When you think of Fran Drescher in her role asThe Nanny, what thought first comes to mind? Her beauty or her nasal voice? For many people, their first thought is her whiny voice which, over time, can be quite annoying, even nerve-wracking, for her listeners. While Drescher's infamous sound is typical of some who live in North Jersey or one of the five boroughs of New York City, nasality doesn't just affect those in the Big Apple or the Garden State! Nasality is found in many regions of...

You will benefit at the beginning of your speech if you free yourself from two misconceptions:

1. Effective speakers are born, not made; it is hopeless to try being one if you were not gifted with a God-given ability.
2. For most people, fear and nervousness are impossible to overcome; it is useless to even try.

Let’s take a look at each of these false assumptions.

Are Good Speakers Born and Not Made?

You don’t actually believe...

There’s a very popular addition to the language around at the moment.  It is used by a majority of speakers from TV and radio presenters, public speakers and possibly members of your family.

It is unfortunately taking over all our conversations and threatening to destroy clear and concise communication.  It will double the amount of time that it takes to deliver a simple message and its overuse can affect the ability of our listeners to understand our...

To entertain is to amuse, to catch interest, or to please. An entertained audience is more receptive to any stimulus. Their minds are open and the audience will take anything the speaker has in store for them. Therefore, entertainment is an essential element in speech delivery.

What does it take to entertain a crowd? Do you have to be funny? Do you have to be enthusiastic?

There is no definite manner on how to become entertaining. There can be a lot of ways but I'll just...

As difficult as it may seem, there are plenty of organizations in your community who are actively looking for speakers.Despite the fact that there are already a lot of good speakers out there, starting a personal speaking business is still very feasible and very likely to be profitable.

A very good and practical way to begin is to start locally.Network with local groups and organizations that have the potential to be prospective clients. They may not want your services now but...

This article will discuss some of the biggest mistakes you can make in your motivational speaking career.

Ignoring the importance of the Introduction

If I were to decide what the most important part of the speech is I would say that it has got to be the introduction.

No matter how great speech is, if you cannot grab interest in your introduction, your speech content will potentially fall to deaf and very bored ears. Have you ever heard of the saying, 'First impressions...

Getting booked is a marketing art. It comes from an understanding of the market and effectively using that understanding to your advantage. If you know what your buyer wants you will know how to package and customized your products and materials. Marketing appeal is everything. Thus, to get book, you must appeal to your niche!

How to have that appeal you ask? Let me enlighten you

Establish yourself as an expert in the niche

People will always prefer to hire...

Seminar speakers are often invited to speak because of their expertise in a particular field. They are often called in to inform, train, or motivate. It is very important for the speakers to be knowledgeable in their chosen field.

More often than not, even people without speaking background are compelled to speak just because they are the only known experts in the field. It is not uncommon to see speakers in seminars that are professionals in other areas.

Electricians,...

In public speaking the term "prop" is a shortened version of the theatrical term "property," a word used to describe any object handled or used by an actor in a performance. As a speaker you are a performer whether you believe it or not. You have an obligation to use whatever means necessary to get your message across to the audience.

I think of props as any physical item that is on stage with you. Your flipchart is a prop. Your lectern is a prop. Overhead...

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...