Rehearsal
Whenever
you are going to speak in public you need to prepare in advance, you
can not leave anything to chance.
The
difference can be between a discrete speech and a great speech.
The
fundamental rule is rehearse, rehearse and rehearse.
Rehearsing
allows you to seriously dominate the speech that you are going to
carry out, which helps increase your self-confidence and reduce the
typical stress usually felt days before the event.
Rehearsing
doesn't simply mean going over the text hours before the event.
Rehearsing
implies:
Reading
the speech out loud, as many times as you have to, until you are
familiar with the speech.
Practising
the speech, re-creating as much as you can, the possible conditions
that you will find at the event (from memory, with support notes,
with a projector, with a microphone, etc...)
Practising
your voice, the silences, the looks, the movements, your hands,
your facial expressions, etc.
Being
able to show serenity, transmit enthusiasm, know how to emphasize
things, show conviction, etc.
In
short, rehearse not only so that you can dominate the text (prevent
your mind from going blank) but also with the intention of getting
the maximum from your speech, being able to connect with the audience,
being able to motivate them, get them enthused, etc.
You
need to practice even if you have to improvise the speech.
Only
if you are able to dominate the speech will you be able to carry
out a good improvisation.
It
is a good idea to record yourself so that you can analyze yourself
and criticize your own speech:
Doing
this you will be able to detect mistakes and you will be able to
correct them.
It
is also interesting to rehearse in front of people:
Convince
a family member or friend to listen to you rehearse and ask them
to criticize you, pointing out things that have gone well and things
that need improving.
You
should do the last rehearsal (the general rehearsal) at the place
where you are going to carry out the speech, and if possible with
all of the technical equipment e.g. light and sound.
The
objective is to get you to familiarize yourself with what is around
you and coordinate all the aspects of the speech.
You
should rehearse up until the day before the event.
On
the day of the event it is a good idea to relax, as a rehearsal
at the last moment will increase your state of nervousness, as you
might make mistakes and you won't have time to correct them.
