Page 49 - March 2021 Voices

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.

CS: I spent a decade working towards this dream then practice for learning how to publicly speak.
another decade performing it. For ten years I traveled
full-time and performed what inspired me. The show DF: What are some takeaways you can give for
closed in 2016. The life of the show had come to a being in Toastmasters and how it’s helped you

beautiful end, as did that chapter in my life. A clean professionally and/or personally?
closure to a wonderful journey.
CS: I’m not afraid to speak at meetings at work
DF: Why did you join Toastmasters? How did anymore. Knowing that I’m on a path towards being

you find out about it? a professional speaker drives me to bring my best to
my colleagues and to encourage their best. I feel much
CS: My mother offered me a gift for my birthday, and more courageous in asking my colleagues what they
I chose to take a public speaking seminar. Toastmasters dream to do, and it seems to inspire them to answer.

seemed like a good way to start to understand [what] Toastmasters has helped me to organize my thoughts
I was asking for as a gift. I joined because I want to and words in an effective way and taught me not to
learn to share inspirational stories because I know be afraid to try to use them
the power of inspiration.

David Freedman joined Toastmasters in 2013. He
DF: How did working in Cirque du Soleil prepare is currently a member of Babble-On and Moser
you for being in Toastmasters, if at all? Community. He is serving as VP Education and
Sergeant at Arms for Babble-On.

CS: I love the study of stage presence, and Cirque has
been a great opportunity to learn about it. Speaking
is a very different beast than performing physically,
but performing physically night after night is great

VOICES! | MARCH 2021 49