SpeakerNet News 9/27/2024

9/27/2024

Editors: Rebecca Morgan & Ken Braly

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Miscellaneous Tips

Ask the hardest question before your next presentation — Ron Kaufman

Every company has skeletons in the closet, issues they’d rather not discuss, and past or present problems they do not want you to talk about. The problem is, if they don’t TELL you about these in advance (so you can avoid them), you could inadvertently say something that points right to the unspoken issue.

For example, a client had two key leaders recently leave together to join the competition. The last thing they need their keynote speaker to say is anything like, “It’s so important to keep your best leaders on board!”

After you have the content you need to customize your great presentation, ask your client the hardest question: “To be 100% sure that I do not say anything that might lead the audience to think about past pains, problems, scandals, or skeletons, tell me what those are now so I can be sure to avoid them during my speech.” (To create the right mood of shared concern and candor, you can remind them about “Speaker-Client Confidentiality” included in your agreement.)

Fixing vocal fatigue — Bill Marvin

I think you’ll find Seth Godin’s recent blog useful. He discusses what to do when you’re losing your voice but still have to present.

Repercussions if you use Olympic symbols — Rebecca Morgan

In a recent article, IP attorney Bill Honaker discusses how the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has granted extraordinary rights to Olympic-related marks and symbols. He shares the risks you face in using Olympic-related in advertising without permission. It may apply to speakers if we use any of the trademarked words or phrases — even without the relevant logos — in our titles, books, speeches, or other products.

Topic of the Month (TOTM) — Your Input Wanted

Our TOTM is: Have you seen post-pandemic changes in your bookings by months? (Example, you used be slammed in Sept. and Oct., but now June is your top month.) If so, what do you attribute the changes to?

Send your brief, pithy responses *that are different from those previously mentioned* to editor@SpeakerNetNews.com. Please put “Topic of the Month” or “TOTM” in the subject line.

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About SpeakerNet News and the Editors/Publishers

Publishers — Rebecca L. Morgan, CSP, CMC, CVP, VMP, and Ken Braly
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