The ability to give a talk about your art can help set you up as an authority, which increases your value in the marketplace as well as your visibility.

Here are some options to help you become a better speaker:

• Set a clock in plain view. (to you, not the audience)
• People remember the first and last things they hear, so start with a bang
• Practice, practice, practice!
• Keep it simple. Ask yourself. What is the one thing I want them to take away from this talk.
• Use stories.  Give them a piece of you. They will appreciate it and you will seem more real.
• Be sincere. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care about them.
• Less is more.
• Involve the audience at least once every ten minutes or so.
• Be ready for the question-and-answer segment
• Make eye contact
• Drink lots of water
• Move around but don’t pace
• Know your audience beforehand
• Prepare your own brief and accurate introduction and ask that it be read, rather than have your introducer improvise.
• Be passionate. Any nervousness or lack of information can be overcome by being excited about your topic
• Work on your vocal quality and projection. Speak from your diaphragm and breathe.
• Slow down.
• Have funny replies ready in case of difficult people.
• Eliminate distractions.
• Use word pictures, metaphors, graphics and stories. The more senses you can involve in your talk, the better your audience will listen and retain. ‘Facts tell, stories sell’
• Don’t script your speech.
• Use visual aids
• Call a few days before your talk to find out how many will be attending.
• Check out the room and the equipment beforehand.
• Remember, the audience WANTS you to succeed.