Why to take so many Stand Up Commedy classes?

Sometime, I asked myself what got into me to go into Stand UP and take in 2011 not one but three Workshops!

This morning; I did what Judy Carter suggested in The Book: I begin to write as I woke up.

I wrote a whole gag, two pages about my Cataract Intervention, and being old. I can now see things that happen to me with a new eye... haha. That I just found! All events that seem sad or frustrating can be transformed if seen differently, with another "attitude".

And when I finished this morning, I realized that I made laugh 9 other who waited to have their  left eye cataract operated twice! So yes, now I am no more asking myself why I did it!

Judy Carter; The BOOK

The Stand Up Comedy classic by Judy Carter is still very active after so many years!

Oh yes; a classic is a classic and lives long long long!

I begun to read it again and arrived to chapter two at middle, what I learned; again so far?

Be authentic, open yourself, speak in present, not too long stories but tell your frustrations and worries and angers; those you feel most about. We all have stage fright but for most it goes away as we arrive on scene. Prepare a lot but appear to speak in the moment.

What else?

Study other good comedians and their messages and attitudes and persona, but then find your own without imitating them. Get used to ups and downs and tell the material important to You. Tell seriously to make others laugh without trying to become a clown; tell your own material.

It is your uniqueness that interest; your frustrations and worries that make laugh. And it all depends also on their mood and the place; do not get upset the day when all bombs and no one laughs - other good day will come! Persist.

And that is only the begining!

Olivia's speech

Her speech at the International contents was the most wonderful one but went over the time: and she was disqualified: you know why?

Her heartbreaking story I felt it in me; as something similar happened to me too; and so many of us!

At the same time; as she did want it too; made people laugh... to long! to often.

The story itself lasted only seven minutes and fifteen seconds; 15 seconds under the maximum time allowed at that Toastmasters International competition of seven and thirty; and that with all the long and important pauses! But with the people laughing; and one can not speak until the laughter dies down almost; it went over.

If your speech contains humor, and every should, allow one minute for people reactions! For a seven minutes speech finish at home at six minutes maximum for example.

What I also learned, listening to it many times today; that self revelation works! Of course with the right attitude; I loved also her speech morale: do not let a defect you have - and we all have some - have a too big impact on you and dominate the rest of your life!

PS
Sorry: the soundtrack is no more here, at her request I took it out. And it is true that I have also her movements in my head that contributed to the greatness of the speech and its powerful effect on me - and so many others. And I had only the voice...

From Australia to China

Winner of second price on the Toastmasters International Contest in Las Vegas, there is a lot to learn from him and the reaction to his speech, too. It is also a very humourous one.

Congratulations to the International Speech Contest Winners!

The title of 2011 World Champion of Public Speaking for Toastmasters in Las Vegas, was awarded to Jock Elliott from Bongaree, Queensland, Australia, in the middle here. Second Kwong Yue Yang of Guangzhou, Guangdong, China and third was Scott Pritchard of Henderson, Nevada, United States.

In fact, Kwonng Yue Yang was also born in Australia, and he told us the story in a funny way of how he went to China in his speech, and how he asked all around 'what to do' until finaly he realised he has to ask himself.

Scott Pritchard, native of Vegas, told us about a box, her mom gave him. "There is nothing in it!" he finally told her. "It is full of memories" - build your memories and pass it farther, was his message.

Workshop on Leadership Assasination

Be prepared, he told us in his hour workshop, to those who are against leaders, and each time one is rising up, try to 'assassinate' him or her, by false accusations.

“Speak Outside of Toastmasters for Fun, Profit and Club Building!” (C)

Darren LaCroix

• Learn how to build your club – and your confidence – by giving paid speeches
• Realize your Toastmasters experience shouldn’t be undervalued
• Learn what to speak about
• Learn where you can start speaking next week!
• Get an exact outline of what to say in your presentation 

Darren encouraged us, in his Vegas workshop, to go out, and speak outside our Toastmasters clubs. Then, encourage others to go out to the community too and speak... about speaking and our clubs too.

Of course, our clubs are a warm environment we can experiement, but then, our main goal is go out!