Page 48 - March 2021 Voices

QUARTER NOTE

From the Big Top to a (Slightly) Smaller Stage

David Freedman, IP3

Hi folks! I was recently asked by Phyllis Harmon to begin working on a column for Voices Magazine and was delighted to accept. In this column I’ll be focusing on

various ways in which seemingly common (or sometimes not so common) subject matter can be used to create better speeches and therefore better speakers. Among
other topics I will cover include how to come up with themes for your meeting, discovering which speech topics work best for you and your speeches, and even
interviewing other Toastmasters like yourselves who have had unique experiences in their lives that contributed to their becoming public speakers.

Cory and I met last year when we went to prison David Freedman: When did you first join Cirque
together. Yes, you heard that right. We met while du Soleil?
at prison. (No, not IN prison.) As part of our
contest season that leads up to the District Speech Cory Sylvester: My first show was in 2006.

Evaluation and Toastmasters International
Speech Contests, Clubs in the prison system are DF: What were some of your favorite experiences
included in the contests. of working in the circus?
While the inmates aren’t allowed to progress

further due to their incarceration, it still CS: It was a dream job for me and some of the best
encourages them to develop a greater sense of moments were when a kid or young adult would say
competitive spirit and drive while continuing to to me that they were so inspired by what I did that
focus on increasing their communication and they wanted to do the same. I was inspired by seeing

leadership skills. the same show, and I built my life around running
I met Cory Sylvester at the Columbia River with that inspiration. I was there to give back the
Correctional Institution. I was there volunteering inspiration I’d received.
as a Judge while Cory was competing in the

Evaluation portion of the contest, which he won. DF: Where did your touring schedule take you?
As it turns out, a great deal of Cory’s background
included working in Cirque du Soleil. Intrigued, CS: I had the privilege to play in 48 different
I wanted to know more about what inspired him countries—Western Europe, Scandinavia, Eastern

to work in the circus and how being a performer Europe, Russia, Asia, Middle East, South America,
helped him when he decided to transition into and North America.
becoming a public speaker. Please welcome to
the stage Cory Sylvester! DF: What were the reasons you finally left?

48 ONE COMMUNITY