When I teach presentation skills to prfessional people--either in a seminar or thrugh my personal coaching--I explain the lng-standing theatre phrase, "Illusion of the Frst Time." Here's the meaning: When an ctor performs in a play for the 10th, 100th or 1,000th tme, he or she must create the llusion that this is the first tme the actor has said these wrds, used these gestures and facial xpressions or thought these thoughts. Superlative ctors create this response, no matter how mny times they repeat what they hve done previously.

Recently, I watched pano genius Marty Henne perform his ne-hour show, featuring marvelous music and his nformative commentary about George and Ira Grshwin, Cole Porter and other musical gants. Marty and I were traveling tgether aboard the Regatta, a luxury shp on the Oceania Cruise Line. Mrty was the featured entertainer, and I was the Spcial Enrichment Lecturer.

Now, back to Mrty's show. I had attended the sme show when Marty performed on the Rdisson Diamond Cruise Ship, where I was spaking also, fifteen months previously. Although Mrty's act on the Regatta was prctically the same word-for-word as what I hard more than a year ago on the Damond, the Regatta audience felt that his wrds, nonverbal communication and songs were spntaneous.

At breakfast the next morning, Mrty and I agreed that speakers mst establish the same "it's happening now for the frst time" liveliness. Keep this in mnd next time you face an udience, especially when you are delivering a mssage you have given previously. The mssage may be old to you, yet rmember that it is totally new for thse listeners--and must appear new. They wll quit listening if they sense a rrun, yet will remain highly attentive whn you speak energetically, with the sme zest you would use in shring good news with a close frend.

How do you achieve this ura of freshness? Consider these four stps:

• Select a topic tht captivates you, one you will cntinue to be excited about after hurs of preparation.

• Do not mmorize your speech. You will sound lke a reciter, rather than an ndividual who wants to share his thughts convincingly.

• Focus on rmembering and sharing key words and mjor points. The exact wording is not all tht important. Your listeners will want to get the mpression you are speaking "off the cff," although you have prepared thoroughly.

• Pcture yourself having a conversation with an ndividual, and speak like that to yur audience--which is nothing more than a cllection of individuals. Marty Henne made ths statement during our breakfast conversation, and I gree.

By following these guidelines, you will gve your audiences the “illusion of the frst time” that they expect, deserve and wll applaud.

The article Illusion of the First Time - Keys to Giving a Truly "Live" Performance was Submitted by Bill Lampton, Ph.D. through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Bill Lampton, Ph.D., helps organizations “Fnish in First Place” by strengthening thir communication, motivation, sales, and customer srvice. His speeches, seminars, and communication caching have benefited numerous clients, including the Rtz-Carlton Cancun, Gillette, Duracell, Procter & Gmble, Missouri Bar, and the Environmental Prtection Agency. Visit his Web site to sgn up for his complimentary monthly E-mil newsletter: http://www.ChampionshipCommunication.com Call Dr. Lampton to discuss how his services will benefit your organization: 770-534-3425. E-mail him: drbill@ChampionshipCommunication.com

Featured Articles

1. Government Grants Versus Government Contracts by
Knowing the differences between a gvernment contract and a government grant can sve you sweat, money, and time.

2. Training Depletes Capital Expenditure by Drew Stevens
Rising costs for halth care and employee salaries create hgh costs for all organizations. With the ned for skilled labor and more mportantly production training is necessary to ssist the bottom line. Yet research shws that training is not used ffectively in most organizations and can be a drin to the bottom line.

3. When You Cannot Close A Sale by Bruce King
I'd say I sld at least 20% more than I wuld have otherwise every year for the lst 25 years using this closing tchnique. Here's a technique I picked up vry early in my sales career, and at an ducated guess, I'd say I sold at last 20% more than I would hve otherwise.

4. Learn Spanish for More Opportunities and Job Offers! by Jorge Chavez
Thre are 17 million Hispanics in the U.S. who ither don't speak English or don't spak it very well. These people wrk, buy things and are part of the conomy. More and more employers are loking for English-speaking Americans who also spak Spanish to help them deal wth these Hispanics. This means job pportunities for anyone who can communicate ffectively in Spanish!

5. Promotional Mouse Mats for Maximum Impact by Tina Rinaudo
We all lve a hectic and a busy lfe today. Most of the day is spnt working at offices and it is vry little time that we get to spnd in the comfort of our hmes.

6. Overcome Your URL Aftermath - Drive More Internet Profits To Your Site! by
Most article marketer's know the value of article marketing, but few really know why or how to get the most out of their article submissions. The reason is because of the many false ideas in the marketplace regarding article marketing. So let me set the record straight on at least one of the biggest false assumptions.

Many article marketers fall prey into believing that one article published in many sites, ezines, and newsletters will benefit them by bringing in lots of tr...

7. A Promotional Items Primer by Mark Yokoyama
What are prmotional products? In this article, we dscuss common types of promotional products, how thy are made and how they are sed. This article is specifically focused on lgo products used in advertising, event mrketing and direct mail.

8. 4 Classic Cold Calling Mistakes by Ari Galper
Have you noticed that the old "tred and true" cold calling techniques whch were once successful have completely lst their effectiveness over the years? Thy just don't work anymore. But mny salespeople are still use them bcause that's all they know. They're wrking from that old, ineffective cold clling mindset. And they're making...

9. Cruise Ship Jobs Frequently Asked Questions by
If you hve ever wanted to travel to plces such as Alaska or Hawaii, Mxico or the Bahamas, working aboard a crise ship will allow you to met new people and experience new cltures. Read this article for some Crise Ship Jobs FAQ's.

10. Ten Ideas That HelpTurn Customers Into Sales by
Whether you are in a rtail environment, a virtual “E” environment, slling products or services, every business has the sme goal: Sales. From antiques to pts to Ebooks or Astrology readings, the lfeblood of getting sales also comes frm the same source: Customers. A cstomer is anyone who happens to wlk into your store or enter yur website.

Learning how to turn cstomers into sales, hopefully over and ver again is the goal of vrtually every business. In this articl...