Presenting under pressure

London, UK

These American presenters really know how to lose it!



H/T Last of the Few

Make 'em laugh

London, UK

Well sometimes you can sometimes you can't. Comedienne, Louise Scodie, said last Sunday on my radio show, that humour is subjective. I agree and rarely tell jokes during a talk, unless they are well rehearsed and appropriate. I could have said something at a meeting on Monday evening, but time was not on my side, so I quickly remembered those immortal words, "Stand Up, Speak Up and Sit Down".

More often than not, as a corporate host or corporate presenter, one shouldn't be too clever with your audience. Remember, you are just the link presenter not the star attraction. Making a cheap jibe or joke can ruin your evening and the opportunity to be asked back! Sometimes though a joke that went down well on one night falls flat on the very next occasion you say it. So what do you do? Eric Feng explains

What do you do before making a speech?

London, UK

Footballers and other sportsmen would be in real trouble if they didn't prepare properly for a match. Some have certain exercise routines, others have little rituals designed to prepare them for the challenge ahead. If you are a corporate host, corporate presenter or public-speaker you will know the just how important it is to prepare and rehearse.
In order to engage your audience, you have to speak clearly and with some passion about your subject. My recent post over at JeremyJacobs.com highlights some of the steps you ought to take but what do you do to relax and get ready for your performance? Radio presenter and speaker Nick Thomas recommends getting proper rest if you are away from home. I agree with Nick, there's nothing worse than staying in a hotel bedroom that's noisy and uncomfortable. Research the hotel you intend to stay. Lisa Braithwaite, who blogs regularly about public-speaking, has written a few posts about preparation rituals. Here's one of them.
Hilary Briggs, one of my colleagues on the London Toastmasters circuit, won "Best Evaluator" award last week. Giving feedback, whilst under the pressure of a big competition, takes nerves of steel and plenty of practice and preparation. Read about her victory here.

Sex and the City - World Premiere (2)

London, UK

Presenting part two of the footage brought to you by LSQ TV

Sex and the City - World Premiere

London, UK

Young Russell was mingling amongst the crowds in the Square earlier for the World Premiere of Sex and the City. LSQ TV has two clips, here's the first:



You can review all of LSQ TV's footage and catch your favourite presenters here

Leicester Square Television - the first six months

London, UK

If you've been following LSQ TV's red-carpet "adventures", you'll probably agree that our first six months of operations has been very successful.

My co-presenters and I have been able to chat with a number of stars of the screen - Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, Sir Michael Caine, Will Smith and Gwyneth Paltrow to name just a few. LSQ TV's "fan-cam" team headed up by Elizabethtoni have now clocked up over one million hits on You Tube. This figure is in addition to the tens of thousands of you who have dipped into the LSQ TV website.

So, a huge thank-you from everybody at Leicester Square Television!

How to make it as a Public Speaker (revisited)

London, UK

Some of you would have seen this from here in 2006:

Friday, September 01, 2006
How to make it as a public speaker

Flushed with success from last night's London Corinthians meeting, I was asked afterwards by a couple of new members as to how one becomes a professional public speaker.

1. Learn how to speak. Joining London Corinthians or other Toastmaster International clubs is a first great stepping stone. After a period of time, you can join the PSA

2. Get a website

3. Learn how to market yourself. My colleague at the PSA, Graham Jones, has some great advice.

4. Start blogging!

Posted by Jeremy Jacobs at Friday, September 01, 2006

By the way, my Google Ranking at http://www.jeremyjacobs.com is now rated at 4. Regular blogging works!

Sex and the City

London, UK

LSQ TV will be in Leicester Square on Monday night for the World Premiere of "Sex and the City". You can read about it here and you'll be able to see the footage early on Tuesday morning.

Interviewing Specialists

London, UK

It hardly seems possible given our early summer but just a couple of weeks ago it was cold, windy and raining in London's Leicester Square. My co-presenters at LSQ TV, Polly & Russell were there for the UK Premiere of Speed Racer which stars Jung Ji Hoon, otherwise known as Rain.

The K-Pop star gave some great interviews and just a few days ago, caricaturist, Simon Ellinas, drew him. Here's the result:



Simon has his own blog too. It's here

Public Speaking to a TV Audience

London, UK

Many of you would have seen the City Salute which was presented by Jeremy Clarkson and broadcast on BBC One earlier this evening. During the hour long programme, actor Ross Kemp narrated a piece written by Field Marshall The Viscount Slim on the attributes of a British soldier. Kemp's delivery was superb and full of passion. It's worth seeing again. It may appear on BBCiPlayer.

Running an Auction

London, UK

As a presenter, I'm often asked to be an auctioneer at charity events. It's something I really enjoy. You've got to look good, think smart and really show your mettle. This guy isn't bad!

Political Speeches (2)

London, UK

Remember this post from a couple of weeks ago? You may have thought he didn't stand a chance but we'll be hearing more political speeches from Boris from now on.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr.

London, UK

Earlier on, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. were on BBC TV with Jonathan Ross. You may have seen the LSQ TV footage here of both of them on the red carpet last week. Also on Jonathan's show was Michael Aspel. He also appears on my other site presenting a promotional video from 1970.

The week in the Blogosphere

is posted over at my other site just Click here

Have a great Bank Holiday Weekend!

Presenting and Speaking with Clarity

London,UK

You know the routine. You're on a train, you pull into a station. You remain there for a few minutes before you hear an announcement. A couple of years ago, I heard this, whilst travelling on one of those fast sooper-dooper red and silver thingies, back from Manchester. I'm paraphrasing a bit but here goes "This is your train manager speakin', we will be stuck here at Stoke for about forty-five minutes". Uproar ensued amongst my fellow passengers. What was actually said was f-o-u-r t-o f-i-v-e minutes. A much shorter duration of course.
Earlier today, whilst returning from Norwich, my train was held at Colchester station for around ten minutes. The problem? A lightning bolt had put paid the signalling at a place I've never heard of before. I think the train manager said it was Attfeelpevril. I then twigged. He was, of course, referring to that well-known Essex village near Chelmsford called, Hatfield Peverel.

You see, unless you present yourself correctly by speaking so that you can be properly understood, you'll run into problems of one kind or another. Both of the gentlemen I've mentioned, or rather their employers, would be wise to send them on a "speaking with clarity" or a "talk with conviction" course. I've found that by speaking more slowly, one tends to enunciate better. Try it in front of your mirror at home. But if you are still struggling, try a course run by professionally qualified voice-trainers

Presenting Successful Web Television

London, UK

Just a couple of days after the LSQ TV "fan-can" team hit their first million on "You Tube", the Leicester Square TV channel on You Tube had nearly 11,000 hits in the first 24 hours and was awarded no less than 21 You Tube honours!! Fantastic. Much of the success was probably due to the appearance of Korean pop star Rain

Newbie presenters Polly and Russell hosted the show and despite the wet, they got some great sound bites.



LSQ TV has done really well in it's first few months. Join in the fun here

Business Presentations

London, UK

Andy Lopata - remember him from his recent interview with me on the radio?

Last night, Andy gave an excellent workshop-style talk on business networking. The event was organised by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the UK and held at the offices of SEB in Cannon Street.

Andy explained to the audience about the importance of having the courage to "step out of your comfort zone" and go and actually talk to new people at an event rather than chat to those you already know. He then asked those gathered to try it out for themselves. They did with some amazing results.

For me the most important point raised all evening was this one - what networking group should one join? Whichever one you choose, be patient and don't expect business to come your way before you've built-up strong business relationships.

There's more at Andy's Blog here

Celebrity Sound Bites

London, UK

A full LSQ TV presenting team were at the Square last night for the Premiere of Ironman which stars Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow.

BTW, Elizabethtoni(our fan-cam lady) has just clocked her one-millionth hit on You Tube

Interviewing Celebrities

London, UK

Interviewing celebrities for LSQ TV or the BBC is really no different to interviewing a member of the public. If you're an experienced journalist, tv presenter, a doctor with a great bedside manner or a salesperson, you'll appreciate the importance of asking "open" questions.

They normally commence with "who", "what", "how", "why", "where" and "when". Once you've got the other person talking, you can then dip into "closed" questions (those that provoke a YES or NO answer).

On occasions, I like to ask something like this - "If you had you time again, would you.............." Another favourite of mine is "suppose". Not used so much in everyday parlance but it's a great word to slip in before a question. For example, one could ask this of a celebrity on the red-carpet, "suppose you were on a desert island, who would you most like to be rescued by"? As you'll see in the clip on the post below, I never really had the chance to ask Ashton Kutcher that question. Just as well, wife Demi Moore may have baulked at the answer!

I Keep Six Honest..

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest...

Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)

Ashton Kutcher on Leicester Square TV

London, UK

On the red carpet earlier this evening was Ashton Kutcher. He was here for the World Premiere of "What Happens in Vegas". My gorgeous co-presenter, Catherine Whale is still recovering! Here's the footage from the Leicester Square Television site