Extreme Preparation: from what to say to what to wear and everything in-between
When working with theater director and actor, Deb Gottesman, we immediately spoke the same language: the language of the theater. Deb knows what goes into crafting a performance that sings. She knows just how much time and work it takes to prepare a piece so that it comes alive in front of an audience.
The day we began, Deb told me that the organization she co-founded with Buzz Mauro, The Theater Lab, had its annual fundraiser a few weeks before our TEDx Charlottesville event. Deb asked to front-load her preparation so that she would have the weeks before the fundraiser to focus just on that. We mapped it out and worked on her TED Talk all of August and September. She took the month of October to work on the fundraiser, and we met again before the TED Talk in early November to polish it before our event that week. The day before her TED Talk, she arrived for the tech rehearsal at the Paramount Theater completely prepared—fluent in the talk, warmed up, in her chosen outfit. She was ready. Needless to say, her talk shone—it was fresh, beautifully orchestrated with an arc of story and energy. She moved us.
And, yes, you heard right: we had weekly hour-long sessions via Zoom for two months to prepare one 18-minute talk. That’s simply what it takes. Ask any performer—dancer, actor, musician. It takes years of experience and hours of preparation to bring a performance to life.
The preparation, which includes finding out as much as we can about the event (who, what, why, when, how), crafting and practicing the content, and adding in all technical aspects, takes time.
Want to feel confident? Prepare. Want to calm anxiety? Prepare. Want to come alive in front of an audience? Prepare.
Below is an abbreviated version of the “Extreme Preparation” document I give to my clients as a guide.
What is your INTENTION? What is the best possible outcome?
Research the event and venue.
Who is audience? How many? What do they care about?
Will you be introduced? If so, send in a bio with most important details so you do not have to brag—they will set you up and be grateful.
What is the space? Sneak in early to check it out.
Stage? Banquet hall? Boardroom?
Podium? (I prefer you don’t use it! Bring a music stand if you must.)
Microphone? What kind?? This will help determine what you wear.
Clothes with a waist-band are best to clip on battery pack.
Headset mics will pick up anything they hit—dangly earrings, beards, starched collars, so dress accordingly.
Lavaliers (on lapel) will pick up brushes with clothing and long hair.
Slides? Clicker? Dongle?
If potentially contentious audience, anticipate negative questions and push-back and think through answers. Then practice them out-loud.
Research topic to gain fluency.
Safety net? Note cards? Binder? Reader’s Copy?
Practice out-loud once per day—in car OK, in shower OK.
Memorize first and last lines.
Memorize transitions (not the words, but the bridge between ideas).
Rehearse standing, moving, in space as close to performance space as possible.
Dress/tech: Practice with high stakes in the most awkward situation with most difficult audience AND all tech (lights, mic, slides).
Be precise in asking for feedback. People want to feel useful and love to point out what isn’t working. That is not coaching and can have a negative impact on your performance, so best to be directive in asking for feedback.
Who do you ask? Choose carefully.
How do you ask? Most helpful question is: “Was there anything you didn’t understand?”
Make sure you are not soliciting feedback close to the event—you need at least 24 hours to focus on performance and it’s too late to integrate anything new.
Rehearse more.
Make many mistakes so you know you can fight your way out and survive.
CLOTHING: Choose and practice in your clothes. You want to be: comfortable, feel great, appropriate to the context.
Choose solid colors—white is reflective and can make the lights too harsh, black can blend into the background and make you look like a disembodied head, small patterns make the video wonky. Stick with solid colors (green, blue, orange, red). Check out newscasters!
Waist-bands are GREAT as they are easier to load on the mic pack.
HAIR: Lights and video exaggerate mess—the slightest wrinkle or stray hair is lit up and can be distracting. So simple lines, neat hair, best. PULL HAIR AWAY FROM FACE AND EYES—we want to see you!
JEWELRY:
Anything shiny is REALLY shiny under the lights.
Lavaliers or any mic that goes around your head will hit dangling earrings, so best to wear studs.
DEODORANT: If you sweat, choose a shirt that won’t show the marks too much and use a heavy-duty anti-perspirant.
SLIDES: send most recent slides to tech teacm in advance and always bring a back-up of final slides on a thumb drive.
Sneak into the space and run your talk.
Find the tech folks and make friends with them—tech always goes wrong and they have your back.
Where is the light? Where can you be seen?
If video: What is the camera frame? How many cameras?
Hydrate.
Sleep if you can. If not, you’ll be just fine! Adrenaline is incredible.
DAY OF:
Eat like an athlete: small healthy meal about 2 hours before.
Go over your materials quickly and let go—you have done all the work you can do in advance.
Drink one full glass of water 20 minutes in advance.
When you get out of your car, the performance has begun.
Give other presenters the gift of your attention—you have done all your work in advance.
Right before you begin, breathe and remember why you are here, your purpose, your INTENTION.
Breathe. Connect. Sway.
That’s all! Now it’s time to play!