There are many ways to get your audience involved in your presentation. Some are audience participation, stories, jokes, silly stunts, or songs. All of these work well, but they won't work if you are a dud!

Listen to these words: Sparkle, lighten up, silly - What do they mean to you?

Some days when you are doing a presentation you sometimes don't feel like being there or even being around people! This normal, but everyone can spot it when you aren't all there.

NOTE#### You have about five seconds to grab your audience's attention before they go nuts on you!

There are four areas you need to work on to insure that "Pizazz" takes place. 

1. Your introduction: Do you know how to introduce yourself? Do you have a good handshake? Do you smile and look people in the eye? How do you look? Clean? A slob? Wrinkled?
2.  Your surroundings: Does it smell? Is it to small? To big? To cold? To hot? To noisy? As you can see the list can go on. 
3. Your presentation: Have you planned the program? Are you well prepared for emergencies? Is your presentation clearly outlined? Do you know what the outcome is supposed to be?. 
4. Are you fun to be around?: Do you have a sense of humor? Are you serious about non-serious things? Do you have an attitude? Do you complain in front of your audience?

KISMIF 
(KEEP IT SIMPLE, MAKE IT FUN!)

OR

KISMIF
(KEEP IT SILLY, MAKE IT FANTASTIC!)

When asked about the personal characteristics that best describe the "perfect speaker and storyteller", audiences say they want someone who is:

• Enthusiastic. Show your audience that you are happy to be there.
• Dynamic. Wow your audience with your own sense of style and delivery.
• Sincere. Be believable through your words and actions.
• Confident. Know your stories. Know your audience. Know the theme (if any). Know your strengths and use them. That's the formula for confidence.
• Passionate. How many boring speakers and storytellers convince you to be excited about their programs? 
• Articulate. It's not how many words you say or how fast you say them. It's all in your word choice and how you say them.
• Animated. Audiences love speakers and storytellers who aren't afraid to move a little bit and have a personality to boot! Be yourself and enjoy yourself!

If you can't find the time to learn how to implement the above tips into you're your " speaking and storytelling style" you might want to think about getting other work!

· Who am I and why would someone hire me?
· Can I work a crowd?
· Can I work in any weather environment?
· What do I have to offer a festival, event or corporation?
· Can I be flexible enough to fit the needs of the audience?
· Can I be a team player? Will I be our partner to the producer?
· Will I promote the festival or event?
· Do I have any "non negotiable" points?
· Am I fun and enjoyable to be around?
· Am I comfortable around kids, animals, the elderly, etc.?
· Am you available for picture taking with audience? Autographs?
· Above all, can I be at the event on time!!!?

Asking yourself these 12 simple questions can help you to decide if you want to perform at certain events or if you are what someone is looking for.

To make these questions work, first answer them in writing. Don't worry about the way it is laid out, just put the words down. Most of them are simple yes or no answers. Sure there will be some that you need to explain for example: Can you work in any weather environment? You might answer no with an explanation; I' m allergic to the sun. I can only do indoor or shaded events.

Some of the questions can be hard to answer. Am I fun and enjoyable to be around? Some folks might answer that one differently than you would! Be honest and once you've answered these questions you will be able to offer a quality program.

Remember if you don't ask yourself these questions event producers will!

This speaking and storytelling thing we do is a powerful medium in our world of images and sound bites. And what better way to transport people into different worlds is through speaking and storytelling. Our modern world is built around how many choices we have and how many flavors we can get. Through this medium of speaking and  storytelling, you can invite those around you to see what you have to offer. Hopefully, some of the following tips will help you on your journey up the Storytelling Mountain. 

1. Be Funny - Lighten up! I've seen to many speakers and storytellers with a bad attitude. You must be fun to be around! Who would want to hire you if you aren't lively! That's your job, first and foremost. Speaking and storytelling comes second. You don't want to distract the audience from your program by having a bad attitude. Make a determined effort to stay as sharp as possible. 

2. Write it down - One way to stay sharp as a speaker and storyteller is to record every funny or interesting thought that comes into your head or out of your mouth. You may want to use a pocket tape recorder, or a notepad, or whatever. Just get it down somewhere. You'll have time later on to go over this raw stuff and possibly create something incredible. All kinds of stuff comes from you and your life and places you've been so do yourself a favor and keep track of it! There is a story waiting to be told from all that information!

3. Get a web site - Get a web site. (like www.greatstoryteller.com) It's just the thing to do. Until something better than the internet comes along for getting information out, get a web page. I know, sometimes they can be expensive, and you may be a complete cyber-idiot. Solution: Ask around your circle of friends, your church, and the guy in front of you in the grocery line. I guarantee you know someone who knows how to develop web pages, and would probably do one for you at little or no charge. Bottom line, it's worth any time or money investment to be on the web. You would think in this day and age everyone would have a website! Wrong! Do it!

4. The 10-10-10 rule - Here's a great tip for someone just starting out or a seasoned professional speaker and storyteller, who wants to market themselves. After you do a show that goes well, give the event coordinator of that show 10 bio sheets and 10 stamps. Ask them to send them out to 10 people they know that might have a use for what you do. I've never had someone reject a request to do this. Put that in your contract. (You are working with a contract aren't you?) You will be amazed at how effective this will be to get the ball rolling in your area. Even better is to have them attach a personal note or letter to the bio. Scientists have recently discovered that the most powerful force in the universe is the personal reference. So don't just sit there, go make a bio sheet and get the word out about you! Be Shameless!

5. Get accountability - As iron sharpens iron, you need accountability. Whether it is a group or just a friend, you must maintain a tie with someone who isn't afraid to critique your work. I know an accountability person or group may cramp your style as you climb the ladder of personal fortune and worldwide fame, but this world has a way of turning us into idiots if we're not careful. I belong to a speaking group and they have been great in helping me become the person I am. Once again, Get with someone and who can watch over you!

6. All the world has stages - Not quite the Shakespeare line, but all the world does have them. And you need to find them, and perform on them - wherever, whenever, and for whomever you can. Don't ever be afraid of experience. Experience is sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet, but always nutritious. I think stage time is sometimes more valuable than the money you make. So look at every opportunity as another step closer to reaching your goals as a speaker and  storyteller. (You do have goals don't you?) Be creative as to where you will perform. Find new venues. I once was asked to tell stories at a biker rally. I must say it was a tough crowd, but it was fun!

7. Find your own voice - We all have our influences. And don't kid yourself into thinking these influences won't spill over and provide some of the essence of your performance. Still, it's important for you to find out where your strengths lie, and find your own voice. That means, if you are a great folk teller, you'll probably want to spend more of your performance time doing folk tales. If you're a master of the silly story song, do mostly silly story songs. If you're good with bold face lies, you might want to run for a public office. Remember find your own voice, don't borrow one. It is already being used! Just because you sound like Zig Ziegler doesn't mean you are!

8. Product - After an audience has just been floored by an hour of the best speaking and  storytelling they've ever experienced by...well...you, why not give them the chance to take something home from it? CD's, books t-shirts, etc. will bring your gig to the next level financially, and give you some extra creditability. (You may be a year or two away from recording a quality CD, but now is a great time to start preparing for when that time comes.) I started out with special bookmarks for a $1.00 that had my promo info on one side and a short silly story on the other. People will buy anything from you if you are worth it!

9. Be proactive -Once you've decided to do this crazy thing called speaking and  storytelling, it's now time to take massive action. Make efforts to get to know several event producers in your area. You know churches, festivals, hospitals, schools, etc. Call them, email them, go meet them in person. Let em' know who you are and what you do. Take them a bio sheet, or some cookies, or take them out to dinner. Get a list of upcoming events in your area. Contact these places and ask if they'll let you MC the event, or warm up the crowd for 5-10 minutes. Go for it. Awaken the speaker and storyteller within. I met with one event producer and asked them if I could
warm up the crowd before the main performance. They thought I was nuts but thought it was a good idea, so I put together some of my funniest short stories and went for it. It went well and I was scared to death! But it worked and I received other work from that. Oh the name of the event? When John McCain came to town when he was running for president, he had an opening act! PS. I didn't vote for him but I did use his event as a springboard.

10. Enjoy yourself -I know you hear a lot about how tough professional speaking and storytelling is, and how hard it is to get started, and all that stuff about paying dues. Listen, performing is worth it. So enjoy the process. The audience will have more fun watching you if they can sense that you're having fun. If anything, you should realize that you do something that over 99% of the population doesn't have the guts or the talent to do-stand up in front of a crowd and make them laugh, sing, cry and have a good time. To many times folks want stories told at an event, rather than hiring a storyteller to tell stories. There is a big difference. Anyone can tell a few stories to anyone, but only a speaker or storyteller can make the performance a special memory. So enjoy what you do, do it well, continue to be an asset to any event you're at and most of all be proud to be a SPEAKER or STORYTELLER!