5 Tips from a Public Speaking Teacher about Battledecks
Photo credit: LaughingSquid.com
I wish I was going to South by Southwest just to see Battledecks. For those who don’t know, Battledecks is a competition where speakers have to deliver speeches using Powerpoint slides (or decks) that have never seen. I have added a couple of videos of past competitions at the end.
I remember when I was in competitive forensics and I did Impromptu Speaking. The concept is the same: Stand up and deliver a speech with very little notice. Only Battledecks does this with Powerpoint slides.
For those competing or thinking about competing, I have five tips before 2010 SXSW:
1. Have fun
This is probably the least stressful situation you can be in as a speaker. Everyone in the room knows that you have not prepared anything so you have zero expectations. Use that to your advantage and relax. If you are good, people will be impressed. If you are bad, people will appreciate that you made an attempt.
2. Delivery is the key
Don’t rush through the speech. Slow down. When you do, you won’t risk having awkward silence when you have nothing else to say about a slide.
3. Never apologize
Apologizes are polite, yes. But they also flag mistakes. In Battledecks or any impromptu speaking, it is important that you “go with the flow”
4. Pause after each slide
Because you have no idea what’s coming. Take a second or two and think about what you want to say about your slide. The slidemaker will likely help you out because it will be funny and you can use that laughter as quick prep time.
5. Try to have some organization
The best impromptu speeches (like any speech) has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Use the first 2-3 slides as an introduction and the last 2-3 slides as a conclusion.
Just a few things to keep in mind before you go compete. Good luck.
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