speech ideas to entertain

Speech ideas

Public speaking courses and speech ideas…You can’t have one without the other

One of the most disheartening, frustrating and irritating aspects of writing a presentation is coming up with a novel speech idea.

For example: a friend asks you to be the best man at their wedding. A couple of days before the happy event, because their original best man was swept away by giant waves after a boating accident. And all of his carefully prepared notes for the speech with him.

While you may be a little offended about not being the first choice, you still want to dazzle the groom and the audience with your eloquence.

The only question now is how you’re going to go about doing this.

How are you going to come up with a captivating speech topic?

Great speech ideas which lead to effective speaking that wows the audience are different to the usual “I’ve run around with John since we were in kindergarten…” etc. etc. etc.

…Tedious…! Mind numbingly tiresome…

The folks in the audience want to be amused. To have fun. And they want to celebrate the happy couple.

At this stage you may be curious about how you can think up great speech ideas that will make your speech unique.

Here’s my personal formula for coming up with a dazzling speech:

I begin by introducing myself and telling the audience what I’m going to be talking about. I keep this part as short as possible because I’m not a famous movie star, they’re not particularly interested in me. They want to be entertained and informed. The next thing I do is to thank them for being there. Acknowledge them.

Usually, I make a special mention if someone has made a big effort to attend.

For example: “…and I really want to thank the groom’s brother Bobby and his housekeeper Sue who travelled overland by their trusty old stage coach pulled by their team of andalucian mules. It was one hell of a job crossing the Rio Grande under cover of darkness to avoid the border patrol and the bandits. We all really appreciate their gifts of fine tequila and Nachos”

Even if the happy pair don’t have a relative Bobby from Tierra del Fuego, you can still  ask him to identify himself, because the mules have fouled the road outside ….and the time is up on their parking meter.

Now it’s time to get your audience interested. You tell them why you’re there instead of ” the real best man “, standing at the front of the room, knees knocking while you tremble in fear. You explain how the groom’s preferred best man could not be here today. Express condolences to his widow, parents and children.

The next thing  I do is tell the audience that I’m going  to dish the dirt on the groom, the hay barn and what happened at summer camp last year .( Please, please remember to smile at this point or you may be torn apart by the crowd)

By now, the crowd is all ears, sitting on the edge of their seat, waiting to get the inside line on the scandal. I then proceed to tell everyone how lucky the bride and groom are and tell them that I’ll get to the hay barn story later on.

I’ll tell the guests about the fine families of the bride and groom, the virtues of their upbringing, how hard they have worked and what good solid people they are.

Make mention of little acts of charity carried out by the bride and groom. The good works they do, the work they did with the peace corps, or any other good deeds they have performed.

You should express your gratitude for being their second choice as best man…. 

I would then ask the gathered guests to raise their glasses in a toast, congratulating the newly weds, wishing them much success, many healthy offspring  and a good and happy life together. I will also wish them financial success to be able to afford the children.

Have you seen the price of diapers theses days…?

Once all the formalities of congratulations and good wishes are done with, I’ll then say, “Oh, by the way… the hay barn… summer camp… last year! John’s construction company made a fine job of building it and all the kids are really grateful to him for building it.”

The hay barn is an example of an embedded loop.

If it worked for Dallas, it’ll work for you. Does anyone really know the truth behind Pam’s dream? I’m sure that, like me, you’re still wondering “Whodunnit”.

Through your knowledge of your audience, you can easily come up with an attention-grabbing cliff hanger.

Try it and see, next time you’re looking for speech ideas.

Cliff hangers work every time.