I get this question a lot from my clients, my readers and even my mum - how do you clock stage time even if you don’t get to do presentations everyday? But before I share with you how, let me explain what stage time is to the newly initiated.

Stage time - in my definition - is the number of opportunities you have to get in front of a real audience.

And believe it or not, the amount of stage time you clock has a lot to do with your success as a speaker. In fact, Darren La Croix (2001 World Champion of Public Speaking) ventured to claim that 95% of your growth comes from being in front of the audience. Truth is, champions never turn down stage time. And if you want to be really want to excel in public speaking, it is time you get serious with your stage time.

Here’s another reason why stage time is extremely helpful to a speaker. Do you ever see a wrestler goes into a ring without training? No right unless he has a death wish. Same thing goes with speaking. You never want to tell a public speaking joke on stage that you haven’t practice in real life about a thousand times. Stage time allows you to test your materials, be it a story, a joke or a quote. And the more times you test and refine your materials, the more confident you become. Now you know why champions never turn down stage time?

“Ok I get it now Eric. Stage time is important. But here’s the thing, I don’t get to give a presentation everyday. How will I get to clock stage time then?”

That’s why you need to get creative.

Stage time does not necessarily have to happen at work. It can take place anywhere, anytime.

If you want to train your confidence in public speaking, you can say a few words at your friend’s wedding, birthday party, houswarming, bachelor’s party or any social event for that matter.

If you want to practice your presentation skills, you can offer to conduct weekly or even monthly sharing sessions with your staff on a topic that will appeal to them (for eg, “10 tips to closing a sale” or “how to stay motivated at work”) In fact, I would even suggest that you start a sharing session on public speaking. Pick a topic (say “how to overcome stage fright”) and then deliver to your colleagues or classmates. Not only will you internalize the lessons, you get to clock stage time and do your colleagues a big favor!

If you want to test your stories or jokes, incorporate them into your everyday conversations. Sometimes, I will even go to the extent of calling a friend to test out a story, especially a funny one. For this to work, you have to remember two things - DO NOT tell them that you are testing a story. And DO NOT tell them that you are going to tell them a funny story. First, you will get your friends serious and second, they will expect you to be funny which will create unnecessary stress for you.

This applies on stage as well. NEVER tell your audience that you are going to tell them something funny. Chances are, they won’t laugh since they expect it to be really funny. Instead, surprise them. Weave them into your speeches. This way, your audience will have more fun. You will have more fun too!

So the next time you have a new story or joke to tell, test them out first. Find every opportunity to weave your material into your conversation. Watch their reaction. If they enjoy it, good. You got yourself a winner. if they don’t, you can either chuck it away or refine it and then test it again.

Let me give you an example.

(Someone calls you)
Friend: Hey Eric, are you back in Singapore already?
Eric: Hey! Yes I am back… and very happy to be back as well. It feels really good to be part of the majority again.
Friend: Haha.
Eric: Now I know how my Indian friends in Singapore feel.
Friend: Yeah, I know what you mean. Oh talking about Indian friends, have you met up with Neeraj?
Eric: No, should I?
Friend: He is leaving for Australia.
Eric: Oh really? He is going to create havoc there again.
Friend: Haha, how so?
Eric: Remember last year when we were in Philadelphia. We went to the Art Museum and he wanted me to take a picture of him doing a pose as Rocky. And so he stood there, back facing me, with his hands out, waiting for me to take a shot. And I quietly walked off. And he stood there for like a good 30 seconds while everyone else started taking pictures of him. You should see his shocked face when he turned around.
Friend: Hahahahahaha.. really?? Oh my, I miss him man.

Get my point. In a short 5 mins conversation, I got to test two of my materials. The first being “I am glad to be part of the majority again” which is for a thank you speech that I am delivering during my book launch. And the second being a funny story about Neeraj that I have written some time back but not tested.

It gets better. If I want to double check or triple check my stories, I can always talk to another 2 or 3 people.

I have tell you how you can creatively clock stage time, what’s left is for you to take action!

As the saying goes:

Wisdom is knowing what to do next, skills is knowing how to do it and virtue is doing it.

So get going!

Cheers,
Eric Feng
Your Public Speaking Coach

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