What to Say When. . .You're Dying on the Platform: A Complete Resource for Speakers, Trainers, and Executives [Paperback]

Lilly Walters (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070680396 | ISBN-13: 978-0070680395 | Publication Date: April 1, 1995 0

A heckler is in the audience; the overhead projector breaks; the allotted speech time runs out - these are just some of the panic-producing crises, interruptions, or distractions easily dealt with in this first-aid guide for business speakers. Here, first-timers and experienced pros alike will find everything they need to organize, write, and deliver effective, entertaining speeches - from installations to toasts and roasts. The guide pinpoints every possible speaking contingency - from failed electricity to a bored audience - and for each one tells how to prevent it, what to do about it, and what to say about it. Its treasury of witty, off-the-cuff lines and audience participation devices helps speakers access the perfect words to cover any situation and captivate any audience.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lilly Walters (Glendora, CA) is the executive director of Walters International Speakers Bureau, which accesses 36,000 speakers, conducts seminars, and publishes Sharing Ideas, the world's largest magazine for the professional speaking industry. She is the author of Secrets of Successful Speakers and coauthor of Speak & Grow Rich.

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070680396
• ISBN-13: 978-0070680395
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to prevent, and when necessary, handle speaking problems, January 6, 1998

By 

Betsy Parker - See all my reviews

This review is from: What to Say When. . .You're Dying on the Platform: A Complete Resource for Speakers, Trainers, and Executives (Paperback)

So, you think you're the first person in the world to stumble on the way to the podium. Or have a projector bulb burn out. Or experience feedback from the sound system. Or be heckled from a know-it-all, or a drunk, in the audience. Or lose your train of thought. Or be asked a question you don't want to answer. Well, you're not--and this book shows what to do when your worst public speaking nightmare occurs. What to Say When You're Dying on the Platform describes hundreds of potential mishaps and what you can do to A) prevent them from occurring and B) shows how you can maintain your composure and confidence if they do occur. The primary message of What to Say When You're Dying on the Platform is that most mishaps can be prevented, or minimized, by planning and careful preparation. The secondary message is that the way you handle a joke that bombs or a know-it-all in the audience is more important than the interruption itself--if you respond with the right smile, comment and/or pause. If you remember just one of the hundreds of suggestions in this book, the book will more than pay for itself.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you should and shouldn't say!, July 13, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What to Say When. . .You're Dying on the Platform: A Complete Resource for Speakers, Trainers, and Executives (Paperback)

This great book is wonderfully organized, and very comprehensive to boot! The humourous stories help drive the points home, and the "lines" to say are generally easy to remember.

I think by reading through the entire book, you get a good feel for what is appropriate and inappropriate, and can then "wing it" if you haven't gotten a memorized response at hand.

As a public speaking professional, I will keep this in my collection, and review regularly, just in case!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on Damage Control, September 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What to Say When. . .You're Dying on the Platform: A Complete Resource for Speakers, Trainers, and Executives (Paperback)

This book covers every possible faux pas or disaster on the platform and helps you to recover with grace and confidence. Filled with excellent examples of what to say and do. If you liked this book you'll love Knockout Presentations.