What can clown presence teach us about being unforgettable presenters? Darren and Mark find out from Don Colliver, comedian, improvisor, director, writer and clown. He shares his insights and experience on audience engagement and reveals how to make every presentation FUN…for you and your audience.

SNIPPETS:

• Take IMPROV classes; improvised can be better than prepared

• Train yourself to lose your audience then get then back

• When you err, acknowledge your humanity and move on

• Wrap your error in a callback

• Find joy and pleasure, like having a meal with your audience and serve them

• Enjoy ‘le jeu’ – the game

• Keep curiosity and compassion for your audience

• We don’t need jokes; acknowledge the moments and find humor there

• Use engagement activities to reinforce your points

A speaker at an event you’re attending can’t make it and someone asks YOU to step in on very short notice. Are you READY? Today Mark and Darren share insights on how and why to be ready for any presentation opportunity. They also disclose the benefits, to you and others, of being ready. 

SNIPPETS:

• Don’t GET ready; KEEP ready

• Identify the opportunity, jump on it, own it

• Have a ‘front pocket’ speech ready to go at all times

• Attend events with a servant’s heart

• Introduce and offer yourself to meeting planner an event staff

• Ask yourself what presentation you would give if a speaker doesn’t show up

• Be willing to fill the void; you will make the meeting planner the hero

• New relationships; the speaker who couldn’t show, audience, event planner

• If you get stuck, refer another presenter; others will refer you, so BE READY

Does a speaker need more than one coach? Can a speaker have too many coaches? What if I know several equally qualified coaches; should I use them all? In this episode, Darren and Mark tackle this thorny issue and offer specific guidance on coach selection…to help you deliver your unforgettable presentation.

SNIPPETS:

• Pick ONE coach

• Choose a coach who understands your backstory

• Choose a coach who appreciates your style

• Be careful who you listen to

• Equally qualified coaches can give conflicting advice  

• Each coach has their own ninja skill

• If you select a team of coaches, decide on your head coach

• You are the CEO of your speech

• Bring suggestions to your head coach and trust them to guide you

What makes a pro SHINE? Today Mark and Darren identify three techniques that true pros use to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Engage the audience instantly

• Stand out before you even say a word

• Be fully present

• The first second and a half is critical

• Note cards are not a liability  

• Don’t be concerned about perfection

• Love the audience, love the moment

• Work the room in your style

• Do what you must to hit your points and serve your audience

• Sit in audience seats beforehand to get their perspective

Stories can greatly enhance any presentation but they can be confusing if characters aren’t clearly identified. In today’s discussion, Darren and Mark explore the value of naming characters and they offer ideas for making your characters unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Name every character for clarity

• Allow the audience to see the characters

• Avoid giving two characters similar names (Jane, Jean, Joan)

• Give a physical and characteristic and a personal trait

• Amalgamate characters for simplicity  

• Tell the emotional truth

• Use adjective names to describe characters (Patty Party Pooper)

• In conversation, let the characters address each other by name

Imagine hearing a presenter and thinking, “They remind me of Tony Robbins and Les Brown. The perfect Motivational Speaker!” Then you meet them in the hallway and they sound ‘normal’…as if they turned off their ‘speaker voice.’

In this episode, Mark and Darren discuss authenticity and pose the challenging question: Are YOU ‘Super Speaker?’

SNIPPETS:

• Be yourself. Bring your personality to every presentation

• If your assignment warrants a dramatic voice, then use it.

• No need to try being the ULTIMATE EXPERT

• Your audience is already there and they want to hear YOU

• Record and watch yourself on video

• Do a gut check and assess yourself

• Avoid the risk of seeming disingenuous

• Authenticity + Vulnerability = Credibility

“But it’s some of my FAVORITE MATERIAL!”  

We want to give our audiences ALL our wisdom and experiences. But that’s not always the best decision. Today Darren and Mark expound on three reasons why our favorite material must sometimes end up on ‘THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR.’

SNIPPETS:

• Your stories, anecdotes and references must serve your ‘PREMISE PURPOSE’

• The WEIGHT of your story may be heavier than your message

• Your content shouldn’t overshadow your premise

• Consider the RELEVANCE to your audience

• Your liking a story doesn’t mean the audience will

• If a story is too long for the allotted time, you may need to cut it

• Store Cutting Room Floor material in your Story Folder for later

• You can use Cutting Room Floor material to create handouts

• Test your content

Poor corporate presentations can cost you money. Today Mark and Darren will discuss NINE corporate presentation mistakes and offer tips on how to avoid them, helping you to become an unforgettable presenter.

SNIPPETS:

• Be clear on what you want your audience to Think, Feel & Do

• Clarity, Clarity, Clarity!

• Include a clear Call To Action (CTA)

• Be aware of what your audience is thinking

• Ping the audience, check in, engage

• What does your audience NEED

• Are you overwhelming your audience with data

• Respect your audience’s time; you might be the only obstacle to LUNCH

• Don’t let anyone ‘out-prepare’ you

Should we tell our most painful stories…the ones that take us to The Dark Place? Today Darren and Mark have a serious conversation about this touchy subject and offer solid advice about when to go to your Dark Place.

SNIPPETS:

• Your message is a MESS with AGE

• You must be able to laugh about your struggle before you can talk about it.

• Don’t abuse the privilege of the platform

• Your Dark Place story shouldn’t overtake your speech

• Go to your dark place when it’s appropriate and effective

• There may be value in going to your Dark Place

• Cushion the setup of your Dark Place story

• Be sure you can find your way back

• Be sure you have healed before going to your Dark Place

“But I wasn’t born funny!” may be a common exclamation, so what’s the SECRET to being funny? For answers, Darren and Mark turn to television producer and comedy writer Chris McGuire has worked with celebrity talent like Justin Bieber, Martha Stewart, Arsenio Hall and Snoop Dog. Lessons from his experience behind the scenes and on the stage will help you to be unforgettable.

SNIPPETS:

• Confront your discomfort

• Pay attention to the news of the day

• Use your experience and your interests

• Filter out the raw material and choose the best bits

• Write 20 jokes to get 2 good ones

• Keep a notebook and write 3 ideas a day; that’s 90 a month, 1,000 a year

• Authenticity is key

• Be willing to bomb

• Don’t give up too soon and get up after a bad experience; move on

• Tap into common experiences with your audience