apart. Wear comfy heels, because it improves your posture. Try not to "square dance" - shift your feet in a little right foor forward, left foot forward, right foot back left foot back dance. Dont rock on the balls of your feet either. Just aim for a comfortable stance. If you are not at a podium, its ok to walk around a little - not pace like a tiger, but you can move as you speak. Try to avoid gripping the back of the chair for dear life.

Voice: Speak lower and slower than normal. It may feel very abnormal to you, but it will come across better. Obviously dont try to sound like a bloke, but just lower your pitch a little so you dont squeek!

Gestures: Use BIG gestures, little ones make you look fidgety. Do speak with your hands, rather than clasping them together - your aim is to appear relaxed and open.

Before you start, take a deep breath or two. If you lose your place, take a moment, breath, consult your notes - it may feel like 3 minutes, but in reality this will take less than 10 seconds, and your audience will be processing what you said before and will not notice.

Good Luck!

Ooh yes to accessories! I have great bracelets.

I'm wearing this dress, in black -- is that ok? I've got long hair which will be swishy but groomed.

What shoes? Black heels? Boots? Shoe-boots? Gold heels?

Mustn't let myself get sidetracked by outfits...

I'm worried I almost have TOO MUCH to say on my 2 subjects. It feels better to sort of give "big" info rather than lots of little info.

I think I'm worried that I don't know what THEY don't know, and I might be teaching them to suck eggs.

no vpls

Good luck OP. Re looking at your watch - first see if there's a clock in the room and keep an eye on that.
Once you have your final presentation and are practising it out loud, work out where you need to be by what time and at key points just jot down the potential time - that way you can keep an eye on your progress.
Also I agree with beanandspud... be careful with taking too many questions. Sadly some people don't ask questions but make contributions (which aren't always helpful!) I usually invite people to ask questions but tell them not to be offended if I don't answer immediately. I also have questions prepared to ask them / prompt discussions between people.

People like listening to someone with knowledge and expertise in an area. I never 'learn' my presentations off by heart but I 'know' the material inside out and use bullet points on a powerpoint to keep the it coherent (and me on track).

I never read my notes or powerpoint aloud - but I talk to / around the points. Am just sitting here playing on mumsnet checking my two presentations for tomorrow and making sure that they're tailored for the needs of the audience.

in that dress I fear they will be looking at your tits!

i am finding all the details here quite cute. I am a teacher - I present 6 times a day, every day

It's all women, Zammo, so hopefully no tit-watching... It's not that low cut IRL.

Sarine: I'm knowledgable in an area and I can look confident, but is it ok to base presentations around information gathered from different sources? (Is that a stupid question?!) In reality, I'm a writer who packages up research and delivers it to people. It's ok to do that in my speech, isn't it? Like, "Research in America showed that 50% of women named Zammo were unusually distracted by other women's VPLS. So we can prepare ourselves for speeches by wearing thongs."

That's ok, isn't it?

lol. you DO though, dont you, as you listen, look at every bit of what the person is saying.

When i have my eyebrows shaped the kids always notice

I'm not a naturally loud person, so the best bit of advice I was given is to identify the audience member who is furthest from you and project your voice as if you're specifically addressing that person. That way you're loud enough for everyone in the audience to hear you.

Yes, I study everyone. I wish I hadn't bitten all my nails off last week!

These tips are so helpful. I've rewritten everything. it's much better.

OP - Absolutely. Much of what I present is garnered from other people, sources and my observations etc and then filtered through my own experience and gaze (for want of a better phrase). I think it's making sure that you're authentic. For example I may pick up a piece of research and then apply it to the experiences of the audience. It's not my research but I can apply it to the needs of my audience (IYSWIM) ?

Are there any secrets to knowing if your speech is interesting or deadly dull?!

I'm writing this and including the most interesting research I can find, but I don't know if it's got that "Wow" factor or not..

With experience, you get to 'read' your audience. Watch their body language - when they 'zone out' and stop concentrating, you need to break things up a bit.
Tomorrow I'm doing a session of 1 & 1/2 hours so I will break it up with group discussions and activities and encourage some focussed feedback so everyone feels involved. That's not practical with short sessions or even with some topics.
The best thing you could do is get some feedback at the end - that's the most effective way to improve. Either ask someone you know and trust or maybe give the participants a short feedback questionnaire at the end - could be as simple as 2 or 3 questions:
What did you like / find useful about the presentation?
How will you use the information from today's session?
The session would be even better if......?

There's lots of ways of getting feedback (rating 1 -5 etc. )

It can be feel very scary but it really helps improve for the future

Ask yourself if it's interesting to you? If so, they'll likely find it interesting too.

Don't worry about trying to shoehorn in too much. Better to talk well and thoroughly about what you know than try to cram too much in and have to rush or miss stuff out.

Do you have a copy of the outline for the day? Guessing you're doing a couple of breakout sessions at a bigger seminar? Seeing the overall aims of the day (and how they've 'billed') you might reassure you that you're on the right track.

Just wanted to say thank you all SO much again. All your tips have been brilliant and I'm feeling slightly less terrified.

Good luck with all your presentations - today, and at school, and your upcoming one, MrsMorton.

I'm so impressed with anyone who does these scary things regularly as part of their job!

Ooh I love presenting ( I must be weird)
Not sure if it's been said already but have Q&A at the end so you keep control.
Also answer along these lines
' did everyone hear the question?"
" x asked if XYZ"
" interesting/good point x, thank you"
Give answer
Check everyone understands

Good luck and enjoy it

I think it's the "air of authority" I'm struggling

In that case become an actor and 'play' the roll of the confident authority figure.

If you have no visuals you might like to walk around a bit, if people are at several tables could you move between them and deliver a part of your speech to each table asking just them for answers at the time but leaving it open for everyone to ask questions at the end?

You could make some visual aids to hand out, better still have people doing a task (can you tell I'm a teacher?) maybe a gapped handout with possible questions and space for answers?

Maybe do it like a pub quiz? So each table / couple has a set of questions at the start and has to fill them in as you go through your speech.

Have a prize for the winners, just something like a bottle of wine or chocolates, it will let you feel less formal and less like you are giving a speech.

And - warm up your voice before the event - miaow like a cat !
Loosen up these vocal chords!

Link to a helpful video attached:

talkaboutspeaking.com/public-speaking-video-tip-miaow-warm-up-your-voice-like-a-cat/

Also - can you try out your presentation on someone else (partner / friend?) They can tell you where you're saying too much, or not enough.

It's really hard to tell yourself, when you are an expert in the subject already. You need a guinea pig to rehearse in front of. Then adjust for their comments.

When you get into the room, "feel" the space and try out your voice in it. Is it high ceilings, cold, dark? Familiarise yourself with the room. I would recommend finding a point on the far wall, about midway up to focus on if you're nervous about making eye contact with people.

Remember your voice is supported from your torso, not your throat. If you can warm up by singing in the car en route there, humming, twinkle twinkling, do it! A warm voice is your friend!

If you don't know what they already know, start with that:
"Hi, I'm X, as you know I'm here today to discuss Y with you all. As I don't know what specifics everyone is already familiar with I'll start at the very beginning (yes, I did watch the sound of music over Christmas!) if I discuss an area that you are not as yet familiar with, please feel free to raise your hand or just call out to ask, I'm more than happy to take questions and want you all to feel as though you are getting the most out of today.

...or something like that

You lot are brilliant at this!

I love all your suggestions.
I tried out the speeches on my brother today and he was really helpful (and took the mickey!). I've decided to do two extra handouts to demonstrate one point. And the other section I could actually do very short vignettes to demonstrate it. These examples will be funny.

God, I hope.

I've just heard that 18 people have made confirmed bookings so far, with maybe more to come.

My brother says 18 will feel quite a small, intimate number but it feels LOADS to me!

That miaow warm-up tip is awesome! The kids and I just did it all together. Love it. Thank you!!

mulled, your little intro there was really good! You must do this a lot.

Thank you!