Getting ready for the speaking engagement.

Getting ready for a speaking engagement is a lot like getting ready for an athletic event or for a theatrical extravaganza. I generally know which topic I will be speaking about and have talked about or taught on the subject many times. I think about how my feelings on the topic of the speaking engagement have changed or stayed the same. I look for ways to tie current events into the subject matter. I look for interesting stories or humorous anecdotes that I can use during the speaking engagement. Sometimes I have a favorite that still works. Sometimes I want to try something new.

I also think a lot about who the audience is, what part of the country they are in and what their day to day concerns might be. One speaking engagement is not at all like the next speaking engagement. Even if I am asked to do a program I have done for others in the past, the audiences change, my outlook changes and the mood of “the times” change.

The night before the speaking engagement, I comb through my notes and slides, looking for ways to improve the material or to tailor it to the audience. I try to get some exercise and limber up before I get my rest. On the morning of the speaking engagement I get some more exercise and limbering and eat a good breakfast. I try to get to the location of the speaking engagement very early so I can scout out the surroundings, get a feel for the venue and check out the crowd.

I do some stretches to make sure my posture will be good and my energy will be vibrant. I do some vocal warm-ups so I can project well and so I do not trip over my words. I coordinate how the staging will work and go over the introduction the host will give. Then I mingle as much as I can until shortly before curtain time. Then I sit and relax a minute until the host gives me the nod and I know it is time to play ball. That’s when I take the field and make my best pitch.

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