I recently got the chance to market myself to about 750 people in an indirect way, while helping my favorite art and culture group!
Remember way back in June, when it was still warm and sunny, I told you about my oratory blunder at a Marquette Symphony Orchestra Board meeting? At the time, I never wanted to speak in front of more than two people at a time unless they were my relatives.
Of course, I fought my way past that fear and took steps to be sure I wasn't going to choke like that again. One thing I did was write myself a script, as detailed as I could make it on the important points. However, I left the construction of the sentences straightforward and boring. This way I can change the wording to make the speech sound more like I was speaking, and not reading.
Another trick I taught myself was to focus on two or three people among the crowd who I was comfortable with, and pretend I was just talking to them.
My Ten-year-old son even gave me a tip. "Don't lock your knees," he said. "Or you might pass out!"
An odd trick is I also employ is to take John French out of the speech. I like listening to Dan Kennedy CD's. He's a professional speaker and marketer, and I love his confidence. So I 'channeled' some Dan Kennedy into my ego. I didn't pretend I was Dan Kennedy, I just pretended I wasn't quite me. I've read that many professional speakers and entertainers do this.
These little tricks worked at small meetings just fine. In July I was nominated and elected to the MSO's vice presidency. Though I really felt unworthy, the confidence of my fellow board members gave me a boost to my self esteem. Self confidence is another tool in my public speaking toolbox.
As Vice President, I'm responsible for carrying out the President's duties if she is unable to. The president has to make announcements at MSO concerts after the intermission. From the stage. In front of a lot of people!
Guess what? The president wasn't going to be at our December Holiday Concert. That means I would have to make announcements. From the stage. In front of a lot of people! And this is a sold out concert!
Although I had easily avoided June's horrors of forgetting easy words in front of people, I only spoke to about a dozen people or so. Was I ready to talk to a crowd of around 750 music lovers, and 80 or so musicians?
Hell yes!
This was a great opportunity to market myself to all these arts lovers! To tell them my name, what I do with the MSO, and to try to look cool, or at least OK. Now, when they see my postcards in the mail, they might remember me! This could be an important part of my branding!
So I put aside all reservations and nervousness and wrote out my announcements. They were approved by three other board members. I was ready!
At the end of the first half of the concert, I stood up and looked at the crowd. Wow! There were a lot of people!
I went to the restroom, got a drink of water, and stood by the stage near the podium. I wanted to get used to the view, so as not to shock myself when it was time to talk.
The local Catholic Bishop was also waiting. Bishop Garland was due to narrate "Good Tidings of Great Joy" by Wilford L. Holcombe during the second half of the concert. I introduced myself and thanked him for doing his narration. I told him I was getting nervous. I had never spoken in front of so many people. He told me whether it's one person or a thousand, it's all the same. Another trick!
The lights in Kaufman Auditorium flickered a couple of times to let folks know they needed to find their seats. I got warm. Then warmer.
I gave the audience a couple of minutes to settle in, then I climbed the steps to the stage. I was wearing dress shoes with lots of toe-room. I had practiced walking up steps in them all day long so I wouldn't trip. It worked.
I stood at the podium, cleared my throat and said "Good evening." The mic wasn't on. I saw someone in the control room jump from one side to the next. I smiled and repeated "Good evening." This time my voice echoed back.
The president told me you can't really see anybody because of the lights. She was wrong. I could see everyone! And they were looking at me.
I read my script. I channeled the Dan Kennedy in my soul. I made the announcements. I invited people to the afterglow (I said it!). I told them about our next concert. I encouraged them to donate to the MSO. My paper was shaking in my hand. I tried to speak forcefully. I finished and thanked them. As I turned to walk away, they applauded. I'm sure they were just being polite. I'm sure I sounded like an idiot.
Turns out I didn't sound like an idiot. My brutally honest wife gave me the thumbs up. My equally brutally honest (and less attached) friend Carrie also congratulated me on a speech well delivered. Not even a Yooper accent!
Must have been the Dan Kennedy!
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