Informative speech

[Apocalypse Tank]

The day after tomorrow (12/11/08 I believe), there will be a winter concert in my school.
I was given the task of introducing a song (Ma Vlast part 2, Vltava) around a minute's worth of time. There'll be plenty of people, and though I do lots and lots of class presentations, I think I'll get stage fright.

I am obviously no dictator or Winston Churchill, so any advice in general about speeches and stage fright?
Please none of the "imagine everyone in their boxers".

 

[black lincon]

Base the tone of your voice on the mood of the room. If everyone is having fun you don't want to ruin that by sounding like Ben Stein.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

Are you old enough to drink?

 

[ChocoCake]

Some pointers:
-Look at the best-looking girl in the crowd
-Shuffle your feet constantly
-Itch your head once or twice a minute
-Say "um" or "uh" at least 5 times a minute
-Imagine everyone in their boxers
-Don't prepare a speech at all; just wing it

So, if you do the opposite of the above, you are set to go!

 

[Apocalypse Tank]

Haha great advices
no, can't drink yet ._.

 

[jim_doki]

talking is easy. just mention a little something about the piece and go for it

 

[RebelRising]

Well, to have the oratory confidence of a dictator, just imagine (or maybe you don't have to) that everyone one in the room is intellectually/mentally weak. If you can assure yourself that you are better than them in what you're talking about, then that sense of superiority will reflect on your speech.

I know, a little weird, but it works, trust me.

 

[implodingMan]

Good god, its the 9th already? I need to buy Christmas presents...

Anywho, public speaking is one of the few things in life that I am head and shoulders above most people. Just remember, control your voice. Don't stammer and speak clearly. Be articulate. Remember to keep eye contact with the audience, and if you have cues then you should just glance at them, don't read them.

A minute is not a long time to talk, it will go by quickly.

 

[Grand_Poohbah]

Fortunately I'm on the speech team at my highschool. Unfortunately I'm at novice level and could offer you as much help on your speech as a giraffe.

 

[Calobi]

If you don't need to fill the whole minute, just say what piece is being done, by whom, and who produced and originally played it.

If it needs to be at least a minute, do all of that and then add something about when it was made and its reception at the time. Or you could talk about people's thoughts on it, like if it's considered one of the person's better pieces.

To avoid stage fright, just don't look up at the people too much. Face them, keep your chin up, but have your eyes down-facing. Looks unprofessional, but whatever. Or, you could just scan the audience for familiar faces and focus on them for a moment when you find them.

 

[RebelRising]

Imagine everyone as pigs having an enormous hedonistic orgy.

I do...all the time...and you know what?

I aced the freakin' exam!

 

[Aardvark]

Memorise your speech, but be ready to ad-lib when necessary. People won't mind if you stuff something up, but looking down at a page is obvious to all and destroys the atmosphere. If you're nervous, use that as a source of humour. Once they're chuckling, you'll feel better. Unless they're chuckling because you forgot your pants. Avoid Umms, Ahhs, Likes, Y'knows, Seriouslys, Seriously Folks and Wow, What a Terrific Audience. If you start choking up, stop, take a few deep breaths and give it another go.

When in doubt, wing it.

 

[Vivaldi]

I had to read a poem out loud to 400+ people... it was pretty cool.

I dont really know, I like to be on stage and presenting, I feel kind of normal when I am the center of attention.

As for advice, I would just say you just need to be yourself, relax and slow down a little bit. If you mess up, just keep going, dont look people directly in the eyes, just glance over them, and maybe just pretend you are speaking to a small group of friends so you can feel relaxed and such.

Hope that helps, have fun!

 

[xitel]

In my experience, look at one person that you know, and just talk. Don't let yourself get worried. Make sure that you laugh before you walk on stage. I'm serious, it really helps. Any time I've had to do public speaking, making myself actually laugh prior to walking up stage helped a lot. And I mean, don't force yourself to fake laugh, I mean listen to a funny joke or a comedian you know will make you laugh. It's wonderful help.

 

[Aardvark]

I had to read Martin L King's Dream speech as part of a course I did once.

It felt odd at the time. The whitest ************ alive, reading a speech about equality for blacks to a room full of asians.

 

[RebelRising]

Certainly.

But as for this speech thing, just remember all the vitals about the piece, the writer, etc., give a little flourish. Keep that mindset I told you about, and you're good to go.

 

[fedpayne]

Seriously, don't worry about it. People aren't going to care if you fuck up. As long as you say what the piece is, maybe a few lines on the story (it is a tone poem, right?), absolutely no worries. People aren't going to go home thinking 'sure, the music was nice, but what the FUCK was up with the MC?'

 

[The_Deleted]

Walk out, arms in the air in victory signs and shout:
"C'MON PEOPLE, LETS DESTROY THIS FUCKIN' PLACE!!!!"

Works for Soulfly.

 

[Uskis]

The day after tomorrow (12/11/08 I believe), there will be a winter concert in my school.
I was given the task of introducing a song (Ma Vlast part 2, Vltava) around a minute's worth of time. There'll be plenty of people, and though I do lots and lots of class presentations, I think I'll get stage fright.

I am obviously no dictator or Winston Churchill, so any advice in general about speeches and stage fright?
Please none of the "imagine everyone in their boxers".

My advice is to prepare yourself. You gotta be completely in charge of what you are going to say, don't improv.

Before you go on, and actually the whole day, psyche yourself up by constantly telling yourself, (and your parents and syblings ) how awesome you are.. At breakfast, say to your parents, something along the lines of: "you know what, I realize that I am totally awesome, you should all be amazed at my awesomeness" continue like this in your head, or to your friends for sometime. This should build up your ego nicely. Listen to some cool music, and hold the thought "man, I'm actually quite awesome, I'm gonna speak to the crowd, and even if they don't understand my awesomeness, I don't care, because I'm awesome.. it's a fact"

This may sound like rubbish, but it worked for me. It doesn't mean that you have to be an arrogant prick to others, you just gotta recognize, that you are awesome, and make people know they should too. saying something over and over can actually make you, and other people believe it

 

[rossatdi]

Genuinely? Know what you're going to say, probably not to the word but have phrases you'll be able to come to easily.

And the other thing is slow down. It may feel unnatural but slow right the fuck down, even pause for a moment of thought if you need it.

Practice at least three full runs the night before, bonus points for using the mirror.