THE DELIVERY

Knowing what to say is only half the battle. Even if you have penned a masterpiece, if it isn't delivered properly, then all your effort will have been in vain.

Check out our guide to delivering goods and the body language hints and tips that follow.

Delivering the Goods

·         Pause for laughter (yes, people may actually laugh!)

·         Make sure you stay sober (at least till the speech is over!)

·         Speak slowly and clearly

·         Avoid lots of slang or regional dialect if you have guests from outside your area.

·         If using a microphone, don’t hold it too close or too far away – the ideal distance is around 4 inches from your mouth.

·         Don’t rely on any notes or crib cards too much – ideally keep them for a few key words or phrases that you can turn to in times of emergency.

·         Avoid holding your notes or crib cards, instead rest them on the table in front of you – any nervousness can easily be picked up by the audience by a quick glance at the quivering bits of paper in your shaky hands.