23/12/2010

The naked presenter, by Garr Reinolds

Garr Reinolds is an American living mostly in Japan, he wrote a book that I liked a lot Zen of presenting. His new book, if one can be said so, is even better.

Just fresh out now, and I just finished it reading, the first time.

Now, I have to go back and begin to study it more, taking out what I have underlined while going through it the first time.

The idea of "naked" presentation came to him from the way the Japanese bath together unclothed. I wonder still if they do it together, men and women working at the same place...

But the idea for presenting, with or without any slides in front of the audience, is funny :: just imagine me, or anyone else going out there literally naked!

Of course, "naked" is a metaphor, for him. Speaking without outing walls and barriers, open and vulnerable, clean of what is not necessary, prepared but being there in the moment.

I have to come back to write about some of his wonderful ideas with whom I agree and whom, mostly, I practice. Expressing feelings, speaking openly, with authenticity, and without almost as if it was one to one.

But alas, never going over the time, that is not, yet, me.

Will it ever be?

I also understood better, the magic of the resonance, between the speaker and the audience, as we stand and speak and take energy and give energy and feelings to each other.

Next time, I give a humorous or entertaining or even an informative speech, I should begin with "I am standing here to speak to you naked" or something like that, followed by a long pause.

Funny, can be very serious, and his book is very useful, also underlining the huge importance of personal stores in any presentation or speech

21/12/2010

I dont remember, Heltai

This is not its original title, only the most important vers of it.
And echo to the two other "I remember" and "remember me" poems.


I do not remember how I embraced you and how you embraced me
in the spring - now it is winter, and I do not remember
under the acacia trees in May
now it is winter, I do not remember
Amoureux à Paris cropped

Suday 9 IV Bucarest052

ApprochesDifferents4
now it is winter, I do not remember

how you kissed me and how I kissed you...

20/12/2010

Remember me


Remember me, by Christina Rosetti told by me
"Remember me when you can no more hold my hand"

 better forget and smile...
Thames Path B-77dv  then remember and be sad

Morning,, interpretative reading! poem

by Erdeji
translated from Hungarian and told by J Kertesz
I remember a beautiful morning...
Morning.mp3

The blackbird was flying and sinting that to live is good, to live is great
CharingX to RFH_0039
when someone holds your hand...
Holding hands in the market

London too: holding hands (detail)

Providence-245

18/12/2010

Accross the bridge

You have first to cross the bridge towards the audience, before doing anything else.

By how you walk up or down to talk, by how you smile and open your arms toward them and come closer, how you look at the eyes with direct warm contact.

Before you begin your first word.

They have to feel you are authentic, yourself, sincere and happy to be there, by your stance, attitude, attire and walk toward the place you will be speaking.

I will speak later of the great new book I just received, and begun to read "the naked presenter".

Yes, it means mostly you have the courage to be vulnerable and there in the present. If not literary naked, but emotionally open.

16/12/2010

There are too many days this Holliday

Interpretative reading project from Toastmaster manual task

"choose part of a story, read it aloud"

this story is from a short stories book This year it will be different, from Maeva,
the tale is for before Christmas season
I will read it the 15th of December

Tony Porter: A call to men on Ted.com

Tony Porter: A call to men | Video on TED.com



What means to be a man? Do you have to be in a box? How to behave and how to get out of it?

This speech is a great example of Inspirational speech and of a Great speech in general.
Already the beginning, then his stories, his slides, and his end story too.

It did persuade me to go on with my subject but also how to "angle" it differently!
It did explain some of the comportment of my first husband at some time - even if it does not absolve him of course.

A great example of a speech from which we can all learn.

02/12/2010

A storyteller from America in Manchester



What a storyteller!

Here the edited version published, because in real life, someone got sick in the middle of his story and he had to stop, and continued only after the pause. Great editing, too!

28/11/2010

Not completely by mistake

as recorded and edited by me - it has to be a bit different if one is only listening! I did not know how humorous it can be until I told it!


With Spark London; Café Canal Theatre, 1st of November

17/11/2010

Eric's 8 steps to create a great speech


Saturday morning workshop, before Dublin's fall Humorous & Table Topics Contest
A great speech from which all of us can learn that I recorded live.

Eric Fitzpatrick who tells us to our delight about the steps to create a great speech, has been a member of Toastmasters International since March 2004.

Eric is a member of the Glasnevin Club in Dublin and has held the roles of VP Education and Club President. Eric is a Competent Communicator and then, as me, become Advanced Leader Bronze. Eric is currently the Area Governor for Area 26 in Division C. Eric won the Division C Speech Contest, so he does know what he speaks about.

Eric lives in Dublin with his wife and daughters : he wrote me that he joined at the beginning the TM to be able to speak... in his family!

Toastmasters Fall Contest in Dublin

Keynote speaker was Sean Kennedy - what a wonderful inspirational speech did he give us!

He used snippets of videos of young boys and girls while staying at the side for us to absorb them and let those speak, from time to time instead of him.

Yes, when used wisely, small parts of videos compliment the speech and make it more compelling.

At the Humorous contest all 8 were great, but of course each of us had their own preferred. I liked a lot that at this contest, the women instead of trying to imitate men remained very women-like and warm and the men did not hesitate to poke fun of themselves.

TM Humorous & TT Dublin 2010_0106

He did win the first prize of Humorous Contest - but all were great actors, I felt more then speakers this time.
TM Humorous & TT Dublin 2010_0121
And the Table Topics Contest Sunday morning was won by a London Toastmaster, David, here showing me his prize proudly.
TM Humorous & TT Dublin 2010_0001
But the second & third prize winners were also happy!
TM Humorous & TT Dublin 2010_0014
Between so many good speakers it was not easy to have a prize but in my opinion already to have arrived to this level was wonderful!

15/11/2010

From Ted.com : "And if this principles does not work; I will find others"

Inspired by nature - but also by the youth Shimon Schocken takes out once a week

Observe also how the pictures add to the speach

07/11/2010

Cadogon Hall

The concert was interesting.

But the lesson I learned from it, unforgettable.

I learned how to let the audience applaud, how to bow and accept it gracefully, instead of running out of it as I did Monday.

A big or, for me smaller, bow, first to the centre. Wait, smile, accept the applauses. Then a bow to the left, wait, Let the applause come. Then a bow to the right. And, finally, again to the centre.

What a presence too!

And he come also in with such sure steps, and a slight bow then on - let the silence come it, let people wait a bit, then begin. Pace, intrigue.

A great lesson in presentation!

02/11/2010

Mistaken Identity told with Spark London

I was stunned to see how automatic came the face and arm movements and also quite happy with the pace and rythme of voice as its variety.

So much more expressive when you see and not only hear the voice!

01/11/2010

Text of Mistaken Identity

More or less the text is like this:
--------------------------------------

At forty five years old, only, when a Mistaken Identity turned around all my life.
But was it really a mistake?

I had to return to Paris from my 3 years at the NIH near Washington DC.
 ‘We do not have often demands for chemists.’ I was told.

Finally, one nice older man told me ‘sit down, forget your PhD in chemistry and 7 years of Research: what else you can do?’

Between others, I told about the new learned skill of using a computer and some basic programming. ‘Yes! We do need someone to teach beginner computers to Companies”
It was well paid, but by they gave me very few hours.

Thus went my chemist past from which this tee shirt remains only.

One of the owners of a cloth distribution company, told me: I do not want to be taught, make me an Invoice Program on my new Apple computer.

‘Invoice? Program? Apple?’

He offered me 10 000 francs, so and I told ‘Yes, I will do it’.

It took me five month, but finally it run also I never become a good programmer. But to my surprise, two years later it still worked!

The same man created an Apple Club of Paris, to entice me to teach for free, he named me  its Vice president and printed me even business cards. we were ten: a President and three VP,

A month later, I went to visit my daughter, still student in Washington the an Apple Club in Washington had not 10 but 1000 members. Its president asked me to visit and showed me all the interesting new things he was send for all over USA.

‘Oh, we have nothing like these in France!’
‘Why do not import them there? Here is Legend Memory president’s card: call him, tell him I showed you his product.

Will he send me also one to show?

I still see myself in the cave without window where my daughter lived, and the telephone in my hands and me trembling. But a telephone call cost lots of money from Washington to Denver! Could I afford it? I pondered for long time.

Finally I called.
The call went on about thus:

‘I want to speak to Legend President.’
‘Speaking.’
‘I live in Paris’
‘Cool.’
‘ I am now in Washington, the Apple Club’s president showed me your product’.
‘Great. Want to sell it or buy for yourself?’
‘I would like to have one, to show. Sell’
‘Are you dealer or distributor?’
I had no idea what a dealer is or what means distributor so I asked.
‘Dealer? distributor? What is the difference?’
He did believe I did not know what the words mean in English.
‘A dealer has a shop. A distributor sells to the dealer.’
I did not have a shop.
‘I am not a dealer!’
‘ Well, as a distributor you can have it at 70% off the price list.’

He has just mistaken my identity.

And, by mistaken identity, I have changed my profession, my life.

Back in Paris, I was told by a big shop’s buyer, friend of a friend, that they can buy 30 of those but only if I have a company, to make an invoice: so I founded one. 

Of course, the first year, I was not only its President, but also the buyer, seller, translator, secretary and, even the cleaner. I worked 76 hours a week, but I was happy.

I liked chemistry but I love the ever evolving Personal Computer business.

So, because of a mistaken identity, from employed Research Chemist I become a company founder and Distributor of Personal Computer products.

Thinking back, many of the skills I had for Research, I needed for Distributor too. Discovering new things, researching and translating, making them known.

I also discovered some skills and identities I never knew I had in me: I buying and selling, negotiating and bargaining. We all have in us many skills that come out with time and occasion.

31/10/2010

Julie at Manchester townhall - photo

The image was also projected on two huge screens and as one can see my movements were larger and more assured at the real event hosted by Grant's Whisky Company

When I was ten - video


The war cought up with me when I was ten
Uploaded by julie70. - Explore more family videos.

This is how I told it in London in a small room to a small but important audience - in Manchester with 300 people I was better - and also shortened the begining and added to the end 'and nowedays we come back from school with my grand son and he holds my hand - understanding I need help to go down the stairs or cross the road and how important it is to hold hands until one can.

24/10/2010

At three with my cousin

My cousin and me, when we were around three.

I do not have many pictures with her.

Later, after I was five, my parents took no photo of me either.

Probably, so no one can connect me with a name, with a family, with anything that could put me some time later in danger.

Here is the story told at the Manchester townhouse, about, mostly, 24 hours of my life when I was ten, told in that childs point of view.

11/10/2010

A sentence about Tyranny, Illes Gyula

I am begining now a new book, a new Advanced toastmasters manual : Interpretative Reading

1st task read a story - it will be my neighbour's story about her childhood
2nd task read a poem - I just found the perfect one from my youth, translated very well in English
We read this after that the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was run down by Soviet tanks,
we copied it in our notebooks in secret and were stunned to learn that we lived in Tyranny
we were stunned to understand that our Communist countres were tyranny

Poems and poets are so powerful
Illes continued Petofi's trace who was the 1848 revolution poet - Petofi even died for it

Here is the translation

Egy mondat a zsarnokságról, 
                    by Illyes Gyula, 1950  
A Sentence About Tyranny  
                               Translated by George Szirtes

            Where tyranny exists
            that tyranny exists
                   not only in the barrel of the gun
                   not only in the cells of a prison

not just in the interrogation block
or the small hours of the clock
the guard's bark and his fists
the tyranny exists

not just in the billowing black fetor
of the closing speech of the prosecutor,
in the "justified use of force"
the prisoners' dull morse

not merely in the cool postscript
of the expected verdict
there's tyranny
not just in the crisp military

order to "Stand!" and the numb
instruction "Fire!", the roll of the drum,
            in the last twitch
            of the corpse in the ditch

not just in the door half open
and the fearful omen,
the whispered tremor
of the secret rumour

the hand that grips,
the finger before the lips,
               tyranny is in place
               in the iron mask of the face


 in the clench of the jaw
 the wordless O
 of pain and its echo
 and the tears

 of silence-breeding fears,
            in the surprise
            of starting eyes

    tyranny supplies
    the standing ovation,
        the loud hurrahs and chanting of the crowd
        at the conference, the songs

            of tyranny, the breasts
            that tyranny infests,
            the loud unflagging
            noise of rhythmic clapping,

            at the opera, in trumpet cry,
            in the uproarious lie
            of grandiose statues, of colours,
          in galleries,

            in the frame and the wash,
            in the very brush,
            not just in the neat snarl
            of the midnight car

            as it waits
            outside the gates

  tyranny permeates
  all manners and all states,
  its omnipresent eyes more steady
            than those of old Nobodaddy,

there's tyranny
in the nursery
in father's advice, in his guile,
in your mother's smile

        in the child's answer
        to the perfect stranger;

not just in wires with barbs and hooks
not just in rows of books,
but, worse than a barbed wire fence
            the slogans devoid of sense

 whose tyranny supplies
 the long goodbyes;
 the words of parting,
 the will-you-be-home-soon-darling?

  in the street manners, the meetings
            and half-hearted greetings,
            the handshakes and the alarm
            of the weak hand in your palm,

 he's there when your loved one's face
 turns suddenly to ice
            he accompanies you
            to tryst or rendezvous

            not just in the grilling
            but in the cooing and the billing,
in your words of love he'll appear
like a dead fly in your beer

 because even in dreams you're not free
 of his eternal company,
 in the nuptial bed, in your lust
            he covers you like dust

           
because nothing may be caressed
but that which he first blessed,
            it is him you cuddle up to
            and raise your loving cup to

in your plate, in your glass he flows
 in your mouth and through your nose
            in frost, fog, out or in
            he creeps under your skin

  like an open vent through which
  you breathe the foul air of the ditch
            and it lingers like drains
            or a gas leak at the mains

            it's tyranny that dogs
            your inner monologues,
            nothing is your own
            once your dreams are known

            all is changed or lost,
            each star a border post
            light-strafed and mined;
                   the stars are spies at window bars,

            the vast tent's every lamp
            lights a labour camp,
            come fever, come the bell
            it's tyranny sounds the knell,

confessor is confession,
he preaches, reads the lesson
       he's Church, House and Theatre
           the Inquisition;

  you blink your eyes, you stare
  you see him everywhere;
            like sickness or memory
            he keeps you company;

            trains rattling down the rail
            the clatter of the jail;
            in the mountains, by the coast
            you are his breathing host;

            lightning: the sudden noise
            of thunder, it's his voice
            in the bright electric dart,
            the skipping of the heart
            in moments of calm,
            chains of tedium,
            in rain that falls an age,
            the star-high prison-cage

            in snow that rises and waits
            like a cell, and isolates;
            your own dog's faithful eyes
            wear his look for disguise,

            his is the truth, the way
            so each succeeding day
            is his, each move you make
            you do it for his sake;

            like water, you both follow
            the course set and the hollow
            ring is closed; that phiz
            you see in the mirror is his

   escape is doomed to failure,
   you're both prisoner and gaoler;
            he has soaked, corroded in,
            he's deep beneath your skin

            in your kidney, in your fag,
            he's in your every rag,
            you think: his agile patter
            rules both mind and matter
      
           you look, but what you see
           is his, illusory,
                  one match is all it takes
                  and fire consumes the brake

            you having failed to snuff
            the head as it broke off;
           
his watchfulness extends
            to factories, fields and friends

  and you no longer know or feel
  what it is to live, eat meat or bread
            to desire or love or spread
            your arms wide in appeal;

            it is the chain slaves wear
            that they themselves prepare;
            you eat but it's tyranny
            grows fat, his are your progeny

 in tyranny's domain
            you are the link in the chain,
            you stink of him through and through,
                                                the tyranny IS you;

            like moles in sunlight we crawl
            in pitch darkness, sprawl
            and fidget in the closet
            as if it were a desert,

because where tyranny lives
everything is vain,
            the song itself though fine
            is false in every line,


for he stands over you at your grave,
and tells you who you were,
your every molecule
       his to dispose and rule.  

(1950)

18/09/2010

Richard Murray on Judging well in Competition


Judging whiter
Uploaded by julie70. - Have a look at more lifestyle videos.
Toastmaster and Bromley Speaker President speech yesterday, about how to judge in the Toastmaster Competitions

What to do and what not to do, wh en you are Judge at any Toastmaster Competition.

Here is a link how this would have been if we had the Internet connection - Richard send me. Great Power point presentation but only voice, no face, no hands. Probably, the two together add to each other, but it also shows what one can do when 'As Prepared' fails.

And, as I found in my life, sometimes is is not the AS PREPARED or expected wich is better on long.

14/09/2010

Job promotion? Humorous speech



"Job promotion" humorous Toastmaster speech by a Toastmaster of Saudi origine
What a great example I discovered this morning on YouTube ! Get inspired by it!

08/09/2010

From Blue Elephant, Edited

Edited version of the tale told at the Blue Elephant theatre, in preparation for the True Tales event.

I like my voice variety but still have some things to add. It helps a lot to be able to listen and listen again, and thus learn it better.

When I was ten.mp3


The editing is done with Audacity 1.3, a free wonderful software I learn to use better and better. It is almost as if you edit a text, but of course instead of putting part of it in bigger size I can amplify, or reduce the noise, and many other features I have yet to learn. Of course also cut unnecessary parts from it, ahms or even too long silences in the middle of a sentence or a whole paragraph that I feel is not needed. It is a pleasure to edit with Audacity, and then, export it again in a format my Box.net website and this blog admits.

Audacity can be found for PC and also for Mac, unlike Photostory from Microshoft only for 'official' Windows PC owners. But Picassa can also make a slideshow similar to Photostory, even if its use seems for me less intuitive for the moment.

So much available and so much to learn! There is a wonderful world out there for us, if only we can discover it, learn to approach and enjoy.

05/09/2010

While speaking


While speaking, the movements are important and what happens around and where and how you stand and... so much richer then the only worlds on the paper!

03/09/2010

So many things are revelant!

A book written almost 80 years ago by Brenda Ueland, "If you want to write".

1. Everybody is talented, original and has something to say.

We have to break through the shell to find what is true and alive underneath, of our timidity and strain.We all have something to express.

Expressing the truth, speaking from himself, each of us is original. One of the most important is gain the self-trust, like when we were children.

2. To love a person is not giving gifts but listening to them and believing in the good in them. Friends who love you, think you are interesting. "Tell me more." Tell to a friend or imagine such a friend, delighting in what you have to express.

3. Practice, practice, practice.
The creative power must be kept alive by using it but also by giving us some time out. The courage to be idle, let thoughts come to you. Let it grow. Give it freedom.

Ambition, prudence, fear and anxiety inhibit the energy.

With every speech created, delivered (or not) you have learned something. It has stretched or changed even your understanding. Expressing your uniqueness, as it did to you, a day may touch, help another. Share a feeling, a truth.

You will understood better also your own feelings and the events you speak or write about; think about. Express a sincere human feeling deep from you, understand more about it by thinking about, writing, speaking. Sharing.
er
Not to preach but to give it. It will not be a performance but a generosity.

4. Inspiration comes very slowly and quietly most of the time, but it will come sooner or later: let in the ideas. Do not force them. Dare to be idle! Dare to love people. Seek and ask for the answer in your imagination, but it it freedom, without worry. At times of idleness you are recharged.

Live, tell in the present.

tomorrow, more...

27/08/2010

Home & Exile

For the moment, I just listened to John's speech but I think it is so great example of a Humorous speech!

True Tales? from Danny Bermant on Vimeo.


From the Jewish book week 2010

20/08/2010

I discovered today

I discovered today, looking up again Storytelling London on Google, that Spark London is hight up the list now and it still has my story Now or Never online.

It aas almost a year ago - I almost forgot it, and Spark brought me back now,

It is also a hymne to ToastMasters in general and in London, And yes, a year later, also in October, I will be telling a story in Manchester. Waw, what a road. Thanks to the Toastmasters in Meridian Speakers club and in Lewisham and all over London, and thanks also a lot to Johanna from Spark London inviting me to speak here and there, from that October on.
Now or never
Here is a link to that speech a year ago

28/07/2010

Are you prepared? by David Thomson


Be Prepared by David Thomson
Uploaded by julie70. - Discover more animation and arts videos.
David Thomson had only 7 minutes to prepare, and 4 strange words from the audience to add to his speech - what a speech! Funny, interesting and inspiring, too.

His movements, with tiny then bigger and bigger umbrella were magnificent, you will have to imagine only what does remain in my mind's eye. But the voice melody and variety let you imagine - for yourself.

Be prepared!

Practice and practice again!

Then, you can use bigger and bigger umbrellas and speak to bigger and bigger audience.

I did feel as if he spoke about me, but many of us did.

As the Box.net told my bendwith was full - if I do not upgrade - I put it on Dailymotion, as video. There is a very short advertisment added at the beginning, it goes away fast

David Thomson is not only a very Competent Toastmaster or Speaker, but also the President of Speakers Bank in London, and the Meridian Speakers Mentor. He is also the one who gave me my first tiny umbrella in my hands, inviting me 18 month ago to give my first Toastmaster speech at the Croydon Contest.

16/07/2010

About Table Topics by Martin Heaney


delivered the 30 June at Meridian Speakers Toastmaster club special meeting

For me this is not only a useful and funny speach but also an example how it should be done
And I still remember how shy he was at his first Table Topics, and how greatly he delivered the one prepared in advance!

Yes! You can prepare in advance to Table Topics!

21/06/2010

Home, as delivered at the Blue Elephant Theatre


Better voice variety does add, I think, but the body movements I made were not bad either, at the Blue Elephant Theatre in London, as I can remember from the people laughing, then.

Plauing out some more then the first time, I told it with my 'suitcase' did bring more laugh there. Yes, all is important finally in a told tale.

Home is the Theme for all of us. I was ten year old when the war cought up with me, is the tale I am asked now to repeat again, elsewhere.

I told this first at the Spark London event at the Cafe Canal Theatre, then at the Soho Restaurant and then the Blue Elephant Theatre. Next, probably will be Manchester

15/06/2010

With my grand children

Communication with my grand children.

I did put a special effort to bring half baked bred that they did finish baking, then we eat it together: they loved the fresh baguettes.

Then, I listened and looked to what they wanted to do, and finally participated in it: they were so happy to teach me how to do and so happy when I did also succeed - even if not as well as they did.

Finally, for the first time for long, not only did they come to kiss me before I left but did agree that next time they wil be coming to my place. "Prepare a jelly! Popcorn too? Yeees!" Next time, we come!

Preparing for it, listening, speaking a bit quietly when needed, participating, and all went better then last times.

ps And of course, that picture is not of them, they are a lot more grown up by now, 10 and 11 already. But today, I am a bit more confident in my communication competence.

14/06/2010

A busy week ahead

Today, I am taking "only" the role of a grand mother, but do believe me, at certain ages of the children, it does not become easy to Communicate with them. It was a lot easier as they were small kids.

So, I'll have to try to tell stories they still like to hear, and be open to really listen when they want to speak.

Tomorrow, probably I will go to the Photogroup presentations at Goldsmith's University, listen to others this time and see if I can find a place on anyone's project.

Another place where great Communication skills will be needed. So far, no one wanted me in their project nor to come in mine.

Wednesday, Lewisham Speakers will meet at the Lockeber Hall and I hope all speakers who wanted and promissed to come will be there, another exciting meeting of Toastmasters, with two Icebreakers, first time speakers and two advanced speakers.

It will be sure an interesting evening, but I have to use the free time there also, to make sure two weeks later all speakers programmed are ready to do so and if not to ensure who will speak instead.

Thursday, the most difficult perhaps, I will go to a friend Toastmaster club nearby and give my first Powerpoint or Keynote presentation, at the same time as Informing about what is awailable if one decides to Step out of the safety of our own clubs.

As an example of difficulty and for me to reallize the cultural gaps when you arrive in another country, I made a slide with me afraid and the words: Me? Out? only for some nice English telling me as I asked opinion if I wanted it to sound "sexual" because if not I have to put : Stepping out? at least.

How could I have dreamed, known, understand that OUT has many meanings? other then outside... or is this also some double sens word?

Friday, again the children, Saturday a dinner with neighbourghood people and of course again, communication skills necessary, then Sunday - a great outing.

The 20th of June 2 pm, Toastmasters from two central clubs and some from others will be at the Hyde Park Speakers Corner, out in Public! Last year, I did participate to something similar there, it was great fun!

10/06/2010

A doll and the second world war

Yesterday, I told a personal tale at the Blue Elephant theatre, about how the war cought up with me when I was ten years old. I already did publish the tale here. That is the third time I tell it, and each time, after it some new ideas arrive to me, about my life and the surroundings then.

Each time I suceed to touch the audience, begining to tell about how angry I was that my mother did not let me take by big doll with me when we had to go away fast, in an hour, to save our lifes. The doll connect me with the audience, and also showing the anger I still feel after all those years to have to leave my dear doll, my sleeping fellow behind.

It is enough a detail, and we can connect and bring near people thing that happened long time agoi, it is enough a detail and as Proust with his madeleine, lots of memories come back, it is enough a detail and that could make us easy to remember what we wanted, prepared to say.

Through a smiling detail - and I forgot to tell that I know now why my mother did not let me take it then, - we can make the audience connect with very sad and bad old happenings, and bring them to life.

They told me they were moved, they told me they connected.

One of the other tellers, told me also that he liked how I went round and come back to the doll towards the end. That is of course, another good technic to use. But even more, trying to be there, as it was just happening. I think I did succeed.

I decided to tell the same tale at my Toastmasters club too. The Lewisham Speakers club, perhaps in July and also at the Meridian Speakers Club in Greenwich. I already finished, my Storytelling Manual projects, speaking mostly due to Matt Collins Vice presient of Education at the Meridian Club, at that club, he gave me the oportunity to tell my tales. But, in the Advanced Toastmasters Manuals it is said to Repeat as many times as we feel it is useful our Manual Speaches.

That is what I will do,

Instead of rushing ahead, telling that tale of the ten year old child who had to leave her doll behind. Who found a year later her doll, again, but not her cousin who never arrived to have, like her, to become really eleven year old.

Using feelings that are universal works well, this time, yesterday, I empasised even more my joy that I was suddenly promoted from 10 years old to 11, and it did touch wonderfully the audience. They too, in their childhood wanted to grow up faster.

01/06/2010

Podcast ; The news from the Lake Wobegon

news from lake wobegon
Garrison Kellor

It was last year that my daughter made me listen the first time to Garrison Keller, she has some of his tapes, and I was delighted by it, and wanted to find it again, listen to him speaking, telling his stories.

From story to story on the web, this morning I found his YouTube link then podcasts. I like more his podcasts then the one when we can actually see him. Here I collected some of them for you to choose, to look or listen, then find your own or think about what does make his story and storytelling's charm.













Aug. 23, 2008/ the news from lake wobegon
Sept. 6. 2008 and so on, he begun longtime ago and still continues and one can find free podcasts but even buy some of his casettes or cd collections from Amazon

30/05/2010

Public Speaking Olympiad

 
Yesterday, at the pub The George, across the Royal Court of Justice on Strand, four Speakers club, each with three representatives, competed and spoke in four different styles to show their maestia in public speaking.

The Society of Cogers, the Association of Speakers Clubs, the Speakersbank trainers and Toastmasters International.

I heard about it in theLondonSpeaker blog, and I am so happy I went - I learned so much!

The Chairman was Gwyn Redgers from the College of Public Speaking, the Chief Judge our own David Thompson, who helped me with my Ice breaker a year ago, he is now also chairman of the Speakers Trust, and has been Toastmaster now for 15 years.

Round 1 : Debating, for and against controversial topics
Round 2 : Topics - the same unknown topic given to all
Round 3 : Youth style - an introducer, a speaker, one thanking
Round 4 : Cogers style, about the last weeks news

I could hardly believe that David Jones, from TMs has been stuttering during his childhood and youth, he become such a great speaker! I think, that partially because of his great discourse about overcoming the difficulty in its life, but also the debating power of Paul and the charming authenticity of Laura, the Toastmasters team won this time.

Also, in fact, all won by having partiticpated and amused us, surprised us, delighted us. Shown their maestria. Many many great ideas for future club meetings!

29/05/2010



Steve Jobs, still lives and unveils the I-PAD and in 2004 he did not yet know how long he will last, when he gave this speech with three stories of what adversity brought him, finally.

28/05/2010

Speaking to Inform . the importance of storytelling


The difference between facts and story and about finding the Most Important Thing in a story for us, each time

Aout Storytelling.mp3

That was delivered at the Toastmaster club in London called Polish your Polish, between others it is also about Dare to Knock and Ask and how I met my Polish friend.

26/05/2010

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! | Video on TED.com

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution! | Video on TED.com



You can go of course to Ted.com to listen to speeches and choose the one you want to listen, but this one you can listen here too, "in direct" and yes, then to take the speech from Ted and embed it, SPREAD IT else were too.

Yesterday, I learned a lot from the Labor leader's speech, in the Parliement, she begun by telling nice and personal things about the Conservative and Liberal leader's and thanking, making a good personal contact, then only put on her critical points - and also told, what I did appreciate a lot : we will go point by point and not oppose systematically. It was a great example of nice and effective speech for the begining.

Unlike the parliement's conservative leader's whom I did not like: it is untastful in my opinion to kick a fallen dog.

07/05/2010

A Ted.om talk about simplicity

Also with video slides - I feel a good example of how to,,, give a presentations and even use bullet points of Power Point - without that getting on the way of the speech. Also, I thought those simple objects were powerful at the beginning.



And indeed the Google search seems simple too and it is based on so many levels of complexity or simplicity!

02/05/2010

I was 10 when the war caught up with me

I was ten years old and lived in Hungary in the spring 1944

This is the version recorded by Spark organizer of the Home personal stories event at the Canal Cafe Theatre, and then they asked me and I repeated it in a Soho restaurant.

as performed at the Canal Cafe Theatre ( I repeated it later in the Chocolat Restaurant of Soho) both in London.

Julie-April10b.mp3

29/04/2010

from 14 to 21: Faith

Yesterday, in Center London, I told a story about Faith to a group who sit all around, quite an interesting experience.

Also, I was not sure enough of myself and did tell too much AND for exemple, and too many times was searching for the right word, I did it> Next time, better...

Yesterday In central London

I told a story about Faith to a group who sit all around, quite an interesting experience

18/04/2010

Observations from the first debate

After weeks of preparation and practice, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg finally took to the stage to debate.

some snippets found from experts observations on BBC website

"All three made extensive, and I would say excessive, use of anecdotes," says Max Atkinson. Throughout the 90 minutes the leaders recalled stories about people they had met on the campaign trail to illustrate certain points.

"Nick Clegg came out with some rather good lines, and used alliteration and powerful imagery

The rule of threes - making statements in three parts - something both Mr Cameron and Mr Brown demonstrated. Cameron's use of the three-part list was more effective because it wasn't highlighted."

Another technique demonstrated by the politicians, was the use of contrasts, which our expert says can be very powerful.

"Gordon Brown came across as more relaxed than usual and maybe humour had something to do with that," he adds.

Nick Clegg looked the most relaxed,

"In terms of pure debating techniques, Brown delivered technical information clearly. Cameron was soft on arguments and high on rhetoric, and Clegg framed himself as the voice of reason away from the other two parties."

Our expert says there were moments when all three let their guard down, like the time Mr Brown joked the Conservatives had done him a favour by putting his image on the their election posters.
Hand gestures
Big on hand movements - Brown, Clegg and Cameron

"You can see both Cameron and Brown smiling and laughing. That was a very powerful moment... everybody became more human."

===============
Nick looked the more relaxed thus gained more, audience appreciation, but personally I did listen also to what each said, and did not like at all what he said that he thinks we, from European Communion also should need work permit! I am also wondering, what would say all British who go to work in other European Countries, if they were told that! And that was not the only issue, where he did give "popularist" opinions without too much thinking of the consequences.

But at the end of the debate, for sure, he did gain more then the other two usually more exposed already and with a lot more responsibility on their shoulders of their proposals.

So the stance, body language, humour, etc are important, but also the message.

There was a moment at the end, when Gordon Brown went into the audience to greet people and the other two stood, undecided on the podium what to do, which stuck me, and which, if repeated on TV, but it was not, would have seen awkward for those.

13/04/2010

Rhetoric from begining of the election

David Cameron used contrast, between other devices, contrasting the 
"Road to ruin" the others will lead, and the "Road to prosperity" his party will lead.  He also spoke lots of time about "Change" and "New", giving a special small favour to married people, and excluding all others, is it a "change" and "new"?


Gordon Brown, used also a contrast, a message that got also showed from the beginning, opening with the cabinet near him, and all through the campaign, asking others to come and speak with him, and thus become more then just a rhetoric device. 
"I am not a team of one. As everybody can see, I am one of a team." 


I do not vote in UK, but look, ponder. Think. Learn. Looking to speeches in this election, and analysing their impact, I learn a lot about how to become an effective speaker.

From yesterday's BBC 2 emission

The emission took us to old debates and showed us how some won and others lost the presidential debate "lessons learned"

One that impressed me a lot is not just hearing but seeing, Bill Clinton going near the public, looking, interacting with them "working them" very effective, at the same time, Bush did not even understand the auditor's question and kept on speaking about deficit and the state, not adressing the woman's personal wory. Kept himself far from the audience.

Another example was how Obama looked to McCanain, who never looked to him or the audience.





Also, very impressive was how the (we now know) ill Kennedy looked strong and young, and Nixon (having just injured his knee) ill and old. And so on.

Of course, the message matters. But also, how you deliver it.

08/04/2010

Direct from Canal Cafe Theatre, with my small dictaphone

this is the version recorded at the theatre yesterday evening, with my small dictaphone, I'll put their professionally recorded version here as soon as I get it.

I was told, some cried, and I did hear also some laugh here and there. I got very good feedback, but the most important is was someone telling me: "It felt so near, as if have had happened - when you told us.

The most important, not only the organizer was very happy with my performance and story but more then one of the audience told me, they had "seen" how it happened, as if would have happened "now" as I told it.

The war cought up with me when.mp3

07/04/2010

Gordon Brown opens the elections Video


Found on YouTube, and added 19 hours ago. Yesterday, when I looked for it, to embed here, it was not yet available. Here it is now.

And here it is the text, if you want it, too.
_______________________

Gordon Brown, surrounded by his Cabinet members, announces a general election for May 6 on the steps of 10 Downing Street text from: Telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/

''It will come as no surprise to all of you, and it is probably the least well-kept secret of recent years, but the Queen has kindly agreed to the dissolution of Parliament and a General Election will take place on May 6.

''I come from an ordinary middle class family in an ordinary town, and I know where I come from and I will never forget the values - doing the right thing, doing your duty, taking responsibility, working hard - that my parents instilled in me.

''Over these last few months this Government, at every time it's fought hard, facing the biggest world recession, to fight on behalf of hard-working families on middle and modest incomes.

''Over the next few weeks I will go round the country - the length and breadth of our land - and I will take to the people a very straightforward and clear message: Britain is on the road to recovery and nothing we do should put that recovery at risk.

''There will be many big challenges and many big decisions to make over the next few months upon which our future success depends.

''Get the big decisions right - as we did in the last 18 months since the world recession - and jobs, prosperity and better standards of living will result. Get the big decisions wrong and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people are diminished as a result.

''Our economy is now moving forward, but to withdraw millions of pounds from the economy would put recovery at risk. Unemployment has now been falling, but a government that is not prepared to implement our plans to help the unemployed will see unemployment rise faster again. Small businesses are starting to grow but a double-dip recession would hit thousands of them.

''That is why I am asking the British people - I'm asking you, the British people - for a clear and straightforward mandate to continue the urgent and hard work securing the recovery, building our industries for the future, and creating a million skilled jobs over the next five years.

''And I am asking the British people also for a mandate that, as we cut the deficit by half over four years through fair taxes and reductions in the public expenditure, that we will maintain and improve our frontline public services - our police, our schools and our hospitals.

''And I want to give a direct guarantee to every single citizen of Britain that, when you need the police, when you need help with cancer care, when you need your GP at the evenings and weekends, when you need as a child to have personal tuition in your school, then these public services will be there, directly guaranteed to you as individual citizens when you need them, and accountable to you and your family.

''And we will not allow 13 years of investment and reform in our public services, to build up the future of these great services, to be put at risk.

''During these next few weeks we will keep in our minds and hearts the work of courage that is being done by our soldiers and our armed forces in Afghanistan. And we will support them in every way in the fight that they are taking to terrorism that is still a threat to our land.

''But I have one final mandate to ask of the British people as well. It is a mandate to improve public trust in our democracy and in our public life. Politics has been scarred by recent events. In the next few days I will put forward a comprehensive plan so that the people of this country can be sure that there is transparent, accountable, open and democratic politics being pursued in this country, at every stage accountable to them in the future. And I want us to renew the contract between the people and those who they are sworn to serve.

''I am not a team of one. As everybody can see, I am one of a team. A team with energy, with substance and with ideas to lead this country in a second decade of a still new century.

''We will fight for fairness at all times. We will say to the British people, our cause is your cause. The future is within our grasp, it is a future fair for all. Now, all of us, let's go to it. Thank you very much.''

Humorous speech by Obama



Some say, we can learn only by analysing Toastmaster Manual speeches, I do believe, we can learn from all the speeches we found around us. Here is an example of Humour delivered to journalist at the White House, after his first 100 days.

Cameron speech - to analyse its Rhetoric devices

One can learn from any speech. I somehow distrust him, why I can not really say, but one can learn a lot to use Rhetoric devices from this speech, that for my taste is not enough concrete.

What I was looking for yesterday noon, I found this morning on the YouTube.

06/04/2010

Link to video of Cameron & Gordon speech 6 april 2010

General Election 2010: David Cameron promises 'real change' video of his speech on the web


General Election 2010: Gordon Brown sets May 6 poll date and speech video

Gordon Brown and David Cameron spoke today

Today, I listened on BBC News in direct, to the two leader's speeches.

Perhaps, if you go and try it fast, you can do it on the Internet, but for sure, somewhere they can be found, later on too.

What I would like to find, and did not yet, are the texts of their speech of today.

Two speeches, that we study and learn from them, compare them.

Learn as much about what was very good from them and what were the less successful parts, we can become then more and more competent speakers.

First I listened to Cameron's speech not far from the parliament, outside, on the Thames river board. He has invited to listen some of his party workers, chosen with care what kind of people he wanted to reflect on him.

Cameron used a lot of very good rhetorical devices, that we can be inspired to do, repetitions, inversions, and also a bit changed, Kennedy's big winner phrase. "Do not ask..." But a lot more. He delivered all the speech with enthusiasm and without any notes.

Those were the good parts.

What message come across?

We need a change. We will change.

Without re-reading, only general things, nothing concrete. The only concrete were the things that they will not change, as the Labor proposes now. Not that, not this, and so on.

Very clever speech, but for me not memorable, unless I will be able to study its details. As the commentator said, it was more an "against" speech then "for" - all different from Barak Obama's speech, who always speaks "for".

Gordon Brown come out with all his cabinet to speak, after the Parliament dissolution was accepted by the Queen officially. He spoke before the 10, Downing Street, announcing that.

Immediately after he spoke of himself as middle class man of a middle class family. He ended his speech, with "I am one of a group". I'll have to find the exact words, it was a lot better, rhetorical.

In the middle, he gave concrete measures, that most of us want of course. The most, I remember, as just dawn with a cold "Each will be able to call a doctor at home, even on weekend and evening." But there were some others, for each.

He did not speak with passion, but with power. And also without any note of course. He did repeat a phrase, that he did not remember perhaps well at the first, or wanted to emphasis. As he did it with a lot of aplomb, it did not come out like a mistake of course.

I did learn from both speech, and you could too. This month elections are a huge learning experience for us, if we look at it with our Toastmaster, Public Speaker point of view.

02/04/2010

Patsy Rodenburg: Why I do theater | Video on TED.com

 

Patsy Rodenburg: Why I do theater | Video on TED.com

The importance of being true, acting or speaking up in public,

weather it is a Greek old play or a personal story, it can be very important,
as you tell or show a profound personal experience,
sharing it with others.

01/04/2010

Open up to the audience

Yesterday, we heard three interesting speeches, and it was not the best delivered that gained the "best speaker" award, but the one who revealed most about himself and his dad. 

Who dared to expose, to open to the listeners, viewers.


He was nervous, he stumbled, he looked once in his papers, drank water another time, stopped a third time. Yet, he was the one who touched us more profoundly.


He opened to us.

He spoke about difficult times, failures, problems. As well, of course, how did he overcome them. And how we can learn even from our parents failures. 


- Of course, we can even learn from ours!

We had others, greatly delivered speech, but they told us a lot more generalities as well as the second one. We did feel,

I did, that there is personal experience behind them, but we did not hear them. About democracy I did realize, he did experience tyrany but he did not tell us about his personal experience, just the relief to be in UK.  

About the importance of money, but that speaker did not tell us about his perhaps recent problems with the absence of it, or personal difficulties.


Personal stories, or made them sound personal, make us care more. More we open up, more we are well received and also, the openness often returned.

26/03/2010

Area 35 Toastmaster speech contest

Area 35 International and Evaluation Contest, hosted by Croydon Communicators at the Dog and Bull pub, Contest Chairman David Thomson.

Evaluating a great speech by Ola, from the Tube Speakers Toastmasters, Vathani Navasothy won, with her sincerely appreciative evaluation.: She put so much enthousiasm in it!

Yes, I learned, as good as for example Chris's evaluation was, it was more done with the head then the heart, and even in a contest, the heart wins. That was true also with the Speech contest, whose winner was Dave Longley, even if all speeches were really great.

This time I was judge, listening, not speaking, yes, listening is also a skill to be learned. Not only listening, but learning from each speech's what is best and what were their weaker points.

Strength: authenticity, emotion, one strong point, personal stories.

Weaknesses: too many points, more telling then showing, more facts then stories, more head then heart. Too strong voice and not enough modulation. Not clear enough.

To ponder for me, next time!

But I also learned a lot, from all the speeches. It was perhaps not "new" but made me think more about my own tales, and how to...

Next time, I really have to make a video, not only a few pictures!