First Time as Toastmaster of the Evening!

Wow - yesterday was my first time as Toastmaster!
What an experience, it was really great, I learned a lot, got an adrenaline rush of the finest degree, and enjoyed it very very much.
I think I even liked it better than giving a prepared speech.

Some things I learned:

1. Check your wardrobe out weeks before the date.
1. On the day of my appearance, I discovered the pants to my suit did not fit anymore(!) -- nice discovery. I had to keep my jacket buttoned the whole time. Unfortunately I didn't take any video.
2. Only button the top button of the jacket/Sakko/blazer -- thanks Norbert!
3. Make sure that the voting boxes/cups get passed to the vote counter!

Take risks:
I'm glad I took a chance and did the James Bond theme, it came across rather well. Then I was going to skimp and not integrate the music, but I'm glad I risked that too. Some people said the music bugged them while they were filling out the feedback, so now I learned from that too. Also, I need to appoint a music-master or have some kind of remote control or blue-tooth arrangement so that I can play the songs easier and on cue.

Not only did the James Bond theme come across well, but I think it's totally appropriate for Toastmasters. Toastmasters is about self-improvement and breaking barriers right? What better person to emulate than a secret agent, driven, motivated and ready to kill... the predator instinct -- unlock it in yourself!

Second Project - "Organize Your Speech"

Thanks to all my friends at TM for the great feedback, especially the negative feedback -- that's what you really learn from:

I'm especially happy about Andie's feedback, as another English speaker to say "masterful" -- cool!

First critiques from Faris:
1. Started too early, give it time(!) from when the TM announces you.
2. Used "so" a lot.
3. Not long enough, would have liked to see it go over 6 minutes(!).

My own critique/lessons learned:
1.)Try to associate each block of your speech with a move or gesture; the "Tai Chi Technique" -- this works for me!
2.)Tell a story, like a good joke which has a beginning, body, and conclusion. I have no problems remembering jokes and telling them, if they are a good joke. If you cannot tell a story then try 1.) above.

I left a lot out! When I practiced the speech at home it was over 7 minutes... Then at TM I rushed through it in 5:50 - not even 6 damn minutes!
Write out your cheat sheet again and really hammer the words in, associate each keyword with a movement etc. -- memorize them.
Parts I left out:

Voice still way too high -- do "your speaking voice" manual ... again!
Still saying a lot of words "cute" like a child -- gotta cut that out:
list words...



More lessons learned:

1. Bring the manual next time and give it to your evaluator -- duh!
2. Call/coordinate with your evaluator beforehand.
3. Get a mentor, if not the same as your evaluator. 
4. I had over 4 weeks to do this speech and still didn't take the necessary time and preparation. Despite changing topics midstream, 4 weeks is definitely enough time to put together a really good 7 minute speech. It could have been much better -- someone even mentioned that in the feedback(!).
• As usual I did this all as a last minute preparation -- I changed the topic of my speech because the first one was so boring. Satisfied how it came out though, despite the botched parts.
5. Also don't speak out of turn, I don't know if anyone else noticed, but I don't want to be rude either.