The specialties are mainly about niches. Each speaker has his own niche and it is very important to choose a target audience because the longevity and profitability of the speaking career heavily relies on having a dedicated audience.

Public speaking has a variety of audiences to choose from. The first thing that usually that pops into mind is the corporate arena. Many think of it as the most profitable and the pinnacle venue for public speaking in terms of profitability and...

Public speaking is an art because there are varied styles and approaches when it comes to speaking in front of an audience. Each style can greatly differ from the other but still effective nonetheless. Just like art, speaking can be imaginary, abstract, surreal, or a portrait of realism.

However, there are essential skills that are needed to be learned. You can consider this an overview of the basics. A lack of expertise in these basic techniques is usually why a speech fails. So...

Good public speaking should use attention gaining devices. Here is one that works every time: Virtually every speaking presentation I do, I find some excuse to get someone on stage with me. When an audience member is on stage, the rest of the audience is glued to the action for the following reasons:

1. They want to see what is going to happen to one of their own.

2. They are priming themselves to be up there.

3. They are worrying to death that they may be asked to be...

Public speaking humor is only old if your audience has heard it before and if they remember it. Most people don't remember the exact details of jokes, one-liners, and stories. This is not contradictory to the fact that one of the uses of humor is to make your points more memorable.

One of the reasons people don't remember jokes and other pieces of humor is that the humor is usually heard out of context. The humor was not used in conjunction with a point which is the way you should...

Toasting is not nearly as common as it once was. However, the polished public speaker should have a few short toasts ready to go if and when the occasion arises. Here are a few fun toasts and a few touching ones too:

Birthdays:

To your birthday, glass held high. Glad it's you that's older not I.

Heres to you. No matter how old you are, you don't look it.

Christmas:

'Twas the month after Christmas, and Santa had flit; Came there tidings in the mail, which...

THIS WILL SURPRISE YOU (especially if you know me) You can be a lousy public speaker and still be great on the speaking platform. By lousy, I mean that technically you do everything wrong. You look terrible. Your grammar and diction stink and you might have dandruff.

Do not think for a moment that I want you to be these terrible things. In fact, I sell videos teaching you NOT to be pitiful technically when you present. What I want you to see is the bigger picture. If you give...

“The most effective learning is accomplished during periods of fun and enjoyment.”

-Dr. Ralph Smedley, Founder of Toastmasters International

Christmas Comedy at the Post Office?

By Darren LaCroix

FORWARD TO A FRIEND-

Don’t you justfeelthe tension while waiting on line at the post office this time of year?

The other day I was standing in line at the post office and I heard a...

Audience gags are offbeat jokes that occur unexpectedly during a presentation. Dr. Joel Goodman, from the Humor Project, does one where a telephone rings during his presentation. He answers the phone that was hidden in the lectern and pretends to talk to his mother. The same joke would be called a running gag if the phone rang at several other times during the program.

Ten Wanted Men

I staged a gag at a seminar one time that was loads of fun and took less than one minute to...

Imagine standing at the lectern.  You see the many smiling faces of those in your audience.   Your countenance, however, says anything but that you are glad to be there.  While you may not be thrilled at the prospect of giving that speech or presentation, if your face displays your displeasure, how enjoyable will your delivery be for those who are in attendance?

If you read most articles and books on the subject of public speaking, they will tell you that there...

I may look like I'm listening to you, but don't count on it. I have a lot on my mind. Bills, kids, work, car problems are all running through my mind and unless I tell you, you simply won't know. You'll think I really am listening to you. Maybe we're on the phone, maybe you're in my office, and maybe you're giving a presentation with me in the audience. I'm just on the other side of your words, but like it or not - your words are just not getting through.

Keep in mind that...