As a presenter, there’s no question that you can learn a lot
by studying those at the top of the game in your area of expertise, but there
are hugely valuable insights to be gleaned from studying masters in related
performing arts fields…those whose professions are (in essence) “cousins” to speaking.

When I coach presentation skills and we begin to explore some of the performance related elements, I often give my clients a list of some of the
greats to study…masters in the live performing arts.

Included on the list are comedians and solo performers. I encourage my clients to rent the videos and study
the artists, being keenly aware of the following:

1.    
Openings & closings

2.    
Structure – the anatomy of the
presentation/performance

3.    
Writing, language choice, use of
images

4.    
Repetition of a key phrase, point or
theme

5.    
Choice of tone, pitch, volume, use
of microphone for different sounds/volumes

6.    
Intentional use of rhythm, varied pacing, and speed

7.    
Selection of stories

8.    
Economy in writing in a dialogue (when
playing a character)

9.    
Physical & vocal expressiveness

10.   Facial expressions, physical movement, and non-verbal
reactions/commentary in between
words/lines or after a joke to enhance the humor

11.  Verbal humor that is off the cuff, as an aside, or a “throw away”

12.  Character
work; Acting out (becoming) various people

13.  Animation
of ordinary objects and animals

14.  Acting
skills

15.  Mime
skills

16.  Use
of what I call “horizontal & vertical space”

17.  Use
of props; use of microphone as a prop

18.  Emotional
connection to material; commitment; passion

 

 

A few incredible comedians
to study:

Ellen DeGeneres:        Here
and Now* & In The Beginning

Ray Romano:              Live at Carnegie
Hall

Jerry Seinfeld:             I’m
Telling You For The Last Time

Robin Williams:           Live at the Met* &  Live on Broadway*

         

Also….George Carlin, Chris Rock

 

*Includes some R-rated language and imagery.

 

 

Solo Performers:

Billy Crystal                 700 Sundays                   

John Leguizamo          Mambo Mouth; Spic-o-Rama

Lily Tomlin                   The Search
for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

Whoopi Goldberg        Whoopi
Goldberg / The Spook Shows

Sarah Jones                Bridge & Tunnel

Eric Bogosian              Sex, Drugs, Rock
& Roll       

Spalding Gray             Swimming to Cambodia; Monster in a Box

 

Poets:

 

To expand
your approach to language, pick up a copy of The Norton
Anthology of Poetry. Remember, a lot of early poetry was meant to be spoken. 
Read (out loud) the work of

 

William Blake

            Gerard Manley Hopkins

            Dylan Thomas

            William Butler Yeats

            Billy Collins

            Mary Oliver

            Emily Dickinson

Galway Kinnell

Rumi

e.e. cummings

William Wordsworth

John Keats

           

Also listen carefully to the
language of singer/songwriters:

           Joni Mitchell

Leonard Cohen

            Tom Waits

            Mark Knopfler

            Johnny Cash

                                    ….and
any of your favorite musicians…

Let these inspire you. Cross pollinate. Apply The Prism Effect–the full spectrum of color and possibility–to your own work…and turn your presentation into a masterpiece.

(c) Victoria Labalme Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.