the six-minute rule, and variations thereupon

[adelaidesean]

Last week, Boing Boing featured a post offering public speaking advice for anyone forced to bite that particular bullet.

Now I know full well that, given a choice, most writers would never come out of the garret, but as that choice doesn't really exist any more, taking note of this kind of thing is important. If you haven't done it yet, you'll probably be forced to one day, so best to read and absorb as much as possible from the people who did it and survived. Which is everyone, of course. No one ever died from public speaking, did they? (Please, catsparx, don't tell me otherwise!)

I just want to add one other thing to the excellent (not exhaustive) list on the other end of those links. It's really a couple of things rolled into one, but they're connected.

The first half is: know your place. By that I mean, find out in advance what's expected of you so you can get the second part right: do your damnedest to deliver. In other words, do exactly what's required, no more and no less. If you're chairing, don't assume you're also a participant. If you're reading, don't go long. Prepare as required. That kind of thing. Obvious, really--so obvious that it boggles my mind how many people screw it up.

Going long, in particular, is a classic newbie mistake that pros will hate you for, because a true pro will never do it. They work hard not to, and so should you. Practice what you've prepared at least twice, and time it accurately both times. Have a watch or clock in line of sight during your performance. Stop your reading in mid-flow if it's obvious you're going to go too far over. Speaking twice as long as other program participants is never acceptable, no matter how good you think you're being. Break this one simple rule and everyone in the audience will curse you. Curse you, I say!

(Can you tell this happened to me recently?)

Anyway, this isn't aimed at anyone in particular, and I apologise for making so many sweeping generalisations. Some pros do make these mistakes, and some newbies are already good at it. This is just a rant thrown out into the collective unconscious (please, make it stop!) with apologies to anyone who had to sit through my overlong efforts way back in the day.

Comments

[sithmagician.livejournal.com]

No one ever died from public speaking, did they?

I'm still convinced I had a heart attack during my first comedy gig, and only survived because cruel fate wanted me to suffer through the whole thing.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Ha! Maybe you did. Are you sure you're actually still alive?

[sithmagician.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, I just realised that was a year ago today...

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

well, there was this one guy...

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Not me, I hope!

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

never!

[maelorin]

i may not have *literally* died onstage, but i have died onstage ...

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

heh. Yeah. Ditto.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

:-) Me too. Oh, how true!

[leecetheartist.livejournal.com]

A lot of U.S presidents have died from public speaking.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

That's true. Even going to see a play can be deadly.

[maelorin]

macbeth!

[crankynick.livejournal.com]

My current horror memory is haven't to MC the awards night for companies in my sector at a conference last year - the MCing was OK, I got to be dry and appropriately disrespectful, but the conference organisers neglected to tell me that my own CEO was going to be in attendance, watching as I did it.

Which was no fun at all.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Fark. You knew at the time or found out afterward?

[crankynick.livejournal.com]

Found out on the night, when he sat down out my table.

[maelorin]

lol. *erk*!






something similar happened to me some years ago. she was thoroughly amused. but figured that since i was so good, i'd have no trouble finding another job ... *sad bear*

[maelorin]

whenever i have to speak in public, i prefer to be well prepared - and to have a simple message. a couple of bullet points. maybe 3. 5 max in an hour.

but failing that, i have four rules for communicating:

preparation. presentation. participation. perspective.

be as prepared as possible. know your subject and your audience.

dress and address appropriately.

get they other person talking, or at least doing something. thinking is a doing thing.

have something interesting to say about your subject that meshes or conflicts with that of your audience.

in short: k.i.s.s.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Perfect!

[tallaudrey.livejournal.com]

An old one, but a goodie http://www.smh.com.au/news/Books/I-nearly-died/2004/12/20/1103391682920.html

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Gold. I'm very fortunate to have no stories like that in my repertoire. Not that stuff like that hasn't happened to me, but because I've erased every last memory from my mind.

[sci-fi-writer.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, Australian Steve, like *you're* one to talk. Talk talk talk talk talk talk talk. :P

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Especially when I have a captive audience! Those poor WOTFers... :-)

[gloripebbles.livejournal.com]

I still like teasing my long-suffering other that I think the AAs are the ultimate in public speaking cruelty...getting a bunch of people who (mostly) would prefer to hide behind the curtains, to go down the stage, speak words & then resume normal transmission of brain matter.

Always wondered what a random rant throw would like it & it appears to be pirate (re your image) :)

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

I do save that pic for my rants. Glad you like!

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