Unforgettable Presentations

Life as a professional speaker sometimes presents the unusual, the comical, and the bizarre. In today’s light-hearted episode, Darren and Mark sit down with fellow World Champion speakers Ed Tate and Jim Key as they all share hilarious and outrageous stories from life on the road. Their conversation provides insight into an oft-neglected side of speaking…the unexpected. Their simple lessons can help you to face extraordinary situations and still be unforgettable…for the right reasons. Snippets:

• Expect the unexpected
• It’s not IF, but WHEN things will go wrong
• Unusual situations are material for future presentations
• Be flexible when faced with the unpredictable
• Even when things go sideways, always serve your audience

Success as a presenter takes work, along with the insight and guidance of mentors and coaches. Today, Mark and Darren have a heart-to-heart conversation with author, professional guitarist, mountain climber and Certified Speaking Professional Manley Feinberg II. He opens up about his work ethic, his rapid growth and transformation as a presenter, and the precious nuggets of wisdom he has gleaned from years of working with multiple qualified coaches. The principles he shares, when applied diligently, can help any presenter to become unforgettable. Snippets:

• Get close to the best people in your chosen field
• Get clear on your goals
• Surround yourself with qualified coaches
• Constantly develop your skills and invest in your self-development
• Work in the ‘off-season’
• Bring as much off stage as you do on stage
• Relentlessly pursue excellence
• Find valid, relevant ways to use all your gifts and talents
• Love your audience

“To be EFFECTIVE you must be SELECTIVE!” Mark has been sharing this mantra with his clients for months. In today’s episode, he and Darren show that by being selective about your techniques, your content, and your delivery, you can prepare and present with power. They provide 8 specific ways to be selective, which, when applied, will serve your audiences well as you deliver your unforgettable presentation. Snippets:

• To be effective, you must be selective
• Choose the best time to use dialogue
• Reaction tells the story. Decide when to use action rather than words
• Use VAKS and a few relevant details to describe characters and scenes
• Quotes should be used rarely and wisely
• Defend your slides!
• Let your stories audition their way into your presentation
• Select the best content for each specific audience

“PRESENTATION CUSTOMIZATION? What’s that?” Mark and Darren ask and answer this question in today’s episode. They explain why customization serves your audience…and you. They also provide four time-tested customization strategies that will endear you to your audience and make your message unforgettable. Snippets:

• When you customize, you connect
• Speak your audience’s language
• Interview audience members before the event
• Arrive a day early to get a ‘feel’ for your audience
• Replace one of your stories with a client’s story
• Adapt your presentation to address the conference/event theme
• Take photos/video with attendees and use them in your slides
• Attend sessions before your presentation to get usable content

“…but if I don’t memorize, how will I remember my speech?” That’s not an uncommon question, but here’s a more important one: Does memorizing really allow you deliver your best presentation? Today Darren and Mark talk about a better option…INTERNALIZING. Along with explaining the difference between memorizing and internalizing, they elaborate on three specific techniques for internalizing your meaningful message and delivering your unforgettable presentation. Snippets:

• If you’re in your head, your emotions are dead
• Move your body while you rehearse; get the speech into your body
• Use conversational language, it’s easier to internalize
• Relive experiences rather than retell stories
• Record yourself and in a mini recorder and rehearse along with it
• Rehearse along with an audio/video recording of your best performance
• Use STRUCTURE rather than a script to help you internalize
• Anchoring yourself to specific spots on stage aids internalization
• Be present; let go of the idea of perfection
• Let your slides be your guides

Ep. 140 – Inside The Brain Of A Bureau with Deia Starr Rank

A relationship with a speaker’s bureau can be just what a speaker needs. But what are the keys to making it a win/win? Bureau agent Deia Starr Rank invites Darren and Mark inside the brain of a bureau, delivering solid advice that goes far beyond bureau basics. She also reveals the tools you need to set yourself up for bureau success and provides specific direction on sizzle reels, program descriptions, and more. Learn how to be an unforgettable bureau favorite. Snippets:

• A bureau is like a matchmaker, fitting the best speaker with each client
• Great marketing tools make for a better bureau relationship
• A ‘Sizzle Reel’ is critical, but don’t put too much ‘sizzle’ in the reel
• Change your sizzle reel on average every 4-5 years
• Provide a current hi-resolution headshot, not one that’s 20 years old
• Respond to bureau correspondence immediately
• Stay in contact with your bureau, but don’t be annoying
• It’s always wise to have a bureau in your ‘egg basket’

As speakers we are constantly being evaluated. But how should we respond to criticism, especially when it’s quite harsh? Darren and Mark discuss different types of criticism and offer ways to not only cope with it, but to grow from it. They also provide specific ways to approach criticism and discuss when it’s appropriate to ‘push back’. Handling criticism is an important step on your journey to becoming unforgettable. Snippets:

• You will get criticism; it is a part of the business of speaking
• The timing of criticism can be critical to how it’s received
• Consider the intent of the individual offering criticism
• If criticism seems harsh, give grace, and maintain your dignity & composure
• Look for the value of critical comments
• People will criticize your performance; they are not criticizing you
• Be careful not to obsess if only one person in a group is critical
• Know when to say ‘no’ when someone offers criticism at the wrong time
• When criticized, review and rehearse your performance
• Review criticism with your mentor or coach.
• Before offering criticism, remember all of the above

Musicians care for their instruments by cleaning and tuning them. As speakers, how should we care for our instrument…our voice? Today Mark and Darren get ‘voice tuning’ lessons from award-winning entertainer, comedian, coach, and speaker Kevin Burke, who holds the Guinness World Record for the most theatrical performances in 50 days. Listen as Kevin guides Darren through a vocal warmup LIVE, offers advice on vocal care, and shares his ‘must-dos’ for speaking at your optimal vocal register so you can be unforgettable. Snippets:

• Exercise your voice every day
• Speakers are vocal athletes; we should train that way
• Go through a full vocal warm-up before every presentation
• Add sounds to vocal warmups SLOWLY
• Vocal exercises will help broaden your vocal range
• Breathe from your diaphragm, not from your chest
• Learn skills from different experts. Don’t emulate any one person
• When your voice is unwell, avoid short-term chemical fixes
• Tea with honey and herbal remedies help alleviate hoarseness
• Rest your voice as much as possible prior to your presentation warm-up

What does it take to be ‘at the top of your game’ on LIVE television and radio every day, as well as being unforgettable in a variety of speaking situations? Darren and Mark get answers from professional speaker, sports broadcaster, and TV personality Chris Broussard, known globally for his incisive coverage and analysis of the NBA. He shares his presentation experiences as a television sports analyst on FS1’s ‘FIRST THINGS FIRST’, radio co-host on Fox Sports Radio’s ‘THE ODD COUPLE’, professional speaker, interviewer, and panel speaker, providing insight and perspective on delivering in diverse speaking situations. Apply these principles, and you can be unforgettable…on stage, online, and on camera! Snippets:

• Preparation is key in every speaking environment
• Writing notes can help you remember the flow of your presentation
• Devise a method for staying calm when things go wrong.
• Use stories effectively and include balanced humor
• Prepare for a panel like you prepare for a paper. RESEARCH!
• Learn skills from different experts. Don’t emulate any one person
• Reading more and writing well can enhance your speaking expertise

Speaking at a hybrid event can be exciting, rewarding, and challenging. Imagine HOSTING one…especially after not having done so in three years!  Mark and Darren share a few of the mistakes they made, and the lessons they learned hosting GAME CHANGERS 2022 – ALL IN, their first LIVE event in three years. As you continue your speaking journey, these ideas and principles will help to make you and your events unforgettable!

Snippets:

• Build your team with the right people who have a heart to help
• Engage a solid A/V crew to handle technical challenges
• The right equipment matters, using it effectively matters more
• A Chat-Master with a microphone makes a huge difference in the Zoom room
• Tools like Planning Center are critical for an effective ‘run of show’
• A team of live attendees in the Zoom room enhances virtual engagement
• Create one breakout room for each speaker to engage the virtual audience
• A ‘catch-box’ is a fun way of engaging the live audience