If you want to learn stand-up comedy, or how to give funny presentations, I came across something very interesting. I read an interview with British comedian Michael McIntyre recently. He tells a story where he was at the Montreal Comedy Festival and was approached by David Letterman’s people. If you’re interested in how to learn to be funny it’s important that you read this. Here’s the quote: Continue reading
Mar 11
The Benefits of Humour
I saw an article on Science Daily about a new form of yoga called “laughter yoga”. It seems that people laugh continuously for 30 minutes. Apparently there’s a growing trend in the US and India for this type of yoga. This is a bit more involved than telling joke stories that I’ve written about before. Continue reading
Mar 09
Can I Stop My Jokes Being Stolen?
I read an article on Chortle, the British comedy website, recently which spoke about the incident where comedian Lee Hurst smashed the mobile phone of an audience member who was filming his act. This is useful to read about if you’re a comedian or if you’re delivering funny presentations.
Hurst, like a lot of comedians, didn’t want his material to be stolen and/or potentially uploaded to YouTube. Continue reading
Mar 04
Interview with 2008 Evaluation Champion
The International Speech Contest and Evaluation Contest is just around the corner here in the U.K.
I recently managed to secure an interview with Hilary Briggs, chairman of ACE Group 29, The Academy for Chief Executives, Area 33 Governor and, most importantly for the purposes of this blog, U.K. and Ireland Evaluation Champion 2008.
I wanted to be able to get some useful tips from a champ to help my Toastmasters readers who might be competing in the Evaluation Contest this year (or some other year depending on when you’re reading this). There is also some useful info in this interview for evaluators in general.
So here we go… Continue reading
Feb 27
Why Make a Speech at All?
“Speeches fail because they focus on the speaker not on the audience” – Phillip Khan-Panni
In the run up to the International Speech Contest Division B put on a public speaking seminar with Phillip Khan-Panni, former three-time U.K. & Ireland Public Speaking Champion, silver medallist in the World Championships and also former member of my home club Grosvenor Square Speakers. Continue reading