After-dinner speaking - any tips?

[C8PPO]

Having accepted a request from a major supplier of ours to talk to some of their other, and prospective, clients about the services we get from them, I subsequently found out that "talk to them" actually means "can you stand up after dinner and speak to the assembled masses". Oh but don't worry, we only need you to speak for about half an hour....

Unaccustomed as I am....etc etc etc......well, I can safely say that I've never gone anywhere halfway close to after-dinner speaking, so apart from don't drink during the meal, anyone else got any (useful and/or useable) hints and tips for this?

[bonsai]

Intriguing. I was always under the impression that after diner speeches were meant to be entertaining and not a business pitch!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

You have a well lubricated and, presumably, non-heckling audience.

Keep it punchy. Keep it light-hearted and irreverent. Don't witter on.

Half an hour will fly by.

[KrazyIvan]

Practice what your going to say.

Have "Points cards" so you dont loose your thread.

Might also be worth getting your boss to just look over your point cards, to make sure he's happy with what your gonna say.

And for gods sake dont drink any wine/beer before.

[C8PPO]

Great advice there, thanks v much!

[Garlick]

bonsai said:

Intriguing. I was always under the impression that after diner speeches were meant to be entertaining

You've obviously never witnessed my after dinner ramblings at BTaP

[C8PPO]

Nailed it, chaps. Thanks for all the tips. In the end I managed to deliver my monologue BEFORE the meal, so I was subsequently able to eat, drink and enjoy with the pressure having been lifted.

Wasn't so bad after all - and people get paid for this! I just need a modicum of fame before embarking on a lucrtative career change, I guess!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

C8PPO said:

Nailed it, chaps. Thanks for all the tips. In the end I managed to deliver my monologue BEFORE the meal, so I was subsequently able to eat, drink and enjoy with the pressure having been lifted.

Wasn't so bad after all - and people get paid for this! I just need a modicum of fame before embarking on a lucrtative career change, I guess!

Good work chap.

And, yes, it really is that easy.

[V8mate]

You filmed it and uploaded to Youtube, right?

C'mon, we want to see it!

[sneijder]

V8mate said:

You filmed it and uploaded to Youtube, right?

C'mon, we want to see it!

Yes he did, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZP4Ugev82I

NSFW