Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

[WitchyOoman]

I have been asked to address City Council Tuesday evening (before City Council's meeting). I have been asked to address two specific issues -- property revaluation and outsourcing the winter's snowplowing of all of the city's streets.

Everyone in the city knows how mad I still am about the dangerous street conditions of last winter... and it shows when I give my speech. lol

I have five minutes to speak... they use a timer... and I have spent the last two days perfecting my Talking Points. I asked Mr Witchy to listen to me and time me. I just squeeze in a "good evening, esteemed City Council members" and "thank you for permitting me to speak to City Council" before and a "thank you for your time" at the end; the meat of my speech is exactly 4 minutes and 49 seconds. I am pretty good at gaging my own speaking timing and writing to that.

So I did a dry run for Mr Witchy... OMG! He timed me at 3 minuts and 39 seconds! This is after I timed myself rpatedly at 4 minutes and 49 seconds.

The problem: I'm getting so mad about last year's winter fiasco, that I talk faster and faster as I get madder and madder. dwl I'm racing right through that second half of my speech!

Mr Witchy tried - several times to slow me down... but I didn't slow down much at all. He says he's never seen me talk so fast in the 20 years he's known me! eek

I want City Council to HEAR ME. They are going to vote on both of these issues in a meeting right after I (and a handful of other citizens) speak to them. I want City Council to HEAR ME LOUD AND CLEAR!! So I need to speak slowly enough to be understood. And I do not have more speech that it would take 5 minutes to say, so I have enough time to speak it all.

HELP!! How am I gonna slow myself down sufficiently? Any advice?
Unnu know me -- once somebody gets me wound up, I really get going! I don't want to eat the microphone in pure anger!

[ILP]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WitchyOoman</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold">I want City Council to HEAR ME.</span> They are going to vote on both of these issues in a meeting right after I (and a handful of other citizens) speak to them. I want City Council to HEAR ME LOUD AND CLEAR!! So I need to speak slowly enough to be understood. And I do not have more speech that it would take 5 minutes to say, so I have enough time to speak it all.

HELP!! How am I gonna slow myself down sufficiently? Any advice?
Unnu know me -- once somebody gets me wound up, I really get going! I don't want to eat the microphone in pure anger! </div></div>

You will need to speak poignantly! O, and mentioning taxes, long standing TAXPAYING citizen, children, doing what is right, call the council person that represents your area by name (o, and look them straight in the eyes).....blah, blah, blah never hurts either.

All things I've done when I've spoken before my elected officials.

[SandiF]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

I can only say to just stay on the topic and on point, specific and be persuasive. Measure your words and don't ramble on. If I have to speak before an audience, I usually keep in mind that my words have a price, which is why I'm there.. either to deliver a message with the expectation that something will come out of it.

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

Oh, this is hardly the first time I've been called upon to address City Council. dwl
They all know me well!

I will post the short speech afterwards. (Don't want anybody to see it online before I deliver it.)
I have hit every Talking Point that the politician who gave me this opportunity to speak wants me to hit upon. Unsurprisingly, he and I see things the same way...

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

Sandi, I have the speech written and memorized, and intend to use crib notes on an index card.

I'm not new to public speaking. I just never had this particular problem before, where I got so mad that I just could not slow down properly.

It's like somebody just put the 45 record on 78 speed, and my mouth keeps on going... and going... and going... faster..... and faster..... and faster. (Boy, did I just date myself with that analogy! )

[Magician]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

Shuffle in a few index cards that say &quot;breathe...3...2...1...resume&quot; into your stack.
Good luck!

[Tulip]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

1. Just because you have 5 minutes to speak doesn't mean you have to suck up every second. If you run short, then I say fine and your audience probably will be relieved as well.

2. Keep repeating your speech. If you say anything often enough, it's bound to dull the edge of your emotions. This should help you slow down and just focus on delivering it.

3. If all else fails and you are determined to get in your full 5 minutes, tell an appropriate joke at the end and then stride back to your seat. Usually humor is used at the beginning to put the audience at ease, but it's just as effective at the end to leave a good taste in the mouths of those you wish to sway.

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Shuffle in a few index cards that say &quot;breathe...3...2...1...resume&quot; into your stack.
Good luck!</div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tulip</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
1. Just because you have 5 minutes to speak doesn't mean you have to suck up every second. If you run short, then I say fine and your audience probably will be relieved as well.

2. Keep repeating your speech. If you say anything often enough, it's bound to dull the edge of your emotions. This should help you slow down and just focus on delivering it.

3. If all else fails and you are determined to get in your full 5 minutes, tell an appropriate joke at the end and then stride back to your seat. Usually humor is used at the beginning to put the audience at ease, but it's just as effective at the end to leave a good taste in the mouths of those you wish to sway. </div></div>
Thank you both, Magix and Tulip.

I suspect that I will not use up all 5 minutes, at the rate I'm speaking it. I'll have to come up with a joke to see at the end, if I should have time left. Thanks!

[Wahalla]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)



Look up a Colin Powell presentation in its entirity...

He is self depreciating...and there is some lighthoumour... Why Colin Powel because he used the technique that I use that is effective...that is called the news technique..

Dress one level better than them.... only.. two levels is dis respectful..

Introduce your self....Here u put in the one line of houmour...pay repect to the audience...(But dont say I am not use to giving public speeches, it will [censored] polticians off)


Tell em what u are going to tell them
Tell them
Tell them what you told them..

Being nervious is natural, it is adrenaline and you need it...
Hands are dangerous... too little is not good too much u look like histrionic robot...Have a back to set position.. The selassie fingers is good.. mine is holding the thumb with the other thumb and forefinger above the stomoach...
Eye contact.. I am a viloent Jamaican any one I make eye contact I am either want to have sex with if it is a woman or kill if it is a man....so I make eye contact with women!

I like giving presentations.... last week we had a operational rehersal and were devided into work groups with different skill sets to overveiw different parts of the operation... I was foisted on giving the summary for my work group of which I am no expert..Then for the rest of the two days I had to give the work group presentations....

I took quick notes...gave a reveiw of what we did.. highlighted a wide variety of issues that needed addressing...

Then was questions I answered the question, partially by deflection.. ie u will get asked things that are not relevant.. u simply point out that is not the issue, but will be happy to discuss later... other questions I answered partially, then looking to the expert to answer the question.. ie my collegue here is the expert he will answer in detail...

( I will say I am good at it, partialy because I have a voice like Miles Davis, women get turned on by it and men get scared...Blunt truma to the traechea has that effect)

[blugiant]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WitchyOoman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sandi, I have the speech written and memorized, and intend to use crib notes on an index card.

I'm not new to public speaking. I just never had this particular problem before, where I got so mad that I just could not slow down properly.

It's like somebody just put the 45 record on 78 speed, and my mouth keeps on going... and going... and going... faster..... and faster..... and faster. (Boy, did I just date myself with that analogy! ) </div></div>

yu kno da last thyme mii gave a speech to sum politrixxstahs ann ministers mii qwestian dem integretee pon da issue. mii affended sum aff dem ann sum peeps pon jam.com wander iff mii onlee doo itt pon da net

mii found dat wen mii knoo mii ave a time limit and over prepared mii chat to fast because lanni want to git awl my speech inn. preperation iss da key ann doan worry because da speech will flow naturally even iff you speak to fast. you just have to relax a little ann doan worry about being perfect. iff mii can doo itt successfully, mii doan tink you shood ave a prablem

[Magician]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">mii affended sum aff dem ann sum peeps pon jam.com wander iff mii onlee doo itt pon da net</div></div>

wish I was there!

Let me guess, it go sintin like so:

&quot;Dear mzungu politrixtars,
Mi come ya fi tell unu bout community tandards.
Sum a unu funeee and sun a unu lebanese.
Bun fyah pon oyinbo funeeee politrixtars.&quot;

Was I close?

[Magician]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am a viloent Jamaican any one I make eye contact I am either want to have sex with if it is a woman or kill if it is a man....so I make eye contact with women!</div></div>

[blugiant]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blakkgiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">mii affended sum aff dem ann sum peeps pon jam.com wander iff mii onlee doo itt pon da net</div></div>

wish I was there!

Let me guess, it go sintin like so:

&quot;Dear mzungu politrixtars,
Mi come ya fi tell unu bout community tandards.
Sum a unu funeee and sun a unu lebanese.
Bun fyah pon oyinbo funeeee politrixtars.&quot;

Was I close? </div></div>

no more like sum aff oonnoo blakk politrixxstahs ann ministars no good cah oonnoo inna oyinbo packets dat y oonnoo a trii fii mislead. diss communitee nah bow to oonnoo nunsense ann wii will gitt sum wan fe challenge oonnoo inn a de nexx eleckkshan iff oonnoo doan stapp diss nunsense. strange ting more aff de mzungu politrixxstahs agreed widd mii. itt took two elekkshans till wii finallee got ridd aff wan no good blakk politrixxstah

[Magician]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

Post di u-tube link please.

Mi waan fi hear what Blue-speak sound like in real world so mi know how long is di 'e' in 'onlee' an if it have a gutteral stop in 'eleckkshan' at di 'k' like yuh a stamma.

[WitchyOoman]

Re: Public Speaking Tuesday (HELP ME!!)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Magix</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Post di u-tube link please.

Mi waan fi hear what Blue-speak sound like in real world so mi know how long is di 'e' in 'onlee' an if it have a gutteral stop in 'eleckkshan' at di 'k' like yuh a stamma. </div></div>
waaaiiiiiiiiiiiiii


Don't pick on Blu, Magix. He's helped me out when my back was to the wall. And he's never failed to find out, after my long absences from jcom, to find out how I'm really doing.

Although..... I do admit to wondering what bluspeak sounds like, for real! dwl