Unforgettable Presentations

Our senses can play a significant part in giving our audience an unforgettable experience. Today, Mark and Darren talk about the power of the sense of smell and share how you can use it effectively in your stories.

SNIPPETS:

• Use V.A.K.S.

• Use smell as you relive your experiences

• Smell can create a visceral audience response

• Use smell to transport yourself to the scene first

• Then use smell to transport your audience to the scene

• Physically show your response to an odor, scent, or aroma

• Let your face and body reflect your emotional response

• Let the audience 'sense' the scene

• Let the moment linger; give the audience time to feel it

• Use the contrast between the expectation from a smell, and the reality

• Don't overdo it

Delivering presentations every week is challenging…no doubt about it. Delivering to the same audience every week magnifies that challenge. How can you be unforgettable in those circumstances? Today Lee Coate provides Mark and Darren with the techniques that help him to consistently communicate unforgettably.

SNIPPETS:

• Communication is more than structure and what's on the page

• Develop your own voice and style

• Communication is a by-product of an individual's character

• Don't be an actor

• Don't perform…INSPIRE

• Avoid 'speaking down' to your audience; speak eye-to-eye with them

• Audiences appreciate it when you delf-depreciate

• Avoid using technology as a crutch

• Let technology accompany, not distract

• Beware of going overboard with props

• Be aware of what resonates with your audience

• Identify speaker whose style matches yours and learn from them

Work with Mark and Darren:

https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/

Check Out Stage Time University:

https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com

Your audience wants to know that you 'get' them. Today Mark and Darren examine ways to connect with your audience, identify their challenges, and help solve their problems.

SNIPPETS:

• Audiences appreciate your genuine interest in them

• Ask different individuals in your client's organization

• Look for challenges, frustrations, and pet peeves

• Identify common concerns

• Bridge the gap between your content and their world

• If possible, attend events a day early and be observant

• Before your presentation, have hallway conversations with attendees

• Find out if they have solutions

• Name-drop; tell the story of your hallway conversation

• For connection, use photos with attendees in your presentation

• Encourage attendees to collaborate and share best practices

Work with Mark and Darren:

https://www.stagetimeuniversity.com/get-a-speaking-coach/

Can you 'up your game' in 2025 make it your best year yet?

Darren and Mark offer solid suggestions for upgrading your program, your presentation, and your presence in the marketplace. Applying these principles and practices will put you firmly on the path to being unforgettable...and making this YOUR BEST YEAR YET!

SNIPPETS:

• It's YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

• Assess your presentation and your business with the goal to improve

• Consider upgrading your speech title

• Revisit your content (open/close, structure, humor, delivery, stories)

• Review your video/audio recordings; what can you enhance?

• Upgrade your introduction, perhaps start using a video

• Rebrand if necessary

• Start or re-launch a newsletter

• Be intentional about social media presence; pick a platform

• Attend GAME CHANGERS conference at Stage Time University

• Collaborate with others

• Collaborate with a Mastermind, get a coach, attend industry conferences

What does it take to deliver an extremely sensitive and emotional story, and why would you do it in the first place?

Darren and Mark get answers from 'serial entrepreneur' CEO Smoke Wallin as he explains why he shared his sensitive story to 2,000 CEOs. His answers will provide guidance and wisdom for anyone who is ready to tell their unforgettable sensitive story.

SNIPPETS:

• Share your story to help others

• Think it through and compose your talk with sensitivity to your audience

• Don't shock your audience

• Be very clear on your purpose and intent

• Only share after you feel called to share

• Share when you are ready

• Telling your story can unlock the container that chains your life

• Define and refine the message

• Your story is a gift; give it freely

• Share for the right reasons

• Decouple your identity enough to have detachment from the pain

Check out his speech:

https://youtu.be/jhz3q-baDuA?si=jiC8EmokkTJY2X_U

Confidence. Every presenter needs it, especially when facing an unresponsive audience or dealing with the unexpected.

In today's episode, Mark and Darren provide strategies for building your confidence and delivering your unforgettable presentation.

SNIPPETS:

• Confidence is critical

• Not every audience responds emotionally and supportively

• Confidence doesn't come by accident

• Prepare well

• Internalize your content

• Test your material in a low-risk environment like Toastmasters

• Ego is a confidence-killer

• Draw confidence from your TOP 5

• Build your confidence by listening to your best work regularly

• Collect testimonial texts, e-mails and videos

• Inspire your audiences, clients and prospects to have confidence in you

Your audience can hear your story, but can they SEE it? Today Mark and Darren explore ways that you can prompt your audience to go beyond just hearing your story, to experiencing it...right at the beginning. These simple techniques will help your audience to see your unforgettable story.

SNIPPETS:

• Telling your story is like creating a painting

• Share 2 or 3 details about the setting

• Let the audience paint the picture

• Let the audience see one visual and one emotional character detail

• Non-verbal depictions can paint a clear picture

• Dialog can be very descriptive

• Descriptions of characteristics and clothing are highly effective

• Your entire audience need not see the SAME thing; they must see SOMEthing

• Test your story by creating an audience (NSA, Toastmasters, Mastermind etc.)

• Ask them what they saw and respond to feedback

• Be creative and compelling

Maybe you're an emerging speaker, and you don't think you have enough content. Perhaps you're experienced and have been delivering the same material for a long time. Where do you find more content? Darren and Mark provide strategies for finding new content, 'upping' your game, and being unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Ask: Is there better content available

• Perform deeper research on your subject

• Dive deeply into client concerns

• Interview clients for content and connection

• Tap into your expertise network

• Understand that you don't know everything about your topic

• Be willing to upgrade your existing material

• Find out what and who are trending in your area of expertise

• Verify all new content using multiple sources

• Revisit the 'basement' and 'archives' of your life

• Test new material and listen to your audience to find out what resonates

• Challenge yourself to provide something new every year

Illustrations can be powerful; they give your audience a memorable experience. How do you create and execute an experience that has 4,000 people on their feet, actively participating, and leaving transformed? Brian Biro, America's Breakthrough Speaker, sits down with Mark and Darren to provide insight into how has been able to deliver unforgettable experiences for more than 30 years.

SNIPPETS:

• Help audiences to experience breakthroughs

• Become a master storyteller

• Shift from ego to 'we go'

• Do more for other than you do for yourself

• When you enrich your audience's experience, you enrich your own

• Don't decide someone else's breakthrough potential

• Release your authentic energy

• 95% of your breakthrough depends on where you place your focus

• BE confident…and humble

• Never underestimate the power of simplicity

• Let every illustration have value and meaning

• SEE BRIAN IN ACTION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK2uZftQUpg

In our zeal to share our knowledge with our audience, we sometimes offer too much content. Mark and Darren discuss this phenomenon and offer both perspective and practices for giving your audience your most appropriate content.

SNIPPETS:

• Vast content is a blessing

• You can't share everything you know in one presentation

• To share everything, write a book

• Give the highlights

• What's the intent of the event

• What does the audience need to know

• Decide which details to share

• Be willing to let some material go

• If you squeeze too much content in, you squeeze your audience out

• Serve the needs of each specific audience

• Use a single-elimination tournament format to 'eliminate' content