Page 33 - October 2020 Voices
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but shorter . . . and earlier in the meeting. actually using babytalk).
Look for activities that involve all the Move the microphone closer to your mouth
members. One New Horizons Table Topicsmaster so that you can use a more dynamic range of
asked us to turn off our cameras in response vocals. With it that close you can whisper and
to the questions he was asking. For example, your audience will still hear you. Remember,
he asked everyone to turn off their cameras if you are speaking right into their ears.
they visited two or more countries, then three Use most of your speaking frame. Don’t move
or more, etc. Eventually there was one member away from the camera - you will get smaller on
that had his camera on and he had to talk about the screen and in the audience’s mind too.
the twelve countries he’d visited. Bring your gestures into view of the camera—
Now how to spice up presentations: don’t gesture off screen because no one can see
Well . . . they need a massive infusion of them.
vim and vigor! The magic of public speaking is To enhance my presentations, I pull out all
when the speaker converses with the people in the tricks I learned in the theatre. Actors pump
the room. They read reactions to change their themselves up before a performance to make
delivery style to be sure their point is being made. sure they start at full steam. Before speaking, I
Unfortunately, you cannot effectively do that on listen to lively music—something that gets my
Zoom meetings—the audience is often hidden or blood flowing (no . . . not Pachelbel’s Canon. More
their cameras are off. Speakers who look at their like Tool or Infected Mushroom. Something with
audience on the screen can seem disconnected very high beats per minute). Other actors do
because they aren’t looking at the camera. jumping jacks or wind sprints. All actors warm
For your speeches try the following: up their vocal chords by going over their lines
Exaggerate your vocal variety. Video flattens or other mouth stretching tongue twisters.
sound so speak to higher highs and lower lows. Join me in the next several months to combat
Imagine you are speaking to a child. Use the the pernicious Zoom-bies and get your members
highs and lows of talking to babies (without back in your meetings!
VOICES! | OCTOBER 2020 33
