OLD AND BOLD Julie 82

Created for publicity through three days of filming, four minutes and half result in this. Copyright VICE

A film made with my activities

The company thought that I am good example of "active senior" and even paid me to allow to be filmed for three days. A scene opening my curtain, another with an egg boiling, then me cutting it for breakfast as sipping coffee while opening my laptop.

Then out in the nearby alley for a walk: it was a great day but I was very tired by the time the finally very short scene was finished turning. We also went to a "car boot sale" outside London where I could take photos of people met. I did also buy there myself for a pound a nice porcelain with a kid "reading" images with her finger. 

They also interviewed me but very little from what I said remained in the video, but I hope, I will get the rest so I could use them later. And as evening, we went to a Standup Comedy place, reputed good, and I got a good reception from the audience, even as I did not get to begin as usual. 

What impressed me most was the professionalism of the filming crew. One only for the sound. Two for video. One to direct and interrogate, another to arrange and prepare all what was needed. Wow! Three days almost with all of them, and me, and all for a four minute result. I begun to understand now why films cost so much. But also appreciate all the work that goes into taking every minute.  

It's already December

Original recorded in Spanish - translated to English Singing together, can also celebrate the differences and friendship In this, a Bishop and a Rabbi singing together Christmas and Hannukah begin at the same time this year Havana Ghila (welcome) and Silent night

In 4 languages I speak

English, French, Romanian and Hungarian, in the inverse order I learned them. Only 2 min in all.

We all have funny bones! Have to use them.

Two hours workshop, Monday night at the Toastmasters club "Experience French" - in English.
Great audience. This picture was taken at the end of the workshop I offered.

Perhaps, I will add some videos of the workshop here, if possible.
Here is one of them about 7 minutes (the end is still missing from this one)

Many is beautiful, but we remember better specific

Choosing one of many, also when you tell a story is best. "Most important point" and Specific.

Here are four to chose from.
Which do you remember best?
A leave from the first photo or a leave from the second one?

Revealing the champion within: Garrett Garrels at TEDxWhitefish

Garrett will join us to tell his story, to teach us, Witty Storytellers Online, by example and great humanity.

Carsten Wendt Humorous Speech at Toastmasters D59 Fall Conferenc...

 2013 Budapest we can celebrate and recognise our differences at the same time.
Learn and Laugh in Budapest. It was a speech delivered to naturally!
In the audience, French, Italians, English, German and so on.

We celebrated our differences!
title : "I would be a latin lover"

Workshop Julie "Funny bones", first 20 minutes

introduction by Dianne, Area Director A1 District 91 South UK

Words count

It seems those are the words I use most often lately in Facebook page, where I write more and more.

It shows I am into "online clubs most of the time and have wonderful toastmasters meetings.
"Funny, witty begin to show up more but Personal and Stories and Storytellers, Storytelling grow bigger.  Life, learned, learn, work and now, more and more important also "team"!

Our online toastmasters club, Witty Storytellers Online, "chartered" (was recognised) with 25 wonderful members, a great team worked for weeks to make it happen. We have funny meetings and tell stories. I did not forget totally my London club either or Firebirds online club, in which I was now for more then a year, week after week. Today, yes that is a word I use also often, I will give a new speech, of course some stories in it about the importance of teams and creativity. Tomorrow, "never too old for dreams come true" at the unveiling of DreamChaser app in London.

Feedback is important, Lorraine at 2016.09.18 Firebirds meeting

Firebirds Collective online meeting: 

the president Lorraine Taylor gives an Educational speech 

with many personal stories and symbolism 

explaining the importance of feedback

"Evaluation" in Toastmasters slang.

Conference Toastmasters in Washington DC

Designed this button or pin or logo, to wear on us telling : Can't Wait to see you in Online clubs

In fact, as it is - a bit double sens.

Can't wait Online clubs to see you... or
Can't wait to See You : in Online clubs

I hope, that those that see it will ask "what do you mean"? and we can explain "I am in two one line clubs (or one) and I would like to see you also in it, or for you to create one."

To speak how wonderful it is to connect through a meeting at the same time with people from so many parts of the world.

In my new club I created with Svetlana, called Witty Storytellers Online, we concentrate on humor and personal storytelling. The base of all great communication. All members so far, Advanced Toastmasters who together, perfect their communication skills and I hope will tell better and better stories inspired from their life.

Inspired by... that is the word I should have used from the beginning. A story is created from a life event and then... transformed into a good story.  A deep human problem, sorrow or fight that can be understood by the others, struggle to get out, then final triumph.

In real life the fight never finishes, one up goes into down and so on but a story is round, has beginning middle and satisfying end. Plus we can tell it with plus or less detail, some parts tell, others dialogs in the moment played out. One time we tell it longer, other times shorter. It still remains our story which comes deep from within us. That deep within that connects us to others.

In our club, from the beginning, the personal details bonded us, made us understand each other faster then in any "brick and mortar" club we went, we go; faster than in other online clubs too.

"What happened to you last days?" All answered something.  I do remember some so vividly!

"My mother died this morning". She was 101 and leaves 101 descendants after her.
"I got a boyfriend! The first ever time!" She is 20 the youngest between us.
"I learned how to cook fried chicken."
"I am morning the sister of my daughter in law for many days"
"I learned to do chocolate cookies"
"I made laugh 10 minutes yesterday at Standup club" - that was me and it did not seem so personal...

In fact it was because for long time I did not go back there, and now I could and the magic of making laugh did not disappear, I still can do it. But how to express this in a short phrase?

After the warmup, twelve of us told four minute "Ice breaker" stories, then four more for two minutes, all the way from Hong Kong to Canada's Virgin Islands. Jordan, Germany, United Kingdom, Finland, United Emirates, Philippines, a country near Malaysia, Oregon and Denver, in USA - all bonded through what we told each other very strongly.

Childhood memories, memories from lost spouse, sad and funny or sad made funny. We felt there.

In Washington, miracle! I will meet in person some of them.

Cavendish arm gig, 29 June 2016

So many young, thin, pretty women with me there to gig, but I won the best of the evening cup.
Perhaps, difference is good? And possible, it was a short revised routine that worked too.
I believe, also just the right contact with the audience, too.

Public vote at the Cavendish Arms, winner Julie

the public voted by applause first for the "bests" see them all here
then for the "best of the evening" - I won the second time the small cup!
First was in 2012 and now I have them both side by side.

Bill Clinton at Democratic National Convention

If not more, listen to the first 12 minutes:

All personal, humorously told stories!
Self mocking, and showing his future wife character too.

Listen to the last 5 minute: "She is the Real Change maker"
She is the REAL one, repeated again and again.

And, somewhere in the middle, after Hilary convinced a Senator from the other side, he tells Bill (played out with another accent and voice): You know, Bill it seems they elected the wrong president.

One can learn a lot from Bill Clinton, wether you tell political, corporate or any other kind of speech.

July 26, 2016

A great TEDx Talk where the Personal Stories convinces us

2000+ Portraits Unexpected links

What links "Photographer, Portraitist" to "Storyteller" or "Comedian?"

In all cases I used "body language" sometimes "voice" and my facial expression to connect.

John Oliver - Brexit Aftermath, political humour

John Oliver - Brexit Aftermath

Oprah Winfrey "Find out what makes you alive"

Lots of stories in her speech, Oprah Harvard Commencement speech 2013
is a great speaker and so authentic.

She begins with personal stories of her life, and goes on in more then one topic.
Her speech is sprinkled with stories, hers and others.
At the end, comes back to what happened to her a year before when she felt all down and finishes:

"When you fall, and you all will at some time of your life, find out what makes you alive"

James Ryan's 2016 Commencement Speech

'europe Unite' Says Churchill (1948)

See how sure he said it and listen to his voice
Alas, not enough listened to him a few week ago - not many understood that his dream was also an united Europe!

My way : Enjoy and look how he holds the mike

Cavendish arms standup

5 minutes film realised by Tyson Joseph

Produced by Tyson Joseph 
for Hubdot.com 

You are many things at a time, not closing yourself in a single box. 
Do not wait till others recognise what you do, to affirm it.
Dare to do, enjoy. Live.

Life with comedian eyes is easier. 
Life with photographer eyes is more interesting. 
Life with stories can change even your own past and other people's future.

Great Humor ! Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

e

On brexit (or NOT) - and even making fun of British in general - can be done well as you see here
a great humorist against leaving Europe...

Humour is a Serious thing

Convinced, I have not "funny bones", I was stunned to hear so many laughs as I told in 2010 winter, the first time "Mistaken Identity" for paying public, yes, before I told different versions of it all year long in many Toastmaster clubs in London (see below somewhere in this blog). It was a serious matter in middle of recession many had to change careers, profession.

I decided to tell how I changed my profession at age 48.

Yesterday, between 5 possible stories, the members of the Connected Speakers of London in BAML, chose this story. Possible, because I told them it was when the audience laughed a lot and I did not understand why and decided to "learn to make them laugh, when I want".

From 2011 to 2013 I attended to many workshops, many days and hours spend learning the trade.

Humour is a serious matter! Well, I took it seriously, studied its many aspects. Practiced, read, learned. From the three major long workshops I attended as I was becoming 77 to the boot camp in Las Vegas by Darren LaCroix and Judy Carter that I offered myself as consolation gift that my years 70th are behind me. I was there for 3 days, the first day was my 79th birthday, when I mourned that I will be soon 80. I can't continue saying "I am 77". Well, now at 82 I begin to think "why not"?

Darren is convinced "it happened to me" that humor can be learned, As me, he felt at the beginning not having any funny bones but as he was ready to fail, to learn and persist, he become a champ.

Judy the standup goddess and book writer, in her motivational speeches shows how humor can change lives, help healing and conquer hearts. Transform even Mess in Message and convince.

During the workshop we were given 100 pages workbook! Here I share some of the wisdom and techniques we can try out. Of course not all! Borrow a bit from different sources, is not stealing, it is Research.

Technic 1 Reluctant admission

• Begin with a lie. Ex; "I am 20 years old"
• Admission, quiet "Well not exactly"
• Admission quieter "More like four times 20"
• "Anyway" : "in my heart I still feel young even at 80"

Technic 2 This is Judy's she does it wonderfully

• Lie boastfully
• Admit quieter not really true
• Admit softer the reality
• Loudly add "Anyway" add punch line

This morning that gave me an idea that begins with "As 20 years old..." admitting only in my feelings but that gave me another idea of at 20, 40, 60 and top with 80 that is also still in works.

Find a topic, mine it, rewrite it till it shines and remember, the punch line and word is at the end.

Darren: "relate to audiences frustrations to connect"

Judy: "At the end of the laughter is the height of listening"

Remember, as it is written in so many books: Comedy is Tragedy plus Time - with attitude

Tomorrow about the power of comparing two unrelated things, notions, etc.

Books about Comedy and Humour

Judy Carter wrote as I know the first ever book about Standup Comedy, she wrote later another called Comedy Bible. I learned from her the importance of adding something on the top of the punchline. That "afterthought" makes it look impromptu and usually adds even a stronger laughter.

I went to two workshop with her, one in Las Vegas at my 79th birthday, a second one in Los Angeles a few month later about "how to transform your mess into message": an excellent workshop leader.

Be a great standup by Logan Murray, was the first ever book I read about standup and understood... most of it, as I was very new then. He was my second workshop leader, and I went later to his Impro workshop and also to his Comedy writer workshop in London. Excellent workshop leader.

It is interesting how much each differ from each other. I learned from Logan to look around me with Comedian Eyes! So important also in my life.

When I took this photo I only had 10 books all with different views and some new advices. Now their number has grown. If you read only two, read Logan's and Comedy Bible by Judy Carter perhaps.

The other two books, well I do not remember also at the time reading it I liked them, all adding a new perspective to what I know each time.

But before all that books, I recommend all Toastmasters to go through the Competent Communicator manual, and if possible twice. And those who are not yet, to join a club.

What does it teaches you, in the Toastmasters club with feedback are the basic technics of any speech and plus the confidence gained through them is essential. In any speech confidence is important, but the audience feeling fear, does not laugh. And of course, the Rhetoric devices are also important in Comedy as is the body language used and voice variety.

And yes! To have an attitude and a point of view important for you.

Jerry Seinfeld Stand-Up

Keep or Through away or use eBay to send to each other

Should I admit? I like it!

The article Shannon wrote about my life and activites, is not only in page 12 and 13 of 300 000 + copies,  send to all Toastmasters all over the world, but also now on Facebook page of the International Convention August Washington DC, on Linkedin and Twitter, send by Shannon.

not only in magazine, Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook, 

but also published in the Toastmasters International page

https://www.toastmasters.org/Magazine/Articles/Never-Too-Late

Could I have dreamed a better interviewer, writer then him?
He really cares! This morning I am... quite happy (that is British understatement)

The photo that he has chosen for online is the one made after my Tallinn Comedy Workshop for Toastmasters who come from the two nordic district to listen to it. Yeah, I am the small one in the middle with at one side the Toastmaster who was the most impressed, touched by it, and fellow TM from Tallinn, workshop leader too.

Embrace the problem

There is not so much difference between a Personal Story Teller and a Stand-up Comedian. 

Both through a "persona" a character (in my opinion, one of our facet) fight with obstacles, problems that come their way. Tumble, fall, fail, get up, try again and again. Sometimes, others help or suggest how we can leave it behind us, or inside us a voice suggest it using an old experience of us or of others.

Then, embracing what happens, learning from it, using it, the "character" (hero or antihero) gets up and goes farther or takes a new, most of the time better direction. 

With a stubborn attitude, an optimist attitude, not giving up (more then momentarily) and both giving courage to their audiences, the hero of story or anti-hero of comedy. To each who looks and listens.

I begun analysing in more detail my comedy set, after reading this night some philosophy from 2000 years ago saying "embrace the obstacle, use it". 

I have a long part in my set about "shaving". 

It begun, boasting how we women are advantaged over men "we do not have to shave". Well, it was about our face. Then, I remembered, how my husband's shaving and showering an evening, I must have been 33 him 34, singled me "he is not going to work, or to drink with his pals!" He was not, indeed. It was one of my awful night in my life, I felt so down. 

Well, I did not make it yet a story from it, but I told already with Spark London true stories, in Brixton, the story of the disastrous holiday after which I decided to divorce finally, on stage, putting in drama and enough humour also, and had real success with it. But I condensed it into some comedy lines. Telling also how I got out of it. 

Of course, in real life it took me more then two years. In comedy, just from one paragraph to the other. 

Well, I did demonstrate by it, no more need really telling, also I could how great it is to be a woman "because we women do not have to shave".

Then came David Jones workshop, fall 2011: it was my third workshop and I still did not go alone out to any comedy club at that time. David told me, yes, my set is good, now take out half of it and make a new half till the end of the workshop, in 6 weeks. 

Try it: it seems awful! Why change something that is already working?

It proved, he was right of course, not only to make something better, but to resolve another problem I was fighting with. Having, as woman, to shave my face after age 50 (or more). I listed all what I have  tried, all that did not work and why the hair was still there and growing back. Also, how I did on screen eradicate the hair I found on my face in a picture ! That stayed clean! To my surprise, that part delighted audiences. 

What, an old woman, computer savvy?

They could not know, I got my first computer programming diploma in 1973! From 1980 I made my living from the emerging personal computers market! I followed from inside. It still surprises all, each time I allude something at web or any use of an "app" as they call it nowadays. Makes laugh. So I use it.

I also showed my "final" solution: There is not so much difference between a Personal Story Teller and a Stand-up Comedian.

Both through a "persona" a character (in my opinion, one of our facet) fight with obstacles, problems that come their way. Tumble, fall, fail, get up, try again and again. Sometimes, others help or suggest or inside us a voice at least.

Then, embracing what happens, learning from it, using it, the "character" (hero or antihero) gets up and goes farther or takes a new, most of the time better direction. 

Both have a stubborn attitude, an optimist attitude, not giving up (more then momentarily) and both giving courage to their audiences. To each who looks and listens.

I begun analysing in more detail my comedy set, after reading this night some philosophy from 2000 years ago saying "embrace the obstacle, use it". 

I have a long part in my set about "shaving". It begun, boasting how we women are advantaged over men "we do not have to shave". Well, it was about our face. Then, I remembered, how my husband's shaving and showering an evening, I must have been 33 him 34, singled me "he is not going to work, or to drink with his pals!" He was not, indeed. It was one of my awful night in my life, I felt so down. 

Well, I did not make it yet a story from it, also I told the story of the disastrous holiday after which I decided to divorce finally, on stage, putting in drama and enough humour also, and had real success with it. But I condensed it into some comedy lines. Telling also how I got out of it. Of course, in real life it took me more then two years. In comedy, just from one paragraph to the other. 

Well, I did demonstrate by it, no more need really telling, also I could how great women do not have to shave.

Then came David Jones workshop, and he told me, yes, my set is good, now through away half and make a new half. Try it: it seems awful! Why change something that is already working?

It proved, not only to make something better, but to resolve another problem I was fighting with. Having, as woman, shave after age 50 (or more). So I listed all I had tried, all that did not work and why. What I did, on screen to eradicate the hair I found on my face in a picture ! 

Then, comes my son, "mother, it is not enough to use a bic, use also shaving cream". Denial. Me? Shaving cream? As men? Never! Well, he did bring me a bottle (even not for my birthday I pretend). After looking at it for a few weeks, I caved in, tried it out. 

The result? I found a funny face in the mirror and embraced it. Took a selfie then two or three. Printed some huge, so I can show it. When the time come, toward the end of the David Jones workshop, I showed it. Well, it does work, make laugh every time.

The most important, from that moment I felt the worry about shaving disappeared and embracing it I did use it to my advantage. Exactly, like the 2000 years old philosophy, wisdom says. And my great grand-mother Paula "from every bad something goods arrises". 

It also gave me a solid "middle" around which I can build the rest. There is a lot more that come on you as you get older, and each time I could show (more then tell only) how I embraced it. Used to mock, to make laugh, to get over it and go farther. a disposable razor.

Then, come my son, "mother, it is not enough what you use, why not also use shaving cream?". 

Denial. Me? Shaving cream? As men? Never! Well, he did bring me a bottle (even not for my birthday I pretend). After looking at it for a few weeks, I caved in, tried it out. 

The result? I found a funny face in the mirror and embraced it. Took a selfie then two or three. Printed some huge, so I can show it. 

When the time come, toward the end of the David Jones workshop, I showed it. Well, it does work, make laugh every time. Look at the previous note for the picture.

The most important, from that moment I felt the worry about shaving disappeared and embracing it I did use it to my advantage. Exactly, like the 2000 years old philosophy, wisdom says. And my great grand-mother Paula "from every bad something goods arrises". 

It also gave me a solid "middle" around which I can build the rest. There is a lot more that come on you as you get older, and each time I could show (more then tell only) how I embraced it. Used to mock, to make laugh, to get over it and go farther.

Middle, the antihero

I added to my comedy routine, bits through the time and cut out others, all the way making sure it looks like a fluid tale. Linking in some way, one to the other. 

Leaving usually the beginning and end as it was. 

It took perhaps 40 - 50 times till I found a better ending and even that was constructed bit by bit. Adding some "top" on one "joke" in fact a daring sentence that came very deep from me, then topping it with bits I found later, and that left the audience roaring with laughter after laughter. 

After I found the daring sentence in a workshop I attended, it took me 3 month to dare to use it.

The story in comedy uses as main character the "unti-hero" the one trying, failing, persisting. Not giving up, trying again and even agains all odds. We feel "it is like us" even if what he/she tells is not what we lived through. But we desire, want, try and many times fail and still persist. Yes, even failing this character does not give up: so it gives a message. 

And many times, by not politically or openly accepted means, he/she wins some battles. Gets to embrace the other problems having and getting in way. 

Very important is the comedian's persona and its Attitude. 

It is not the attitude of a plaintive, sad, someone who has given up. Sometimes even the audience sees the blows coming before the comedian's persona. Experiment with different attitude way of expressing conveying your point. The good comedian does not just make laugh but yes conveys a point of you on anything he/she tells about or shows. 

What is the persona? A version of myself in my case, but a version you would never meet out of stage. Others create a fictive like an actors persona, I just give voice to a more autrageous self. 

I used the worst experiences in my life to poke fun of but in the way conveying what I think of cheering bastards. Of course, till it was not me. Used for it "shaving" then to link to next part, created three month later, I added (for the whole look in another post at video):

"Of course, we women have advantage over men: we don't shave. (Showing face) True? 
Pause. 
Well, till we get after 50. (Laughter)
Then, (here comes the story all I tried and did not succeed to eliminate hair from my face) finally, I decided to photoshop it out! (Laughter)

That worked, they never come back. but alas only on the screen. 

At my 77 th birthday, my son offered me a bottle. Of shaving cream. 
Shave as a man, me? Never! 
Finally I gave up. 
Looked in the mirror with shaving cream on my face: a clown looked back to me. 
Have you ever seen a woman shaving face? (discussion with audience) Want to see? 
(Show a selfie) here it is! 

This gave sometime a standing ovation and always a very strong laughter.

"After showing this picture, the skeleton was out of the cupboard and I did not care any more I had to shave before all performances." 

From here it goes farther towards one or my last end, as I connect it to what I still was anxious about.

The morning after, by Tia Atan

Thanks Tia Atan, to have taken this photo this morning!

In my online Toastmaster club, Firebirds Collective, we celebrated at the end of the meeting the article in the Toastmaster magazine by showing suddenly it, from Canada all the way to New Zeeland, through Dubai, Germany and London. I have published the screenshot on Facebook.

But this photo really come to me as a surprise! Yes, we meet each other 8 days ago at a Toastmasters Workshop in central London, again. The magazine arrived to London yesterday afternoon.This

 This is the text that goes with it:
"My admirations today go to Julie Kertesz. What an inspirational lady she is! Last Saturday when I met her again, she was so bright and shining with energy like she always does. It made me think about the importance of being positive and inspiring others. It's never too late, we're never too old. Keep on spreading the light and the wisdom, Julie!"

I got some other very nice words, thanks all - this is a special pleasure with her photography and creativity.

"Size is important"

The photo dates from 2 years ago when I was stuck in bed with broken leg. Just begun my new diary notebook, now filled, the telephone replaced also by a second hand but great iPhone, and the my iPad has problems connecting: I use my Macintosh portable instead. But, the same KINDLE.

In my Standup comedy I introduce my Kindle like this, with true stories! 

I received a message on Facebook "I am willing to become your Toy-Boy"
Toy Boy? I never heard that before. Went fast to Wikipedia.
Anyway, I do not like "boys". I prefer men. As to "toys" : I have them in my drawer.

Near my bed, always at arm length, is my favourite toy. Because SIZE is important.
Well, not always, believe me, but some times.
That toy is my dear Kindle! (I show).
I needed it after my cataract operations when I could not use my eyeglasses. I can read with Huge Size Characters on it!
After 9 month, I did not need any more big size, so... I used Kindle to hide "50 shades of grey", from my grand-children. All three huge volumes and... 50 more books like that.

All near my bed, at arm length. This last phrase I did never add till now. Should I?

Anyway, this example shows how one can use one things that disturbed, angered you turn it comic.
Then make laugh about it and also put in audience head : what you did NOT say...
Then explain what you meant, and even add to it something new to laugh of.

The part about 50 shades of grey worked better when it just appeared and many spoke of it... now it become "old news" so perhaps have to find something else instead.

"When I was ten the war caught up with me" performed Manchester Town hall

"True Stories with Grant Whisky" at Manchester Town hall with 400/500 audience and two big screens showing the performance so all can see it well.

It was from the beginning a decision to tell this story from the eyes of a ten years old me, and do not relate how I see it now with knowledge not even from what I learned a year later.

Another big decision was to add to it a part about "now" and link it with "holding hands" with the past: that leaves all with a warm feeling and also a non told but important second message.
----
I changed the publication date in memory of 70 years commemoration of survivors.
-----
Asking Advice
Toastmasters to whom I told this story in my different clubs (it was each time from a project Manual speech), and asked advice, all gave me very useful advices.

Where should I stretch to hold the suspense longer, where should I change my face and make more pause, for example. Joanna Yates, producer of Spark London, helped me a lot to shorten and cut from my long initial beginning where I talked, for this story at least, a lot more of my cousin.

Telling it some other time, perhaps I could add back as different blocks can be taken out usually and added depending of the circumstances. But this story I told so many times that I learned it as is, and last year as I went to give a keynote in AYR, West of Scotland, I met two young women on the train and told them the story. It went so easy and they were fascinated.

In French, a big speech of F. Hollande

Hollande à Verdun at the 100th anniversary of one of the most bloody battle of last century
Speaking of Europe and solidarity.

Some of the phrases the press underlined: "Let us love our country but be ready to stand behind our common house, Europe"

He had many important phrases in this great speech I'll have to listen again, translate them, perhaps see if there is any translation available already in English.

Europe is a culture, a way of life, a sharing of experience!

----------------------------------------------

Do not let those who use our mistakes, problems that come on the way, to disunite, with hatred and no vision of past or future. (that is what I remember not word by word)

My Toastmasters journey: some photos in an album

Toastmasters journey photos album - a long journey
got wiser, got fatter too!

It begun with an Online Photo Group I did administer very actively for six years: found workshop leaders that did teach and explain something new every month, then commented on the added photos. Towards the end, 2500 members in the !Afterclass! photo masterclass name, as we were allowed to add photos also after the monthly theme closed and another class begun. I realise just now, how much I learned at the time and how many photographers from all over the world met and come to know a lot better.



From then to now, I went to visit many Toastmasters clubs, told stories in public, made audiences laught at 77+ gigs,.

Now, ten years later, finally, got to have two toastmasters clubs:
Lewisham Speakers a bus drive away (member now in 8th year)
Firebirds Collective from living room but contact with Toastmasters around the globe (just passed 1 year)

Fireside Chat with Online Toastmasters "Firebirds Collective"

Julie STANDS Up, 5th July 2013 the first public screening

The image chosen for the poster of Irene's documentary.

Will add the movie or link here. About 14 minutes documentary film from many hours film taken at many location through the last six or seven month.

For me it is also a great example, how one can make a story from bits and after deciding on what one wants to show, take out all that does not 'belong'.

I was stupefied all along by Irina Fernandez dedication, all helps she got when she needed a second and all the demands she put on me.

Some, I did not accept easy, but I do understand now.

That is what Irene wrote about on the International Documentary film website - blog.
Called: Julie StandsUp

Director: Irene Fernandez
14 minutes

A short portrait of Julie Kertesz, an 80-year-old woman who decided, in her late 70s, to take up stand-up comedy. Originally from Hungary and a French citizen, Julie Kertesz moved to London 5 years ago.

Julie’s stand-ups not only defy preconceived ideas about ageing but also communicate the power of creativity as a means to deal with the past, present and future. Her journey became a path of self-discovery, empowerment and self-realisation.

Here the trailer with bits from many films shown.

Goldsmiths Screen Doc Festival July 2013: watch the trailers! from Washington Calegari on Vimeo.
The MA Screen Doc group presents 16 international documentaries from 4th to 6th July 2013.
Free entry. All welcome.
LGO2, New Academic Building, Goldsmiths College / New Cross / London / SE14 6NW
screendoc2013.wordpress.com
Smaller version:

Discovering a new voice, a new story: reinventing yourself

Telling her story with authenticity, simplicity, openness, 
well it seems so but it is very creatively done!

"Give voice to the story only you can tell" she tells us all."You have the ability to reinvent yourself!" Lidia Yuknavitch finishes.

I don't remember! I Remember... 3 poems

Record your speeches! Record your stories! Record even some poems you love as here.
Revisiting them after a time it is rewarding. Interesting. Instructive.
At least to yourself. Perhaps, even to others.

I do not remember! Heltai (translated by Julie Kertesz from Hungarian) Yet, he describes so well all that...

A humorous translated poem that liked it so much, that it was worth translating and telling it in my Reading project at my Toastmasters club, together with two other, more sad poems about Remembering.

Just decided to add those too here. "Morning" is also translated from Hungarian, and the poet remembers his walks holding hands. It is perhaps the saddest one as he finds no one any more to hold his hand other then in memory.

Morning: I remember... Erdelyi. "To live is great, to live is good. When someone holds your hand."


Remember, Rossetti : this was the first ever English poem read in English by me. I was adolescent when my mother offered me a collection of bilingual European poems, one page translated to Hungarian, one original. At the beginning, I did not know yet English but this sound so great! I come back to it again, after learning at age 26, and from time to time. Still like it a lot.

In fact, I begun with Rossetti's poem and finished with "I do not remember". From the saddest to the funniest.

It was in my second year at Lewisham Toastmaster's club, one of my first's Advanced manuals.
Very naively, I believed, reading will be easy. It was not. Aside for the poems project which I enjoyed a lot, and the history (Kennedy's speech in Berlin) I had so much difficulty to find my texts, and deliver them as needed, that it was the last manual I finished before my Advanced Gold, a few years later.

Some speech projects give you little worry also I did many reading a whole book about the subject and yes, it would be a good idea to make a note and write about projects and books I did buy for them, study for them. No one controls how we do a project but more we use it to learn, better results it gives for us. I do hope, with the REP new education program that will arrive, we will be able to add and discover online new material for each.

Fun and serious, a wonderful authentic speech by J.K. Rowling

Failure leads to discovery - those who never fail, never live and never learn that they can rise up from the rock bottom. With personal stories, humour and authenticity, Rowling Commencement speech at Harward is an example to look, listen, study. Follow.

An example of humorous speech to study, Obama at 8th White House Correspondents'

One leads to another

It all begun when Jacub Pawlowsky, Toastmasters Division B Governor, posted a few month back: "who can host a Toastmaster from Riga?"

 I did.

We got well together. A great young woman, founder of the first TM club in Riga, told me about going in November to Budapest, where the Continental Europe Toastmasters hold the Laugh and Learn in Budapest, conference and contests. Humorous and Table topics contest, last time together, before they will split.

I have to participate too, for the first time in 59th District conference, and plus, in Budapest!

A young toastmaster and TEDx organiser, very nicely invited me to their place, on Buda!

At the conference, I met many from all Europe, also from other parts of the world, living nowadays in Europe. What a diversity between the 370 attendees! Strangely, between all, Bea, PR, have chosen me to be interviewed by a journalist, who arrived with a photographer..

I spoke Hungarian, of course, and having begun Standup Comedy at 77 seems "media worth".

A very nice journalist and a great photographer arrived together Saturday afternoon and let me speak, interviewed me. From it came an article all the 5th page of Sunday's Bors, which is in every newspaper stand, (in 6/7 was a paper to whom the English Queen gives the title Sir and Dame).



Different photo published in the journal and the online BorsOnline.hu - and the photographer, let me download many others too.

I got an email from RTL Club, in Budapest, to appear (too late, no more there) and then today, I discover, then there is a great article about my activities, on line from Finland Toastmasters!

I also met others, from Germany, one whose father is Hungarian, another young couple, and so many interesting others! In case you do not read Hungarian, most probably, on my Facebook page I published the translation of it in English and also a link to the Finland Toastmasters blog page, which is written originally in English already.

One leads to another, one just has to begin!

How to get from here to there (Ted talk 2015)

From the "best TED Talks 2015" this is by Patti Dobrowolski
We can learn, not only from what she suggests, but also how she delivers it.

Today, after looking over the 1h 30 of yesterday's Firebirds Celebration speeches, stories, dreams, I understand it even better. Some of us dreamed to bring us here, to be able to create, charter and for a whole year already, for me, a few month for others, Advanced Toastmasters from all over the world.
Next post will be about "us" Firebirds visiting each other in our homes from New Zealand, Malaysia, cities or out of way places in Australia, Dubai, Philippines, Germany and London, all the way to Virginia, Dallas, Colorado, to the Virginia Island of Canada.

Some of us, dreamed it, others (as me) jumped on early on what they created, yet others fell in love with Firebirds Collective Toastmasters club as soon as they where invited as guest, to become in March Charter members or soon change from first time visitors to enthusiastic members.

Ian, Susan, Manhal envisioned the future, created the new possibilities, and a better place to be.

Competent Communicator: My first year of Public Speaking

Competent Communicator: My first year of Public Speaking: 31 December, 2009, last day of my year of Public Speaking, First note in this blog. I got in 2009, as was my goal in January, my diploma ...

Spark London storytelling tips

Spark London Welcome to Britain’s first True Storytelling Events

True stories told from the stage. Expect the unusual, the hilarious, the tragic and the heart warming. Our storytellers have included teachers, car dealers and barristers - anyone with a story to tell is welcome. Joanna Yates created them.

Here are Joanna's advice for preparing and telling them

Storytelling tips

1. A strong story will always have a dilemma also know as a predicament.

E.g. ‘What did you do when you realised your passport was gone on the morning of your holiday’. Or, ‘What did you do when you accidentally forwarded an private email to the whole office.’

2. Start in the action. There is only five minutes to tell your story so don’t waste time telling us what the story is about, just tell the story.

E.g. I got home I could smell burning-  Yes

E.g. I am going to tell you the story of when I discovered a fire at my house – No

3. Know your opening and closing line.

If you want to really nail your story decide what your opening and closing line are in advance. This will help give your story impact.

4. For some inspiration and examples of previous stories go to www.sparklondon.com and click the Itunes logo on the right hand side. This will take you to our free weekly pod cast where you can hear stories from the last three years.

5. Have a go.  

The best way to master storytelling is to practice and these nights are a good place to start. 

What to avoid

1. Ranting – if you are upset about something turn it into a story

2. Stand up routines – funny stories are welcome but not stand up routines

3. Poetry – this is not a place to tell poems

7 minutes with rehearsal at Canal Cafe Theatre once a month

5 minutes Open Mic at Brixton Upstairs at Ritzy one a month
There are more places and other venues now, after years! Look for them.

Funny bones Workshop, Tallinn Estonia

Posing after the workshop I offered in Tallinn to Toastmasters arrived from many Nordic Europe countries, but their origin was even more diverse, as some went from Spain to Finland, other from America to live in Sweden, or from Africa to Estonia.

Raido Huberg was happy to have invited me: he organised the three workshops and invited the keynote speaker too. This picture is his idea, the official photographer of the event took also a photo only with us two, but with my camera, only this was taken.

The third happy young woman in the image is a very happy audience "Your workshop changed my life" she come to tell me. By it, not only I made laugh, taught "how to reach any audience" but also persuaded "they can" and of the importance of humour in life of each of us.

My stories went very well and in the good order, making the points I wanted to convey. I knew, I can give good True Storytelling workshops, did it for years already, but this was first time I did a Comedy Workshop - and to so divers audience too. I succeeded to involve them, in groups, then some one by one, and at the end with Q/A that gave me occasion to use yet others from my routine and explain tell some of my other true stories.

55 minutes finally - for those to whom seems a lot, go to minute 37... and begin there. The video, send so fast after the workshop by Tallinn Toastmasters, does not show all the discussions between the audience, almost at the beginning: they liked it a lot too.


Humour Workshop by Julie Kertesz from Julie Kertesz on Vimeo.

Many looked at me so warm after the workshop, and yes also those meet told me they learned, noted, got courage to try from now on. Understood, also that comedy can heal even.

All the workshop was taken in video, when I'll get is, I will be able to analyse in more detail. And later, not yet, today, will put in this blog the main points I conveyed, all learned from the three first Comedy Workshops I have taken in 2002. At the occasion of this, as I prepared for it, I realised how many I have taken, shorter ones, later on too, and how I did learn something from each. Now, it is indeed, time to give back that and explain how important looking at life problems with Comedians Eyes, become to me, after at 77 I discovered it.

Darren Lacroix from Las Vegas, gave a workshop I organised

And many other great photos in a set, and others soon in the set. At the citi criers toastmasters


Freddie Daniels introducing Darren
and with the audience (and some organisers too)

I see something in you! 2014 Champion speech

Ten years ago: Adventure!

What if you go to the train station or airport without knowing you'll take the train or plane?
What if you decide "why not take the one departing in a few minutes"?
I have dreamed wanted desired it for long time.

I did not take yet a plane, so that is still a dream in the mist so far, but ten years ago, at early age of 71

Ten years ago, I did take the first early morning train from Paris to London, after I dropped my son going for a professional meeting, instead of taking my car to go home, I went back and asked "how much if I take a ticket now for the train departing in ten minutes?"

They gave me a very cheep ticket, "last minute" and "senior" go now and return open.
I have not been in London at that time for about 30 or 35 years!
Arrived at Waterloo station, went to Trafalgar square.
At the station, they gave me the address of Manor House hotel, near Early Court: nice small cheep.


Here is the album of my 100+ photos I took rediscovering, discovering, England and London.

Of course, I did not know, less then three years later I will move and live in London.

A first time, again

Firebirds collective meet from all over the globe as you can see here

This night was a first time for me, again: given a speech, a story of beginning in Toastmasters club - at 2 am my London time. Of course, as you can see from this picture, we had Toastmasters from different part of the world. Our moderator from Australia. My Evaluator from Dubai. My Timer from Canada. The Toastmaster introducing my speech from Chicago. Soon, in the morning, the Firebirds meeting will begin and we will have members from even more places participating.

An image speaks better then words in this occasion I do believe.

How to Start a Speech

Humorous lecture by Conor Neil! start with sock is nr 2 start with a story is number 1: a personal story!
Of course.

Back on the saddle!

Focus on one thing helps a lot!

Also, we can learn from one domain y as here and apply to the other.

Yesterday, I went out again, at my Lewisham Toastmaster club and had given a 15 minutes speech abut my love affaire with Ralph Smedley, (TM founder) and how much I feel he would love what will come with the REP (Revitalised Education Program) in the future.

I got great feedback from the Area Director, present so my presentation for the Area COT will be improved and yes, I will add slides to it. Lot of work in perspective for the end of the month and the joy to meet together officers from 6 clubs.

Also, I will have my thee front teeth restored, well, a dentures on them by that time and by March too for my next comedy gig in Depford, near Greenwich University.

You are booked for a 7 min spot on the 15th of March at the BEE HAPPY COMEDY. You must bring a friend to perform. Please do not arrive without a PLUS 1 as it is awkward to have to say you cannot perform.

Address: http://www.thedukedeptford.com/  please be there at 7:30.

I already have another toastmaster who just finished David Jones class and begun gigging, coming with me, but I would appreciate any of you reading this, being with us too.

I hope, now that I have given, once and filmed, a 20 minute Standup Comedy in public I will be able to select the best material and make a 7 minute (nonstop laughing) gig at a club where the last time I was told "come back whenever you want".

For me, it seems that the new year begins now, and I was challenged by the President of Firebirds collective, advanced Toastmasters, to give speeches from all the projects from Ralph Smedley Basic Training manual: I am writing and rewriting the first one. Title: CROSSING Boarders or I did not know I will be seen as a "migrant." A sad story, but also a story of resilience. We can bounce back, we can find something in any situation life drops on us. Those were the ten years 18/28 of my life.

 I'll try to finish with humour and even add some of it in the middle.