Unforgettable Presentations

Audience members can have different experiences depending on where they sit in a meeting venue. Darren and Mark explain and give some sage advice on how the meeting space can maximize your audience's experience.     SNIPPETS: • Arrive at the venue at least a day early if possible   • Sit in the four 'worst' seats in the house   • See what the audience sees   • If necessary, reset the angle of larg...

Last week Darren and Mark shared effective ways to embody characters physically. Today, they share the impact that we can have when we do the same with vocal techniques.     SNIPPETS: • Selectively use dialogue instead of narration   • Vary your vocal volume   • Volume variances depict emotion   • Energy and intensity do not have to be loud   • Modify vocal pitch appropriately   • Different speaki...

Our stories are more vivid when we embody the characters, and today, Mark and Darren explore simple yet effective ways to embody characters physically. With these techniques, characters are easily identifiable without a word.      SNIPPETS:   • Use their gait and walk as the character would walk   • Identify and portray mannerisms   • Observe family members to show character quirks – 'QUIRKOLOGY'...

It's always helpful to know your audience's pain points. However, your pain points can be an avenue to building a relationship with them. Today, Darren and Mark share how to do just that, with ideas that can help you be unforgettable.     SNIPPETS:   • Explore your pain points   • Pain points are connectors   • Give your audience the gift of your story   • Capture your pain points and the lessons...

Once in a while, an audience is less emotive than most, leaving a speaker to wonder, "Are they listening?" Mark and Darren discuss that question today while providing perspective, context, and solid suggestions for presenting well in those circumstances.     SNIPPETS:   • Always be present   • Bring your 'A GAME'   • Don't let a stoic audience affect your mission   • External factors may affect au...

"I just need…" is a phrase that eager speakers often use when asking for advice. Oftentimes it's followed by "a few tweaks," "a punch-up," "to add humor," "a little polish," or something similar.   Today, Darren and Mark analyze this simple phrase and offer a perspective that will inspire you to examine it more closely. This episode will help you identify what you REALLY need, to be unforgettable....

There is a popular adage that says, "If you don't ask, the answer is always 'No'." In this episode, Mark and Darren talk about the benefits of asking for guidance, and how to respond, regardless of the answer. Asking can be your game-changer.   SNIPPETS:   • The answer is in the asking   • When you ask, you can become a mentor magnet   • Ask humbly, sincerely, honestly, and respectfully   • Learn...

One way to increase audience buy-in is to customize your presentation.  Today, Darren and Mark dive into the why and how of customization. Applying these ideas will help any presenter to be unforgettable.   SNIPPETS:   • Customizing isn't just using the company's logo and name on your slides   • Do some homework and conduct research on your client   • Get permission to speak with 10 significant au...

To truly win your audience, you must identify and address their pain points.  In this episode, Mark and Darren discuss the importance of understanding them and offer suggestions for uncovering them.   SNIPPETS: • Pain points are triggers   • Learn your audience's pet peeves, pain points, and frustrations   • Identify what's top-of-mind to your audience   • Our responsibility is to connect our cont...

The business of speaking can bring myriad complications and stressors.  But in the midst of all that, Darren and Mark offer a reminder to enjoy the privilege of the speaking experience. Remaining joyful despite all that comes our way, will help those around us to see us as unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • Choose to find the fun…and the funny   • Remember your WHY   • Accept the challenges that come in...

It's easy to present principles, practices, and procedures, but the value is diminished when the speaker lacks experience. Today, Mark and Darren talk about the significance of bringing the lessons learned from your own successes and failure…the lessons that give you credibility and help make you unforgettable.    SNIPPETS: • Bring YOU to every presentation   • No one pays for regurgitated wisdom...

Speakers often open a speech with a greeting, a story, a strong statement, or a question. However, comedians use a technique that many speakers haven't mastered. Humorist, Hollywood producer, and Stage Time faculty member Chris McGuire sits down with Darren and Mark to expand on this technique and shows how any presenter can find gold mines that can make you unforgettable.    SNIPPETS:   • Do what...

Would you be willing to face an international audience of thousands with a clear message about personal faith?   Today, Mark and Darren talk with a man who did just that in the 2025 World Championship of Public Speaking. Taylor Candella shares his path to the final and the conviction that drove him to take a significant risk. Taking a risk can make you unforgettable.   SNIPPETS: • Don't listen to...

Imagine a life-threatening tragedy, a miraculous fight for recovery, later speaking to more than 2,700 global audiences, and then the international release of a major motion picture about your life.   That's the story of today's guest as Mark and Darren have a heart-to-heart chat with John O'Leary, subject of the 2025 film SOUL ON FIRE. John shares his journey and offers firm yet loving advice on...

Perhaps you've heard a speaker say something like, "Excuse my slide!" Today Darren and Mark talk frankly about why speakers make excuses for poor slides and offer firm suggestions for preparing and presenting effective, professional slides.   SNIPPETS: • One slide, one point   • If you have   a lot of detail, put it in a handout   • You must be able to defend your slides   • Think of what the audi...

What does it take to win the National Speakers Association's LAST STORY STANDING competition?   Today, Mark and Darren get answers from the 2025 winner, Michelle Hutchings-Medina. She shares her journey, her process, and the lessons she learned along the way. Her wisdom will help any presenter on their path to delivering an unforgettable presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Rethink how you use your voice  ...

The use of AI has become prevalent, but how much should you use AI to develop and present your speech?   Today, Mark and Darren are joined by their fellow World Champion and Certified Speaking Professional, Ed Tate, as they discuss ways to ethically use AI as you create your unforgettable presentation.   SNIPPETS:   • AI can be relied on too heavily   • There always has to be a human in the middle...

Darren freely admits that early in his career, he resisted writing out his presentations because he always spoke from the heart. In this brief episode, he and Mark discuss the value of speaking from the heart, and the additional benefit of doing so with the right preparation and structure.    SNIPPETS: • Speaking from the heart is good, but passion doesn't equal effectiveness   • The heart isn't t...

When is it too late to start a speaking career? Today Mark and Darren discuss this question with Julia Nicholson and Maria Garaitonandia , both mature presenters, at the beginning of their speaking careers. They talk about their concerns, their plans, and their process for achieving success later in life. Darren and Mark cite examples of well-known speakers who became professionals after the age o...

"Can't I just add a couple of exercises to my keynote and create a killer training program?" Over the past two decades, Darren and Mark have heard that question numerous times, and the short answer is "No."   Today, they get comprehensive answers from their fellow World Champion and Certified Speaking Professional, Ed Tate...the trainer's trainer. Not only do they discuss the differences between s...

Well-chosen quotations, song lyrics, poetry and statistics can enhance any presentation. However, it's important to attribute the sources and let our audiences know the sources for validation. If we don't attribute, we might become unforgettable…for the wrong reason.   SNIPPETS:   • Provide the sources for polls, studies, statistics, and research findings   • "Studies show", "research proves," "a...

Jim Rohn is often quoted as saying, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Today Mark and Darren speak with Julia Nicholson, a former executive who finds value in Jim's words. She is passionate about spending time with world-class communicators, and she shares lessons that she is learning along her journey to becoming unforgettable   SNIPPETS: • Find your purpose an...

In this second and final conversation about RHETORICAL DEVICES, Mark and Darren once again review Mark's winning Toastmasters speech, identifying ways that RHETORICAL DEVICES enhanced his presentation. THIS IS PART TWO OF TWO.   SNIPPETS: • Rhetorical devices multiply your message   • A rhetorical device can help to personify inanimate objects   • Rhythmic rhetorical devices make your message more...

RHETORICAL DEVICES are language tools that help presenters to be more compelling and memorable…and there are more than forty such devices.   Darren examines Mark's Toastmasters World Championship-winning speech, and together they discuss how Mark used some of them effectively. By applying rhetorical techniques, you can elevate the impact of your presentation.   SNIPPETS: • Use rhetorical devices t...

You've worked hard on your presentation and it's time to rehearse for readiness. In this episode in the series on their book DELIVER UNFORGETTABBLE PRESENTATIONS, Mark & Darren share tips for adding the final touches before taking the stage. This episode covers Step #7: OWN YOUR STAGE.   SNIPPETS: • Use your script to indicate emotions, stage movement, pauses, and more   • Create a stage plan   •...