28/01/2013

Comedians over 55

Old folks telling jokes
Beautiful ! Even if, most of us do not tell "jokes" but SitCom: situation comedy, persona comedy, more or less from personal experience. In my case more, from some others a bit less.

Tom was a good MC and is also funny on stage and nice behind the scene, but why did they choose a young to present us? For contrast? Pictures of all on my Flickr set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joyoflife/sets/72157632631061274/

Sunday, was at Palladium theatre, London Islington, but mid February the contest of Silver Comedy is on again in Leicester. So, I do conserve my title of Silver Comedian Newcomer of the year, till then. Of course, no more competitions for me.

But my ten minutes, with some good new material went well, and was taken by video from two different angles! Also some 'before' and some 'after' moments. Irene is even comming to film me... Shaving!

Pleasance Carpenters Mews North Road London N7 9EF
Date: Sunday 27th January Show Starts 6.00pm
Running Order
Tom Deacon MC
Charmian Hughes
Tom Deacon
Jimbo
Tom Deacon
Julie Kertesz
Tom Deacon
Shelly Bridgeman

23/01/2013

Diaries

Diaries are a good way to preserve what you have felt at a time.

Diaries are a good way to pour out things you do not want or can not tell to anyone else.

But in plus, diaries are also good to get used to writing 'stream of consciousness' or in the flow, being in the moment.

My first diary dates from Christmas 1944: that is at least when I got it and begun writing in it: I was 10 and half years old. It is the one on the top in this picture, showing three of my thirty notebooks I have written till now.

There were times I wrote almost nothing, times I wrote day by day, times I had to hide the last one more carefully. I did not read them back, unless I had a crisis in my life. Then the "old wisdom" from previous ages helped me to go through!

It was not till I retired, I read all through, decided to put the text in computer. Then to translate from Hungarian (mostly the first) to English and French, then all to French and add context stories and publish them on a blog. I realised by that time they could be interesting but no editor would actively distribute it, even where (seen with other diaries) they did publish it.

I published Retroblog, one note at a day. Alas, in reverse order as are in blogs. Then, with great work, Journal de jeunesse, the firsts ones, in "normal reading order". After arriving in London, I translated the first diary and the stories around that time in English too and put them in a blog.

My diaries, the original ones are my most valued possessions. When I had to run away from my last husband who talked to me all through the night berating me to make me fly from our home (to bring his future wife in our apartment as fast I was away) in the small luggage I carried out the 5 in the morning, all my diaries were there, together with my official papers and my portable macintosh containing their texts.

I was right. After that I had to fight for everything I owed to take from my past apartment.

Well, that is down the drain now even if it still hurts, as my wise friend told me then "you are lucky you succeeded to loose him".

And I was wise to take my diaries with me. Somehow, they do represent "me" my life, my foolish thoughts and dreams but also the wise observations and analysis and sometimes so clear insights from so early one!

My life might not have gone like a quiet river and so much "interesting" is still buried in those many notebooks, but finally I am happy for all the directions it took me. All the lessons I learned. All the joys I experimented. All the courage I can still take from them.

19/01/2013

Contact with audience

Simon, toastmasters speak in the park
Management Today

Seven ways to build rapport with your audience
By Julie Kertesz Friday, 18 January 2013

Do you want to inspire and motivate your audience when giving a presentation? Then you need to build rapport with ...

Do you want to inspire and motivate your audience when giving a presentation? Then you need to build rapport with the crowd. If you don't, they will leave feeling detached and as though their time has been wasted. Here are seven tips for getting them on side.

Tagged by: Strategy, Audience, Public Speaking, Rapport, Speech, Leadership

1. Use a personal story or anecdote

This shows you are ready to be open, vulnerable and personable, and it will make them more receptive. A story that goes straight to their hearts is one they will remember long after the words have gone.

2. Use humour to lower the tension

For example, dare to mock what happened to you – self-deprecating humour is a great way to make you appear more human and one of them.

3. Create images and movies in their heads

Everyone will see something slightly different in their mind's eye, adding their own experiences to it, thus making it theirs. Tell them enough, but leave room for them to add their own touches.

4. Pause

Pause at the beginning of your talk, and before an important passage. A pause allows you to hold them in your hand, uniting them in the tension of waiting.

5. Focus on the moment

Easy to say, but how to do it? Plan your talk, practice and then try and focus all your energies on the task at hand, no matter how distracting the lights, or coughs from the audience may be. And remember to smile – and breathe!

6. Use variety in your voice to enhance your message

For instance quickening the pace to add tension, emphasising key words to bring out important points (but don’t overdo it!) and lowering your volume to add suspense. The most important things are to connect with your own emotions and what you care about. It will show.

7. Believe!

Give yourself confidence by believing that the audience is your friend, and will give you energy. Believe profoundly in what you are talking about and this will take care of most of your vocal variety and gestures – and ensure that you project authenticity.

Each audience, each room, each time is different. So always remember to adapt the speech for each occasion, and will be received differently.

Julie Kertesz is a photographer and member of public speaking charity Toastmasters International.

17/01/2013

Audience, article : Seven top tips

Seven Top Tips for Franchisors to 
Build Rapport with your audience

As a franchisor encouraging people to sign up to your franchise, you need to be able to build rapport with your audience.

If you don’t – you’ll leave your audience feeling detached from the experience, that their time has been wasted, and in mood to move forward with you!

Julie Kertesz, a member of Toastmasters International and winner of the Silver Comedy Best Newcomer 2012, offers seven top tips to ensure you build great rapport with your audiences – whatever the occasion.

1 Use a personal story or anecdote to connect with your audience. It shows that you are ready to be open, vulnerable and personable, and it will make them more receptive. The real power comes from your emotions – which will go straight to their heart and they will remember your story long after the words have gone.

2 Use humour to lower the tension. Experiment with want makes your audiences laugh and release any tension. Be ready to surprise them. Dare to mock what happened to you – self-deprecating humour is a great way to make you appear more human and one of them.

3 Create images and movies in the heads of your audience. Everyone will see something slightly different in their mind's eye, adding their own experience to it, thus making it theirs. Tell them enough, but leave room for them to add their own part. It then becomes "their" story and point of view.

4 Remember to pause. At the beginning of your talk, and before an important passage. A pause will allow you to hold them in your hand, reuniting them in the tension of waiting. Pause after any important points you make as it lets them fully absorb them.

5 Be in the moment, in the present. Let go of any worries about yourself from the interaction. This might be easy to say, but how to do it? Plan your talk, practice and use personal stories and humour to let go of any tension as mentioned above. And do remember to smile – and breathe!

6 Use variety in your voice to enhance your message. For instance quickening the pace to add tension, emphasising key words to bring out important points (but don’t overdo it!) and lowering your volume to add suspense. The most important things are to connect with your own emotions and to speak about what you care about. It will show.

7 Believe! Give yourself confidence by believing that the audience is your friend, and will give you energy. Believe profoundly in what you are talking about and this will take care of most of your vocal variety and gestures – and ensure that you project authenticity.

Each audience, each room, each time is different. The same speech should be adapted to each occasion, and will be received differently.

Join a speaking club such as Toastmasters International to give yourself the opportunity to practice in a supportive environment. "Stage time, stage time, stage time" as 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking Darren LaCroix said. Experiment. Enjoy. Engage.

08/01/2013

20 characters from 20 photo walks in Paris (2007)



After 70, in fact, beginning with my 70th year, each year I did something special to prove to myself (a bit to others too) that there is, indeed "life after 70" as say the title of my french blog. In 2007 I made 20 photo walks in for me, usually less known parts of Paris. Streets, stores, people. So much!

Some pictures are known, become favourites of many, other "characters" less, here I put 20 of those less known that deserve to be. A story of my strolls in 20 images.

2007 photo-walks in Paris, after the 20th arrondissements, I went to bridges.
2008 move from Paris to London and discovery of London's diversity and festivals.
2009 Toastmasters club and becoming "Competent Communicator" speaking in public
2010 Storytelling, personal stories to paid audience, 60 then 400. They like!
2011 Standup Comedy Workshops, books, discovery of my funny bones
2012 Standup Comedy gigs, more then 50 along lots of surgeries, fun and pain.

06/01/2013

Julie 77 Chanel 4 tonight

18:55 4THOUGHT.TV

"By starting a new career as a stand-up comic when most women of her age are long retired, 77-year-old Julie Kertesz has completely transformed her outlook on life."

Also visible on website: Two minutes condensed from 30

05/01/2013

Saturday on sky news

Sky News clip 5 Jan. 2013

Sky news reporter and camera man come to my house for interview. They did show Logan Murray's book on standup comedy, the Silver Comedy 2012 newcomer award, some of what I said, and bits from my performance from David Jones workshop showcase.

No mention of spark, instead they put "by accident" and my profession as chemist - never told it, to them, but citing me shortly from what I did tell about the importance of changing at any age.

2 and half minutes. First someone written a book about the importance of being active at older age, then the retirement minister, then me, performing and using iPad to write gags. Then again finishing gigging.

Today on Sky News.

I am still stunned.

Even very short and even if "all facts" are not 100% in that short time, a lot about me and my last year activity and my belief to stay active.

They wrote about me on the website (not present on air only on web:


Julie Kertesz, 77, took up stand-up comedy a year ago. She says it's something she fell into by accident after realising she could make people laugh.

Originally from Hungary she has lived and worked around the world, mainly as a chemist.

She retired aged 60 but says she continued to pursue her interests in writing and photography.

She then tried public speaking and has now performed her stand-up routine in more than 50 venues across the UK.

She told Sky News: "The young people who listen to me are surprised and they like it, they

Happy new year & TV clip 2' Canal 4

TV 4 interview about Chane of life, on web now, will pass on Chanel 4 Sunday.

You can see the 2' now already on: 

"Julie Kertesz
By starting a new career last year as a stand-up comic when most women of her age are long retired,
 77-year-old Julie Kertesz has completely transformed her outlook on life.

In the last twelve months Julie has performed over 50 gigs, delighting far younger audiences by laughing at how old age affects us all. Julie has now won the Silver Comedy Award for Best Newcomer, firmly believes you are never too old to try something new."

Only on the web yet, and already moved some, even someone young! The best new year present I could have had that he wrote me an email to tell me.  He found a parallel in his own life!

And yesterday, Sky News came to interview me home, probable will air tomorrow. If it inspires gives courage and hope it was all worth it.


03/01/2013

Laughing Horse Brixton Video, Stand Up Comedy


this is the smaller version of Julie Kertesz's Stand Up Comedy gig I performed at Laughing Horse, Brixton, London end October
begins with "my name is Julie, I am 77 years old"
It was 1st published oct. 2011 - changed date to be on front page
yes, all which appears against you can be utilised as comic material,
Transformed by Vimeo,  the Stand Up at Laughing Horse, by another camera, from nearer.

Lots to learn not only how to do, but what not to do, too. As going out of the light (but audience sees better then the camera did) or putting the prop farther.And here is a link to another standup, just a few days ago... Even if it seems this morning so far:
                http://vimeo.com/33227223
Yes, almost the same words, but different attitude

I have yet a lot to learn, and the open mic standup comedy is an excellent learning opportunity!