Dec 28

Public Speaking tip: “Just the facts, ma’am”

I was inspired to write this post after seeing a similar post on Lisa Braithwaite’s Speak Schmeak and remembering some of my own frustrations with this area. A lot of speakers I’ve seen this past year seem to have developed the “habit” of quoting information without citing any sources. Continue reading

Dec 08

Speech Masterclass D.I.Y – would you do it?

I have decided to split this post in half because there is something that needs to be addressed before we even get into looking at Simon Bucknall’s Masterclass. If you wanted to take your speaking skills to the next level and maybe even compete, but you couldn’t afford a speech coach what would you do? Continue reading

Oct 24

French & Saunders Tear up the Comedy Rulebook!

I saw British comedy duo French & Saunders on Wednesday night at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. They’re currently doing their Final Farewell show part of a tour of the same name. For those of you who don’t know they’ve decided to hang up their “comedy gloves” after 30 years.  At over two hours (incl. interval) they were certainly not in danger of running out of material when they did their encore.

And yes I witnessed them take the comedy rulebook and tear it limb from limb and throw the pieces on to a metaphorical bonfire. Okay, if you’re bit confused I’ll tell you exactly what they did… Continue reading

Sep 29

Frankie Howerd and the rule of Toastmasters

Frankie Howerd clip; 2m 21 sec

(Above is a clip of late British comedian Frankie Howerd on the chat show Parkinson).

I got asked at a humour workshop that I ran recently the following question:

“How far can you push risque humour before it becomes too much at Toastmasters?”

Continue reading

Sep 25

Humorous Speech & Table Topics Contests

We had a really successful night at Grosvenor Square Speakers at the beginning of this week. We decided to experiment with the way the club chairs the contests and we divided duties successfully between myself as VPE and Debbie Mahs. Even though the club doesn’t usually run its contests this way, it made a refreshing change and also reflects how the contest is run in later rounds. Continue reading