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STAGE TIME: One or the Other, Never Both!
By Darren | March 17, 2010
Do you have a lot to say? Do you wish you could say more in less time? Are you aware of one of the most common mistakes speakers make, that they don’t even realize they’re making? It’s one of the many differences between the average speaker, and a World-class speaker.
This past weekend, I enjoyed attending the Lady and the Champs Speakers’ Conference as much as any of our attendees. I learned so much from Craig Valentine, Ed Tate, and Patricia Fripp.
During one of Fripp’s sessions, she pointed out this exact idea.
I realized the brilliance of what she said in an instant! It’s what Mark Brown had to “coach” out of me when I was competing for the World Championship. It still affects my speaking & speaker coaching today. It’s one of the reasons I was able to say so much in a short speech. (Now, I wish I could edit it down even more!)
Have you ever heard a speaker say in a story,
1.) “…and then he asked her a question…”
2.) “He turned to her as he looked down…”
3.) “She was so angry, she yelled…”
These are classic examples of word wasters!
They are all unnecessary. To paraphrase what Patricia Fripp said: “Use Verbal, or Visual - Never both!”
Here would be my coaching:
1.) Just ask!
“Barbara, why are you…”
We can tell by using the recipient’s name (Frippicism) who it is directed towards, and if we phrase it in a question, we know it’s a question!
2.) Just turn and look down!
If we’re with you in the story, we can see you turning, we can see you looking down!
3.) Just yell!
“THOMAS! WHERE ARE YOU!?”
It will be better delivery, and will add vocal variety, and save you words along with precious time!
Every day, I sat at my desk at my day-job while looking at my “Ouch!” speech in progress, trying to find ways to get my point across in fewer words. In that speech, I tell the story of telling my parents I want to be a comedian. In the story, my parents have no dialogue, but in that 17-second story, you know exactly what happened.
I challenge you to transcribe one of your speeches or your signature story. Any time you see action verbs or narration, ask yourself. “Would it be more powerful with just the visual?”
Will you remember, the visual or the verbal, NEVER both?
Topics: Stage Time Comments |
March 18th, 2010 at 7:10 am
Outstanding!!! You are totally right. I now realize that I have been writing my speeches for “reading” and not “visualizing”. If we are there and our audience is there, make it visual, avoid “narration”, show it! And we will save a lot of words. Thank you, Master.
Edith. Club Awesome.
March 18th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Absolutely, Darren!
I believe that it could even be a “distraction” to have both - the action, if it is delivered accurately and sincerely, will be more effective than words, most of the time.
Ranee
March 18th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Thanks for the comments! Keep ‘em coming. I read them all!
March 18th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Ah, the concept of transcribing. What I have stressed with many over the years is to NEVER transcribe from memory! The only way you can transcribe is from an actual recording, video or audio. If you try to transcribe a presentation from your mind, the very things you’re talking about in the article will manage to disappear. You almost NEVER hear these mistakes in your head. I don’t care how painful it is to watch or listen to your presentation; you MUST do it! This does NOT mean you have to perform your presentation verbatim from a script, but you need to transcribe what you present.
March 18th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Great advice…thank you…visual or verbal…never both.
thank you so much!
Patricia
March 18th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Hi Darren:
Excellent advice to applied will bring more results and success in speaking.
Emphasis is an changing wisdom, if made known in time to prevent more mistakes.
With your right hints, you supply true initiatians of dealing with the right recommendations.
You are fasninating and fun to be around with you.
Have a smiling day.
With kindly regards from Herbert.
March 18th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Hi Darren:
Greetings from Toronto, Canada.
There is much more than just speaking. I requires all the well-known approaches, you’ve have learned in many years.
How better can one learn, improve and apply all gained knowledge and advice.
Understanding proper speeches is an learning
and new-gained business.
New techniques musdt be applied, but your excellent route is worhty to follow.
Thanks so much for all of your effort, and openess you share with us.
Have a smiling day.
With kindly rgards from Herbert.
March 19th, 2010 at 5:28 am
Darren - As always, wonderful advice. And for me, perfect timing. I’ve been working on a speech that I am trying to make my “signature” presentation. I’m back to the editting table, to see where I can change verbal to visual.
Thanks so much.
Dawna
March 19th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Before we can eliminate the verbal, the audience must know the situation, the characters, and the event. How to make tose things clear to the audience with the minimum number of words is the true challenge.
Regards
March 20th, 2010 at 10:17 am
Thanks for the tips! I did a visual for a fiend and it was impromptu explanation of my cat drinking from the glass on my nightstand,as i was getting her to take to the kitchen to clean it.I got an immediate guffaw and want to keep on amuzing people by being a better communicator.
PS My friend is undergoing Chemo
March 26th, 2010 at 4:54 am
Thank you so much for this advice, Darren. As I prepare for the Area Contest, I went back to the drawing board and eliminated some of the verbals. What a HUGE difference!!! I can’t wait to try it out on an audience (stage time today at 1:00 thank goodness). Another trick I learned is to increase that visual. In my speech I have a conversation with my 6-year-old daughter. Instead of just turning from one side to the other, I now twirl my hair while playing my daughter’s part. It wow’s ‘em!!! Thank you for being so open with us!
April 3rd, 2010 at 11:45 am
Hi, Darren,
Great advice–I’ll work on this. I read and save everything you send me. Although busyness prevents me from responding every time, I want you to know how much I appreciate your work for TMs everywhere. I’m bringing people to the convention in August — we’ll see you there. Thanks again!