Page 31 - voices-2024-06
P. 31
Additional speaking tips from Dr. Randy Harvey
Consider audience reactions for your speech timing - When the audience laughs, it requires
time to pause and wait for them to refocus on your speech which can lengthen your timing.
Use a softer approach for hard subjects - Saying someone died can be hard for an audience
to process, but saying it’s your first father’s day without your dad has the same meaning
that’s softer.
A picture is worth a thousand words - “Safety was a flannel shirt that smelled of cherry tobac-
co”, that puts the audience in that moment with a powerful description.
Physical props can be limiting - When you show a particular flannel shirt, the audience will
be focused on your prop versus visualizing the shirt their dad wore, which is a more personal
experience.
Summer 2024 31