1. Let’s Shine our Lightning Bolts A Lesson in Performance Polish

2. It’s the Little Things... When do you arrive to your room before a round begins? When do you arrive to your room before a round begins? What desk do you choose to sit in? What desk do you choose to sit in? How do you react when/if other competitors are chatty before the round begins? How do you react when/if other competitors are chatty before the round begins? Do you connect with each audience member before you begin your performance? Do you connect with each audience member before you begin your performance? How do you make sure you have connected with each person? How do you make sure you have connected with each person? How do you walk to the front of the room? How do you walk to the front of the room?

3. It’s the Little Things... What kind of audience member are you? What kind of audience member are you? How do you feel as you are performing? How do you feel as you are performing? How do you feel when you are finished? How do you feel when you are finished? How do you end your performance and walk back to your desk? How do you end your performance and walk back to your desk? What have you noticed as the ‘little things’ that champion speakers do in rounds that maybe you don’t? What have you noticed as the ‘little things’ that champion speakers do in rounds that maybe you don’t?

4. Polish No stumbles No stumbles Performance is the same/similar each and every time. Performance is the same/similar each and every time. Stance and gestures are inclusive of entire audience Stance and gestures are inclusive of entire audience Student is ‘in’ each performance— thinking about what he/she is saying and doing vs. being on auto-pilot. Student is ‘in’ each performance— thinking about what he/she is saying and doing vs. being on auto-pilot.

5. Confidence The speaker takes control of the room. The speaker takes control of the room. Jitters are invisible—probably still there but no one would ever know. Jitters are invisible—probably still there but no one would ever know. ~This requires knowing what you do when you are nervous so you are conscious about not doing it. Smile (or inside smile)—brightness of your eyes. Smile (or inside smile)—brightness of your eyes. Eye Contact!!!! Eye Contact!!!! Walk Walk

6. Personality More than a conversational or natural delivery—it is YOUR conversational or natural delivery. More than a conversational or natural delivery—it is YOUR conversational or natural delivery. Personality can also come through in writing, introductions, non-verbals, vocal cues (subtext). Personality can also come through in writing, introductions, non-verbals, vocal cues (subtext). Difficult to coach—performer needs to trust his/her gut and be him/herself. Difficult to coach—performer needs to trust his/her gut and be him/herself.

7. Connection Audience wants to feel like you care about them. That you want to share your performance with each and every one of them. Audience wants to feel like you care about them. That you want to share your performance with each and every one of them. This is established best through EYE CONTACT!! This is established best through EYE CONTACT!!  Never looking to empty spots of the room.  Never ‘scanning’ the audience.  Never ‘staring’ someone down.  Simply connecting with each person as if conversing with him/her.

8. Involvement Very similar to ‘connection’—but it is making sure that each audience member is ‘with’ you the entire performance. Very similar to ‘connection’—but it is making sure that each audience member is ‘with’ you the entire performance.  Do they lean in?  Are their eyes glued on you?  Do they hold their breath in quiet or silent moments?  Are they laughing when the moment is funny? Can you feel the ‘energy’ in the room that you want to create? If the audience ISN’T involved—check your performance—what needs to be fixed? If the audience ISN’T involved—check your performance—what needs to be fixed?

9. Enjoyment MOST IMPORTANT!! If you are loving what you are doing, so will the audience. If you are NOT enjoying it—figure out why and fix it!! FUN FUN FUN is why we all play this intellectual sport called SPEECH!