Do you need to make a speech at an important occasion?
Perhaps you have a wedding coming up or a family occasion where you will need to make a speech or introduce an idea or a person. You may have been asked to congratulate someone up-front or make an acceptance speech for an award. Maybe it’s wanting to read a poem or eulogy at a funeral.
Sometimes the mere idea of standing up in front of an audience is terrifying. You are not alone!
How voice coaching will help
Going through what’s expected, in a rehearsal is really useful for addressing the most nerve-wracking aspects of your task. Very often just identifying the underlying fears can help in applying strategies to manage them more effectively. Beyond that, there are vocal exercises to enable you to sound strong and confident.
If you want to ask a question or get some advice with your speech, please get in touch.
Tips for a Wedding Speech
Whether you are the bridegroom or father of the bride, there is a lot expected from your speech at the wedding. Here are a few tips to help you:
- Make sure your clothes aren’t too tight – feeling restricted makes you much more nervous. Loosen the jacket, waistband, tie, whatever you need to feel comfortable before you start.
- Take your time – stand up, smile and look around the room at your audience.
- Enjoy the occasion – it doesn’t last long and you will have prepared for months!
Tips for a Funeral Eulogy
Unlike a wedding, this usually has to be given with very little preparation time, yet people still expect a polished performance.
- Practise out loud beforehand – going through it in your head is not the same; you will discover where you need to breathe and where the emphasis needs to be. You can pay special attention to the words that you find difficult.
- Through the practice, you may also discover which parts are likely to upset you. Don’t worry about it; expressing emotion will give other mourners permission to be sad.