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From: Pam
Date: 20 Oct 2011
Time: 06:59:09 -0500
Remote Name: 67.248.218.106
Carla - thanks for sharing that experience. Oh my goodness, I would have freaked out too. Your right, what a horrible mistake the person who booked you for this talk made to not investigate the audience first. But, what a great learning experience as well, for all of us. We have humiliating experiences, and the best way to deal with them is to get back in the saddle and try again. Yes, Toastmasters would be great for you. The beauty of Toastmasters is that you can visit and observe more than once, and more than one club till you find the right fit.In Toastmasters, you will get all of the tools you need to figure out how to make speaking fun. Even if you are already an experienced presenter, TM is so helpful, because you have to stick to a structured pace that has you going from the initial speech, organizing your thoughts, incorporating descriptive language, vocal variety, body language, research, visual aids, persuasion and inspiration. You get help with the entire package and feedback along the way, from people who have been there, and maybe had a bad experience like you. Go for it. Bring some buddies along if you think you'll feel better. And approach it as a learning experience, a way to network and meet new people, and most importantly, fun. I'd be interested in how you make out. Feel free to email me anytime with comments or just to let me know how you make out. ~Pam (pamela.mertz@gmail.com)