Art of presentation workshop handout

Art Making THE

of

Powerful Design Presentations with Elizabeth Marner-Brooks & Tamar Samir

PRESENTATIONS and PLATFORM SKILLS PREPARATION 1.

Customize your presentation according to your audience.

2.

Know your subject and what points you want to get across to the audience.

3.

4.

Write an outline, bullet points or a draft of your speech.

Put key ideas, words, facts and figures in order. Use index cards ( 4x6 or 3x5).

5.

Ask yourself and be prepared to answer questions regarding: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, and HOW.

6.

Memorize your beginning and ending.

7.

Make the body as spontaneous as possible.

8.

Summarize when nearing the end.

9.

Prepare some commonly asked questions in case no one responds

when you ask for questions at the end. If no one responds, you can say, “A commonly asked question is_______” and answer it.

That usually sparks audience questions.

10. Use handouts and visuals.

©1998 Elizabeth Marner-Brooks, Training The Speaking Voice, Ansonia Station, P.O. Box 237025, NYC, NY 10023, 917-374-8984

STYLE 1.

Be simple and direct. (Remember Hamlet’s advice to Players.)

2.

Maintain eye contact with audience. This translates into physical contact. Eyes are the most important.

3.

If you move or gesture, do it for a reason. Avoid idle, vague or meaningless movements.

4.

Position yourself close to audience if possible. If they are far back or spread out, ask them to move up closer. If a chairperson is introducing you, ask the chairperson to request that the audience move closer.

5.

6.

Use a variety of pitch, rhythm (speed) and volume. This is an excellent way to attract and hold attention.

Listen carefully to questions and answer them. If a question arises for which you do not know the answer, be honest. Honesty helps you to avoid getting flustered.

7.

Beware of using humor. If you are a funny person and you have inoffensive and tested material, use it. If you are not a funny person, stay away from humor.

8.

Use personal experiences, stories, anecdotes.

9.

Be brief. Leave your audience wanting more. Spark their interest.

10. Involve your audience. Talk with them, not to or at them.

Š1998 Elizabeth Marner-Brooks, Training The Speaking Voice, Ansonia Station, P.O. Box 237025, NYC, NY 10023, 917-374-8984

PRIMARY ANXIETY INDICATORS 1.

2.

3.

4.

Hands Eyes Voice Trunk, posture, balance

THE QUIETING RESPONSE 1.

2.

Visualize a part of yourself in a positive image for a few seconds.

Breathe In through the nose, out through the mouth.

Alert the abdomen muscles to work for you.

Breathe—Wait—Speak.

3.

Yawn Relaxes jaw.

Opens throat.

Increases oxygen.

4.

Shake your hands and body to send bottled up energy outward.

5.

Smile—personal warmth, humor.

Find friendly eyes in your audience.

FIVE QUALITIES A SPEAKER SHOULD POSSESS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Knowledge.

Variety in delivery.

Contact with the audience, caring.

Energy, enthusiasm for the spirit of the message.

Focus, concentration.

©1998 Elizabeth Marner-Brooks, Training The Speaking Voice, Ansonia Station, P.O. Box 237025, NYC, NY 10023, 917-374-8984

PREPARING PROFESSIONAL VISUAL PRESENTATIONS 1.

Text/Imagery: Keep text to a minimum: titles and key words only. The audience wants to hear the information from you, not read it. Visuals (photos, drawings) excite/engage/support better than text.

2.

Design: Keep the design of your presentation clear and clean with a

consistent look from page to page, so that your project/artwork shines.

3.

Pacing: an adult viewer needs about 3 seconds to read one line of type.

The pace at which you change slides should be slow enough to allow the viewer to read the title and take in the visuals, but not too slow.

Don’t put too much info on one slide. Let the slides gradually build the story.

A suggestion for slideshows from LifeHack.org: ”You should have twenty slides each lasting exactly twenty seconds. The 20-20 Rule forces you to be concise and to keep from boring people.”

4.

Timing: Be dramatic! Use the moment that you change the slide to

reveal a new look or piece of information. Synch slide changes with your verbal presentation.

5.

Technology: come in early, load your presentation and check it: video, images, sound. Don’t make people wait for you to solve tech issues.

References: 18 Tips for Killer Presentations (LifeHack.org) http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/18-tips-for-killer-presentations.html

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US: TRAINING THE SPEAKING VOICE ELIZABETH MARNER-BROOKS Ansonia Station, P. O. Box 237025, New York City, 10023 Phone: 917-374-8984, Email: elizmb@tiac.net TAMAR SAMIR, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Phone: 646-522-3924, Email: samirt@newschool.edu

Art Making THE

of

Powerful Design Presentations with Elizabeth Marner-Brooks & Tamar Samir