What I Learned about "Stepping up to the Stage" from Joan Bowling - Public Speaking Tips for Authors

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This week, I attended the James River Writers' Writing Show, "Stepping up to the Stage" with Joan Bowling. She had some great presentation and public speaking tips for authors. Here's what I learned...

  1. Prepare! Prepare! Prepare! Make sure that you're ready for your event. 
  2. Relax! You are more confident when you feel comfortable.
  3. Make the butterflies you feel fly in formation. Get control of your nerves.
  4. Breathing helps. Calm your thoughts.
  5. Nervousness means you care. Use that energy in your presentation.
  6. You need to create an impression or mood with what you're going to say.
  7. Start off with a question or an "imagine a time when" story. You want to draw your listeners in.
  8. Practice your opening. 
  9. You want your presentation to be an easy conversation. She said to avoid the "wind up." "Hi. Thank you for having me here. I am so honored to be here..."
  10. Know your audience and have questions prepared.
  11. Listening is crucial. 
  12. Be present.
  13. If you're on a stage, do a sound check. Walk around and get to know the environment before the event. 
  14. If you've not used to using a microphone, practice at home with a hairbrush.
  15. The microphone is an extension of your chin. Hold it below your chin. Your audience needs to see your mouth.
  16. When it doubt, use a microphone. It's hard to sustain a voice loud enough for the audience to hear for 45 minutes.
  17. Mingle with the audience before an event.
  18. When you are on stage, scan the audience. Don't do a windshield wiper thing with your head. Scan in a slow "W" formation, so it looks more natural. 
  19. If you're terrified, look at your audience's foreheads. They can't tell that you're not looking directly at them.
  20. Be hydrated before you speak. Stay away from dairy. 
  21. If you're doing a reading, animate it. Leave them with an emotion. Read a funny, scary, or sad excerpt. 
  22. If you're reading, hold the book so they can see it, but don't cover your face. They shouldn't see the top of your head during the entire reading. 
  23. Some people print out the excerpt and read from the paper. (Just make sure that you have your book on the lectern or table, so they can see the cover.
  24. Know the power of a pause. Pause from time to time to let your audience catch up and to draw them in.
  25. Don't do accents in readings.
  26. Get comfortable with the sound of your voice. Tape yourself and listen.
  27. If you're doing TV, make it a live conversation. 
  28. Always have your book with you.
  29. When you're doing a presentation, don't end on a question. End where YOU want to leave the audience. Leave them with an impression.

Joan had some wonderful advice. Check out her website and her newsletter. These are all great ideas that writers need in their toolbox when they're doing a reading or a presentation.