As we get older, sometimes it gets harder to try new things. Especially when they may seem scary. Penn tried stand-up comedy for the first time last month and our entire family was so incredibly proud of him. He opened for our friend and comedian, Charlie Berens, on his national tour with a 10-minute routine and he did great! He told some jokes, sang some original music, and even kept his cell phone light on the entire time. (So on-brand.)
Penn was uncharacteristically nervous about his performance. Give this man a topic to talk about 2 minutes before he goes on stage to a theater of people, and he’s totally fine. Tell him he has to come up with a rehearsed comedy routine, and he gets panicky. He’s great at being spontaneous (which could be that ADHD of his.) Typically, in our relationship, I am the nervous one and Penn calms me down. It was different to have the roles reversed for his new adventure.
Follow Busta Rhymes’ Advice
Not everyone will do stand-up comedy, but everyone will have to talk in front of a group of people at some point in their lives. According to statistics, public speaking is people’s number one fear. Number two? Death. (Yes, people fear getting up and talking in front of people more than dying.) So on this week’s podcast, we invited our friend Page Fehling to provide some public speaking and presentation tips that anyone can use. Page is a third-generation speaker and facilitator, and helping guide fellow humans into being their best selves both at work and at home makes her tick.
“What to do with your hands is the first question that everyone asks,” explains Page when talking about presentation advice. “Honestly, the easiest answer is to use them… if you speak with your hands, let yourself speak with your hands. Just give yourself some boundaries, especially in a virtual setting. Follow Busta Rhymes’ advice and just keep all your hands where my eyes can see.” In our interview, we discuss Page’s background, her best presentation fails, and how to practice for your next big talk.
The 5-Step Process
Page believes that when preparing for a big presentation or speaking event, people like a to-do list. The best way to practice your material is to follow her 5-step process:
Practice once into the mirror
Practice once to a blank wall
Practice once to a live human being
Practice once to a mixed group (pets count!)
Practice once recorded on your phone
The phone piece was super helpful because after you have it recorded, you play it back once on mute to watch your body language. Then play it back once with the screen face down to focus on your tone and delivery. (Such great advice, Page!)
Listen to the podcast and tell us what tip you found most helpful. Tune in until the end when we play part of Penn’s stand-up routine and talk about how he did!
