Want to give them a good talking to?

The would-be speaker's guide book

This book has been updated to reflect the 2025 marketplace and publishing world. We all speak in public so. in that sense, web are all 'public speakers': We converse out loud. From time to time, we have conversations with groups of people. We might say, ‘hello everyone’, when we go into a room with people in it. Everyone can do that, it’s a basic requirement of survival – although, as a cripplingly shy boy, I found this a challenge. In my young and unconfident days, I would never have thought that I could become a competent public speaker - and earn good money from it. If I can do it, you certainly can – and this book will show you how. This book is about ‘public speaking’ in the sense that most people would interpret that phrase - making speeches, giving lectures and talks to a group of people or to a large audience. It will help you with wedding speeches, funeral eulogies, after-dinner speaking and a whole lot more. It also shows you how to get started and how to find speaking opportunities. It is anecdotal, humorous and based on my extensive 'speaking' experiences - good and not so good (actually, in some cases, 'bad'.
You might be interested in pursuing public speaking as a full-time career or interested in developing a hobby that can earn very good pocket money. Maybe you are just curious about ‘speaking’ and want to know the kinds of opportunity out there. Or, perhaps you’re looking for a few pointers on how you can become a better and more confident speaker when you next have to stand up and say a few words. ‘Would you care to say a few words?’; those eight words (go back and count them, you know you want to) can make even the strongest person’s heart start to flutter. If any of these situations strike a chord, then this book will help you.
I’ve dabbled in the full range of speaking situations and earned my living from quite a few of them. I still do. As a public speaker, I would classify myself as somewhere between ‘career speaking’ and ‘hobby speaking’. I’m not a ‘motivational speaker’ as such; I’m more about giving good content and humour (in appropriate proportions) and, in that way, giving motivation to my audience members to perform their respective jobs better – and to enjoy it more. Over the last umpteen years, I’ve spent a good portion of my business life in sales training and management development and (if asked) I’ll still turn my hand to those things. I’m a bit over the hill nowadays to be viewed as a current expert on almost anything business related, although I have lots of anecdotal experiences (good and bad) that people learn from – or so they have told me. In my early speaking days, I was challenging and confrontational in my presenting style (which didn’t please everyone); I would say things to provoke discussion and argument. I’m mellower now! I’ve spoken at conventions, business luncheons, seminars, trade fairs, weddings and funerals. Nowadays, I’m pretty selective about this kind of work and, right now, I concentrate on master of ceremony (MC / Compére) and toastmaster work. I’m also a wedding celebrant which means I write personalized ceremonies and perform them wherever and wherever needed; I’ve performed throughout the UK and in Europe. I also do occasional ‘after dinner’ speaking. I probably work at wedding celebrations more than any other events – and I’m at an age where I am choosy (that’s my way of saying I’m lazy). Don’t get me wrong; I’m not being choosy like a prima donna, but I’m selective about what I do. I recognize that as a ‘senior citizen, I’m less credible in some topic areas than I used to be. I also don’t want to work as much as I used to and I do this stuff for fun and to earn some decent pocket money. This book will help you to do that too.