Preparing For Impromptu Speaking - Is That Possible?

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For most people, presenting themselves carries much preparation with it. They are requested to speak at a function, and get as much information as possible about the group of people to whom they will speak. If they are not a subject matter expert, they may have to do some research on the topic of discussion. Before the actual day of the presentation, all effective speakers know that they must practice, practice, and practice some more. This practice is best done with the use of a video camera and if possible, friends and others who can be a "mock" audience. And although not always feasible, a visit to the facility at which they will present can help speakers tremendously prior to the delivery of their address. Even something as arriving early to the event can help you scope out the room and test any audio-visual equipment you may need to use in your presentation.

Generally, event planners who invite others to speak attempt to give those speakers plenty of time to get things together before the big day. Having time to prepare and practice can go a long way to assist a presenter in working "with" nervous energy and feeling more comfortable no matter what size audience there will be.

But what happens when you as the presenter are asked to be interviewed on a radio or TV show? These types of media presentations are typically in a question and answer format, so how do you prepare?

One thing you can do ahead of time is ask your host for a list of questions that will be asked of you. Inquire as to whether there will be any impromptu questions posed to you. Although you can't always prepare for every single question or prompt that may be offered to you, there are some things you can do to be as prepared as possible:

1. Review any questions you have been asked before, whether in formal interviews or just from friends and colleagues about your subject.
2. Get a friend to engage in a "mock" interview with you and allow that person to ask you any question about your topic that comes to mind.
3. Make a list of ten things you think your host may ask you and practice answering those points.
4. Whenever you practice impromptu speaking, have a timer handy and try to provide your answer in a maximum of 2 minutes.

Being interviewed can be one of the most rewarding public speaking experiences you'll ever have, and being prepared for it will make you feel better and more than likely get you more interviews!

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As a 30+ year professional development trainer and Distinguished Toastmaster, I have helped thousands of people hone their presentations skills. Need to make a presentation because the boss asked you to? Want to make a presentation to one of your associations or clubs? Even when you don't make presentations often, learning how to do it right can help you with the fear and the preparation.
Contact me if I can help walk you through those critical first steps to successfully communicating. Lets chat @ http://turelmyblog.wordpress.com

Choosing a Mother of the Bride Dress For 2009

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This year turning Mom into the Mother of the Bride comes with one important prerequisite. Talk to the bride. She'll appreciate you listening to her input for years to come. Don't be afraid of this exercise - there are plenty of color and style options to accommodate not only your look but her preferences as well this year. You might even be pleasantly surprised with what you discover and relieved to have a place to start. But don't start shopping yet. Next consider the key attributes of color, length, style and body, which when combined successfully will ensure you and your dress are a spectacular hit on the bride's big day.

Color

The two aspects of color that you want to reconcile are simply 1) the color theme of the wedding and 2) the colors that looks good on you. En vogue dress colors especially for Mother of the Brides this year (and especially for outdoor weddings) include "apricot, peach, lemon and golden olive hues" reports Hanna of Here Comes the Guide. If the wedding is taking place later in the year, get more vivid with amethyst, mahogany, or rose. If none of these colors will do, then take your queue from the bride, who may elect to step into 2009's trend for lots of bold, saturated colors like green, lavender or blue, but especially blue, with all of its brilliant peacock splendor including deep violet blue, clear bright blue, green blue, cobalt blue, turquoise, and palace blue. If the bride's theme is blue, but blue doesn't work on you, trying choosing from among the many delightful accent colors you will see in a wedding regardless of its color theme, like champagne, cream, bone, taupe, tan, silver, shimmering light gold, or beige

Selecting colors around a wedding's theme is only the first step. Ask also what colors look good on you. If you are unsure, it's best to keep two or three neutral colors in mind while you decide what looks best against your natural coloring. As you shop, hold clothing items of differing colors up to your face and judge for yourself. You can even go so far as to invest in a professional style guide, like the ones available at istylista. When you look back on wedding photos years from now, you will not regret the investment!

In all cases, stay away from white, ivory, and black. And interestingly, even though blue is "in" this year, one of its shades definitely is not - navy. Don't be caught wearing it! Just remember to pick a color that coordinates well with the wedding theme or its bridal attendants - you don't have to match exactly! - and one which looks great on you at the same time.

Length

The Mother of the Bride's dress length should be similar to the bridesmaids' dresses, within Mom's comfort zone. Tea length (a gown hemmed to end at the shin) becomes an acceptable compromise when bridesmaids' dresses measure LA knee length or shorter.

Style

Continuing the trend from last year, stores are stocking Mother of the Bride dresses in youthful styles. No more stodgy lines and drab tones. This is Mom's year for satisfying a little chicly red carpet fantasy of her own! Take your queue from designing leaders like Karen Miller, Scala, Ursula and Cachet. Also look to bride styles for inspiration, who will be more angelic this year in soft fabrics like chiffons and drapings. But don't go overboard. You'll be safe in simple, graceful lines with little frill and appropriate accessories which compliment, rather than compete with, the bride's wedding dress. A perennial favorite for Mom, especially petite moms, is the two piece skirt suit. These separates are popular because each piece can be ordered in different sizes for a more tailored fit.

Your Body

Be comfortable in your own skin, and in your dress. This means understanding your body shape, your natural colors, owning your age, and putting a dash of your personality into your ensemble. iStylista has an excellent blog article on this topic which you don't want to miss.

The author is F Kapri of Venus Shoe, a unique online store specializing in sexy and exotic designer shoes and boots, and Fifi's Lingerie [http://www.fifislingerie.com], a sexy leather lingerie store for sexy men and women.