Public speakers don't usually think of themselves as actors, but to get your message across in the most effective way it's helpful to think like an actor. Consider, for a moment, who your audience is and what they're most likely to respond to. With your purpose firmly in mind, think about how you want your audience to perceive you.

Will you be? Dramatic, Easy-going, Professorial, Artistic, Spiritual, Dynamic, Powerful, Interesting, The Specialist, The Funny Person, The Expert, The Educator, The Arbiter, Compassionate, Loving, Altruistic, Biased/Unbiased, Electrifying

As you write your talk, think about the dynamics and the emotions you want to evoke through the faces you display as you speak. Be sure there is congruence between what you're saying and how you look as you're saying it. Whatever robes you choose to wear for your presentation, I would suggest that being Real is the one thing you always want to be.

If, for example, you're trying to motivate people to help in the effort to save an historical building, you might want to be The Educator, The Expert, The Historian. In other words, you present yourself as an educated, knowledgeable and concerned citizen.

In addition, because you're presenting them with reasons to take action, you will want to hold their interest with more than just facts and figures. Human interest stories and personal anecdotes can be used to tie together important but less riveting material.

Your voice must be sufficiently varied and strong to make people want to listen to you. When you present yourself in a dynamic manner you also come across as powerful, and you can better convey a sense of being part of an important movement. The sense of urgency to join others in a worthwhile project is exactly what you would want as your call to action.

Build into your speech your awareness of the faces which will best serve the purpose of your presentation. Then practice out loud so as to achieve the effects you've selected. Stand in front of a mirror and practice your facial and body expressions to match your voice expressions. Practice until you think you're absolutely wonderful! You'll be elated at the improvement in your speaking ability!

Carole McMichaels

If this is to be a true Bio, it must be in first person singular, so here I am, giving you all my "Singular I's". My life has been long, unconventional, exciting and filled with music, my first love and my first career.

Were it not for an absence of current rules and regulations, I would not be here at all. You see, my father was my mother's cello teacher--a horrible no-no in today's school world. They were married in the Interlachen Music Camp where my father taught trumpet and conducting.

As a child I gave many recitals, usually the first half on piano, the last half on violin. I loved it, but would have preferred (though I didn't know it at the time) music written by live people rather than by dead white men. Still my preference.

A favorite past-time of my four-year's-younger brother and me was to sing rounds a half-step apart. Great ear training for the contemporary music in which I later specialized! Playing hours of orchestral and chamber music--and kick-the-can, swimming, reading and traveling rounded out my childhood activities. A happy childhood!

As an adult I migrated to New York City where my professional life took different turns. I stopped the violin in favor of accompanying instrumental and vocal recitals. Then, because of injuries, I did a stint as a Broadway dancer--and finally ended up as a classical singer. Working with Leonard Bernstein for his time as conductor of the New York Philharmonic was an exhilarating experience.

At the time, 12-tone music was the be-all and end-all of the New York music scene; singers who could sing these beasts were few and far between. However, because I had perfect pitch and a strong instrumental background, I had a fertile field for my interests and abilities.

For variety I sang on cruise ships, did musical comedy, an occasional substitute job as organist in some of the large churches (a total thrill!) Did a bit of folk dancing on Puerto Rican TV, some pretty humorous modeling jobs, and set up the first audio language program in Tehran, Iran.

I have a lovely daughter, compassionate and creative.

For the last thirty years I've been a hypnotherapist, working with individuals and presenting workshops on a variety of topics. My passion is teaching!

Now I specialize in helping performers and public speakers prepare their presentations; using Energy Psychology, we permanently jettison their stage fright. Very interesting and gratifying work!

And I write.