What will our meetings look like?
The process we'll work through will be done mostly over the phone or on video-calls (Skype, FaceTime, etc.). After each call, we'll have clearly defined goals for who is doing what before our next meeting. For big events with multiple speakers, I might fly in for the event and dress rehearsals.
Where are you based?
I live and work in northwest Pennsylvania in a small town called Edinboro (near Erie).
What kind of feedback do you give?
I will not be telling you how to stand or move your hands or not to say "like" or "um". I am not that kind of speaker coach. I believe that stories resonate when they are told by real, unpolished people. That means you have to be comfortable being yourself — quirks and all.
The type of feedback I will give is:
- where your delivery is working and not working and why
- identifying parts that could use a little more oomph or a little more breathing room
- figuring out where the "aha" moment is, and how to make sure people get it and always remember it
- how to start and finish powerfully
Can you just shortcut the process and re-design my slides?
That's not how I work. There are people that do that, but I am not one of them.
Do you work in PowerPoint or Keynote?
I prefer to work in Keynote but most of the world uses PowerPoint. I will make sure you have your presentation in the format(s) you need it in.
How long does the process take?
In an ideal world, we will have 2 months to work together to craft your presentation. But we can also do a lot in a few days. I typically spend between 5 and 30 hours working on one TED-style presentation.