Bloopers are clumsy mistakes that are usually made in public. The television show 'TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes' and many blooper books are indicators of the interest we have in other people's goofs.

Here are two from 'All Time Great Bloopers' by Blooper Snooper Kermit Schafer and one from 'More Press Boners' by Earle Tempel, and how you might use them in a presentation.

* A while back I heard about a DJ on WIOD in Miami, Florida who said, 'This is Alan Courtney...

Imagine you’re in a classroom. Who do you think speaks excellently? You may select those who look smart or those who often recite in class. You may think that these people are actually more confident than you think they are. Or perhaps, they are born speakers and you are not.

Well, it may surprise you that they’re probably thinking the same thing about you! They may also feel that you are a born speaker and envy you because they have fears in public speaking. Some may...

A majority of the people experience fear when they have to speak in front of a group or audience. What holds them back is the fear of appearing foolish in front of others. Preparation and the right attitude is the key to win over this process.

Some of the fears that top the list are fear of dying; fear of snakes, fear of height etc and fear of public speaking is also one of them. Many people experience faster heart beats and dry mouth when they are about to begin their speech....

The one characteristic that all great public speakers possess is passion – intense, driving emotion that colors their speech, their facial expression and their body language. You hear it in their words; you see it in their actions; and, you can feel it in your soul. Their passion can motivate you to bettering your life in some fashion.

Passion can be so captivating in good public speaking that it may hide a mediocre speech or presentation.

More than 2000 years ago,...

We won't be able to come to a conclusion that every person is motivated by self and are refreshing themselves with their thoughts. But it is our duty to make sure that we refresh and motivated the minds of our team at office or your family members to lead a better social life. Motivation is something that we can get by a motivational speaker who perform public speeches or hire a motivational speaker for your organization to pep up the minds of your employees. It's surely an important...

I have done many public speaking engagements in settings where meals were part of the program. You may want to politely remind the program coordinator to consider some of the following points:

ROOM SET-UP

(Many of these tips work whether food is being served or not)

* Avoid spacing round tables widely apart in an attempt to fill the available space. Distance makes audience involvement and participation much more difficult. A better idea would be to space the...

If you were to do a word association with the prompt "Declamation," here is a list you might accumulate:

-AIDS
-commencement speech
-hope for the future
-discrimination of any kind
-politics
- WHY SO SERIOUS?

Declamation, like most events open to both the comedic and dramatic, is mostly a thoroughfare of grave topics. Given the nature of this event it is understandable. Speeches are often delivered during a formal affair where important...

For some people, just the thought of public speaking makes them feel anxious and uncomfortable straight away. Blushing, shortness of breath, sweaty hands, weak legs… if you or anyone you know recognizes these symptoms, do not despair. This can be solved more easily and quickly than you ever thought!

While some people may be born with a natural talent, or have successfully developed a talent throughout life, the art of public speaking requires a set of skills that...

Choppiness in speaking occurs when you pause too often.  Pausing in conversational speech is normal; pausing during a speech or presentation is ideal.   Pausing too often, however, is tedious for the listener and is referred to as choppy speech.

The problem with choppy speech is that you leave your audience waiting for you to continue.  And, if they have to wait too often or too long for you to resume your words, they will stop listening.

While I wish...

As a psychologist, I see fear as the biggest block to people moving forward in their lives. People are afraid even to face their own fear. With public speaking being the number one fear, and with so much of daily life requiring us to speak up, this is a major problem.  A Speaking Circle is a place to confront your own fear.  However, I had one man call and tell me that he drove by the Speaking Circle meeting and did not come in because he was just too anxious.

I think...