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

by Lilly Walters (Author) "Please take a look at Chapter 6, "An Ounce of Prevention," for ideas on how to design your presentation..." (more)
Key Phrases: audience participation exercise, successful speakers, audience repeat, Say Serious, Current Comedy Newsletter, Eileen Mason (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

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; 1 edition (April 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070680396
• ISBN-13: 978-0070680395
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #242,889 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 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 (Dover, NH) - See all my reviews

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.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick! Your mic doesn't work...What do you do???!!!!!, November 12, 1997

By	339 ways to spot a scam "Booker" (Everywhere) - See all my reviews

I picked up this title on a whim one day and it has turned out to be one of the most valuable resources I have. Did you ever wonder how to handle those speaking disasters that always seem to come at *THE* worst time?...like your mic failing, or someone becoming ill, or your plane is late, or you have a terrible cold? Walters has collected some excellent advice on what to say, what to do, and most importantly, what *NOT* to say or do when these things happen..

A must buy if you ever have to speak in front of others.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great on so many levels, April 27, 2003

By	David Field (Merrimac, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have many books on presenting and though they come and go on my desk this book stays there all the time. Why?

I'm sick of books that promise you that with just a few easy tips you'll be a great presenter overnight. In many cases I wonder if those authors have ever given a presentation. "What to say when . . ." is clearly written by someone who's been in the trenches and who appreciates the fact that presentation skills need lots of work - and why you need to have ways out of the tricky situations. In many ways it's like being with a small group of top presenters swapping war stories round a dinner table; the attitude is just as important as the information.

Second, this book actually gives you hope that when something bad happens in your presentation you might well be able to recover the situation. When you hear of how experienced speakers saved the day you will stop reacting to setbacks with total panic and instead think "How would the Walters deal with this?"

From the presenter's point of view, the most important message in this book is almost lost in the introduction. In a sidebar by Nate Booth, he makes the point that we'd rather not know - that sooner or later, something unexpected IS going to happen to you. I see so many presenters adopting a formal and distant approach in the hope that everything will go well, and then collapsing when things don't go according to plan. If you accept that nothing is perfect, you'll be taking the first step to relaxing in front of your audience - and giving a much better presentation.

The book is also readable for amusement. There are many examples of how to use humor to defuse tricky situations, and of course many examples of accidents that in retrospect are hilarious. My favorite is the story of the guy who skipped down the aisle to receive an award for running a department with the longest accident-free record. The inevitable happened, of course - but in a way that's much funnier than you could imagine. What was that? Oh, you'll have to buy the book to find out.