[Sorry this issue is late. I was helping my elderly parents fight Alzheimers all last week.] Only A few days left to get your FREE Toaster! (see below) ########################################## GREAT SPEAKING Circulation 6149 Vol. 1 Number 8 - April 23, 1999 Publisher: Tom Antion tomAntion@aol.com http://www.Antion.com (C) Anchor Publishing 1999 ########################################## No one ever lost credibility by being interesting. ========================================== Please feel free to forward this E-Zine to anyone you know that is interested in being a better presenter, or who may want to make money speaking and training. If you are receiving this issue as a forward, and would like to get your own free subscription, please visit http://www.antion.com/ezinesubscribe.htm PRIVACY STATEMENT: We will not distribute your address to anyone. Period. ============================================= IN THIS ISSUE ============================================= 1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip 2. Advanced Presentation Skills Article (Beginners should read this too) 3. Humor Technique Series 4. Speaker Marketing Tip 5. Speaker Humor 6. Websites for Speakers *** SPEAKER BUSINESS LEADS *** Will be delivered to full subscribers when available. ********** OUR SPONSOR *********** The WAKE EM UP PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING VIDEO TRAINING SYSTEM is now in Pre-Release. If you can do without the fancy packaging, you can save a ton on this fantastic new advanced speaker training tool. For details: visit http://www.antion.com/products/newvideo.htm or mailto:videosystem@antion.com ************************************ ===================================================== 1. Quick Presentation Skills Tip ===================================================== ON STAGE TIPS by Tom Antion => The larger the crowd, the larger and slower the gestures. => If you have a small crowd, or if you are videoconferencing, or on television, use smaller gestures. => Work to eliminate distracting or nervous gestures, but do not kill yourself to add new ones. They will take care of themselves and most of the time they look affected. => Let your words trigger your actions. If you are counting, hold out your fingers. If you say no, shake your head no. => Hold your hands open and wide apart to show sincerity and honesty. => Hold your hands behind your back during question-and-answer sessions (don't overdo it). => Avoid excessive hands in pockets, clenched fists, pointing, hands on hips, and the infamous fig leaf position where your hands are crossed in front of your groin. (Ref. Wake 'em Up Business Presentations Page 121) ************ SPONSOR ************ SPEAKERS . . . INCREASE YOUR IMAGE - "EXPAND" YOUR BUSINESS BEVERLY HILLS OFFICE ADDRESS For only $29.99 per month! BEVERLY HILLS SPEAKER OFFICE for only $300 to 600 per month! For more information and to sign up, please contact: Maize Fields 310-990-2148, mailto:zealous_one@earthlink.net ********************************** ********* 10,000 Plus Visitors per Month ********** Tom gets this many people and over 40,000 individual page views at http://www.antion.com and it is growing. A 1.5 hour consultation with Tom will tell you how to get there. To schedule a non technical "dummies" appointment call (301) 459-0738 mailto:tomantion@aol.com ********************************************* ===================================================== 2. Advanced Presentation Skills Article ===================================================== PROPS (Part 1 of 2) by Tom Antion 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 presenter you are a performer whether you believe it or not. You have an obligation to use whatever means that are 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 projectors, pointers, notes, chairs, markers, pens, and other audio/visual aids are all forms of props. Conversely,props are a form of visual aid. Why use props? Props help warm up the audience. They can be used as a substitute for notes. They help focus attention on the points you are trying to make along with illustrating them for you. They make better connections than your words with the visually oriented members of your audience. They create interest, add variety, and make your points more memorable. Props can be used pre-program to pass around in the audience in anticipation of the program. You see this at large arenas when beach balls and Frisbees are being tossed around in the crowd. I pass out snacks and/or custom-designed crossword puzzles about the group that I make on my computer. The puzzles make especially great icebreakers because the members of the group get together to help each other with the solutions. Do you hate relying on notes? Props can be a substitute for written cheat sheets. To illustrate this in live seminars and television interviews I use three hats as an outline for a program. The first hat is a gag ball cap that has really long hair attached to it so that you look like a hippie when you wear it. The second hat is a black top hat. The third is a safari hat. Each hat prompts me to talk about a thoroughly rehearsed bit or chunk. Putting on the longhaired ball cap immediately reminds me to talk about when the company was young and aggressive. After that section I remove the ball cap (if you have a fun and playful audience, you could put it on an audience member's head), then I put on the black top hat. The top hat prompts a section on the mature growth years of the company. I then put on the safari hat which kicks off a section on searching for new business. The whole talk is done without any notes at all. You only have to memorize your opening and closing and practice each of the sections independently as you learned in a previous issue. Didnt someone say a prop is worth a thousand words? Maybe that was a picture, but its just about the same thing. Many times a well selected prop will illustrate your point much better than you could ever do in words. It also focuses attention directly on the point you are trying to make because it is something novel that is occurring during the presentation. People can space out easily on your words, but a unique prop is hard to ignore. Also, the visually oriented people in your audience will perk up and get more value when you use props. Memorability is another good reason to use props. People remember pictures far longer than words. That is why the great storytellers try to use words to create images in your mind. They know the images will be remembered when the words are long forgotten. If you are not a great storyteller yet, you can use props to help create these pictures. Prop Types and Tips in next issue (Ref. Wake 'em Up Business Presentations Pages 167-169) *********** SPONSOR *********** April is FREE Toaster Month IMPROVE YOUR PLATFORM AND SPEAKING BUSINESS COMPETENCY Sign up for a speaker consultation with Tom this month and get a FREE Toaster . . . . Hey the banks do it! Call Tom (301) 459-0738 or (800) 448-6280 mailto:tomantion@aol.com ******************************** ===================================================== 3. HUMOR TECHNIQUE ===================================================== A SOUND, SOUND SYSTEM (part 8 of a 10 part series) by Tom Antion If it is hard to hear, people will not listen. As a humorous presenter you must have an excellent sound system because some of the time you will be talking while your audience is laughing. Stand-up comics need good sound too, but they are a little different because they tell a joke, then people laugh (they hope). They tell another joke, then people laugh. A humorous presenter will be rolling right along making points, showing product features, telling stories, and dropping one liners and must be heard all the while. A humorous presentation demands a better sound system than a serious talk. In a serious talk, words can be missed and the main message can still be very clear. In humor it does not work that way. If key words are missed in a joke or story, it will ruin the humor. No one will laugh and you will look like a giant goober. The need for a thorough sound check is another good reason to be in the room early. You need to check the microphone to make sure it works. You need to check to see how far your mouth should be from the microphone. You need to know how loudly you should talk. Realize that during your check the audio level should be very loud. People will absorb the sound once they get into the room. Make sure the sound system is carrying to all parts of the room. If someone speaks prior to you, try to go to the back of the room to see how he or she is coming across. If you have someone at the presentation with you, have them signal from the back of the room if changes are needed after you have started. If the amplifier controls are not handy after you have started, you can adjust the sound by changing the distance between your mouth and the microphone and/or increasing or decreasing the loudness of your voice. Try not to use the latter method too often so you do not strain your vocal mechanism. (Ref: Wake 'em Up Business Presentations Page 47) Next issue: To Laugh or Not to Laugh . . . That is the Question. "We live in a world of entertainment. If you have hard hitting business content and need a way to inject appropriate humor to keep people with you, this is the book that will teach you how to do it." Bob Pike, CSP "The Trainer's Trainer" Editor Creative Training Techniques Newsletter President Creative Training Techniques Companies ********* GREAT SPEAKER REFERENCE ******* BE THE HIT OF YOUR NEXT PRESENTATION! "Wake em Up! How to Use Humor and Other Professional Techniques to Create Alarmingly Good Business Presentations" "Toms program and materials will cut five years off a speakers learning curve." -- Cavett Robert, Founder National Speakers Assn. For a FREE Chapter visit http://www.antion.com/products/produc~3.htm ********************************************** ===================================================== 4. $$$$$$$ SPEAKER MARKETING TIP $$$$$$$$ ===================================================== COVER ME, IM GOIN IN! (Part I) By Kathi Dunn, Dunn+Associates Design Who says you cant judge a book by its cover? The truth is, a book is literally judged first and foremost by its cover. This is true also of audio and video covers. The power of a cover cannot be underestimated: It functions as a your marketing tool and your sales force as well as making the content of the your Back of Room (BOR) product immediately apparent. Just like a billboard, your cover must provoke an INSTANT response. Research proves that packaging is a major key to the successful marketing of any product. Recent studies indicate that a potential buyer spends only eight seconds looking at your front cover and 15 seconds looking at your back cover before making a decision. To enhance your products success, be sure your cover is designed to attract powerfully and inform succinctly. To increase the effectiveness of your cover, first ask: Who is your target audience? Who is your competition and what sets you apart? Where and how will you sell your product? A well thought out cover design will incorporate all these considerations prior to its development. For a winning product, you will need strong ideas, innovative design and excellent technical execution. An experienced cover designer will ensure quality results and a cost-effective process by acting as a liaison who speaks the same language as prepress service bureaus, printers, and manufacturers. Best of all, a professional designer takes care of all those niggling details, freeing you to do what you are really good at: running your speaking business. Your cover design is one of the most important investments you will make in producing a successful book, audio or video. In the next issue, we will discuss the nuts and bolts of cover design that result in hot selling speaker products. Kathi Dunn is an Award winning design for speakers, publishers, and consultants. Since 1985. To Contact her: Mail: P O Box 870, Hayward WI 54843-0870 USA Shipping: 16378 W Stress Rd, Hayward WI 54843 USA Mailto:dunndsgn@win.bright.net Phone: 715/634-4857 (9-5 Central Time, Monday-Friday) Fax: 715/634-5617 (24 hours) ************************ NOTE: I just ran across the most fabulous marketing site I have ever seen. I am using a tremendous amount of what I learned at this site. Check it out http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/12273/ Want to really take advantage of your E-mail marketing . . . WITHOUT BEING A SPAMMER? GO TO http://www.marketingtips.com/mailloop/t.x/12273 ********* SPONSOR ********* DRAMATICALLY INCREASE YOUR INCOME Through Quick, Strategic Positioning on the Internet GET OUR FREE 80-PAGE BOOK, "7 Sizzling Strategies for Building a 6-Figure Professional Practice or Business", and other FREE REPORTS and BOOKS, when you subscribe to our FREE 6-Figure Tips Newsletter for Professionals. Send blank email to jointips@successfulpractice.com Or Click Here: mailto:jointips@successfulpractice.com Dr. Sheldon Nix, Ph.D. Director, The Successful Practice Institute at Eastern College **************************** ===================================================== 5. SPEAKER HUMOR ===================================================== => Here is a speaker who is going places . . . and the sooner the better. => Our next speaker is going to speak his / her mind . . . so here to say three words is . . . DEFINITIONS A to H: (From "The Devils Dictionary" by Ambrose Bierce) => Abscond: To move in a "mysterious way" usually with the belongings of another. => Blamestorming: Sitting around in a group discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible. (not from Devils dictionary) => Bore: A person who talks when they should be listening . . . to you. => Conservative: One who is enamored with existing evils as distinguished from a liberal who wishes to replace them with others. => Consult: To seek another persons approval for a course already decided upon. => Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. => Deja moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before. (not from Devils Dictionary) => Dentist: A magician who puts metal in your mouth and pulls coins out of your pocket. => Diplomacy: The patriotic art of lying for your country. => Discussion: A method of confirming others in their errors. => Egotist: A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me. => Eulogy: Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead. => Fib: A lie that has not grown up yet. => Friendless: Addicted to the utterance of truth and common sense. => Friendship: A ship big enough to carry two in fair weather and only one in foul. => Grave: A place where the dead are laid to await the coming of the medical student. => Hand: A singular instrument worn at the end of a human arm and frequently thrust into someone elses pocket. => Happiness: An agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another. => Harbor: A place where ships taking refuge from storms are exposed to the fury of customs. Lot's more FREE speaker humor at http://www.antion.com/humor/speakerhumor/speakerhumor.htm ===================================================== 6. USEFUL WEBSITES ===================================================== FREE shipping and packing materials. If you use priority mail, you can get all kinds of boxes, tape and stickers by giving the US postal service a call at 1-800-222-1811, or visit http://supplies.usps.gov/ You can also get rubber bands by simply asking at your local post office. The Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations: The Ultimate Opinionated Guide for the Careful Speaker" by Charles Harrington Elster http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0395893380/ref=ad_bw1 TRAINING TOOLS SOFTWARE (for software trainers) Reader Mark Hunter from DB Basics says, "I have been teaching with this software package for about a year and I love it. I found the software at this site http://www.milori.com " "The Compleat Carry-On Traveler", a non commercial site by professional speaker Doug Dyment, is packed full of helpful travel tips from a guy that knows. The "TraveLinks" section is fabulous! http://www.oratory.com/travel/ ****** EARN BIG REFERRAL COMMISSIONS ****** You can earn a 10 - 25 percent commission for referring Tom for speaking engagements and bulk product sales. Commissions normally start between $500.00 and $1250 depending on your level of involvement. For complete details visit http://www.antion.com/referrals.htm *********************************************** ===================================================== FREE ARTICLES FOR YOUR PUBLICATIONS ===================================================== I have many articles available for reprint in your publication, company newsletter, etc. You may use articles written by me that you see here or email me to request a list. All you have to do is print the article in it's entirety along with the by line at top and the credits, and complete contact information at the end of each article. I would appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy too. Thanks ******* Do YOU WANT TO BE A SPONSOR? ******* REACH OVER 6100 SPEAKERS / TRAINERS / EXECS For sponsorship details visit http://www.antion.com/sponsor.htm OR send mailto:sponsor@antion.com *********************************************** ===================================================== For Back Issues visit: http://www.antion.com/ezine/ezinebackissues.htm ===================================================== Antion & Associates / Anchor Publishing Box 2630 Landover Hills, Maryland USA 20784 (301) 459-0738, Fax (301) 552-0225 In Continental US (800) 448-6280 orders or paid consulting only mailto:TomAntion@aol.com http://www.antion.com Trade permanent links with us mailto:linktrade@antion.com Free for All Links http://www.antion.com/links.html