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.