Presentation Tips
The presentations you will give during our final class meeting will allow you to evaluate your final portfolio visually and verbally.
Using your Artist Statement as a platform, distill your main points onto index cards, and rehearse your presentation for timing. Our goal is
to create a 7-10 minute presentation. Use the following tips in preparing.
- Speak to your intended audience at their level. Avoid unnecessary jargon, and also avoid material you know will be obvious or
trivial to them.
- Include a clear introduction (introduction and preview your talk), body, and summary (conclusions, recommendations).
Presenting
- Never read word-for-word from a script. Very few people have the skill to read directly from a prepared text without putting their
audience to sleep. Use the points on the overheads to guide you through the talk.
- Make frequent eye contact with people in every part of the room. Don't just look at your notes or the screen or the people directly
in front of you.
- Try to sound interested. If necessary, fake it. An obvious lack of interest on the part of the speaker almost guarantees that the
talk will not go well.
- Keep track of the time. If you see you're running short or long, try to adjust the speed of your presentation to compensate.
- If you take questions, remember that "I'm sorry--I don't know" is a perfectly acceptable answer. Trying to bluff your way through
a tough question is usually a losing proposition.
Tips on Talks by Richard M. Felder
Common problems in vocal delivery:
- aggressive
- unconvincing
- bored
- emotional
- monotonous
Before giving your presentation:
- Be well prepared and rehearsed - write out your text in full, reduced to note format.
- Rehearse your speech aloud making eye contact with your audience.
- Look after vour voice! - Drink plenty of water the night before - avoid red wine cheese and anything with caffeine.
On the day:
- Remember to breathe - in a pressured situation, the untrained voice can become constricted, and the breathing shallow.
- Find your balance - knees unlocked, head up and shoulders released down.
- TBS sequence - think, breathe, and speak!
- New Thought, New Pitch - vary your pitch to convey a new point or message
These tips have been supplied by Professional Voice - a business voice coaching company. Adapted from http://www.presentationhelper.co.uk/voice_tips.htm