Guerrilla Marketing for Artists by Barney Davey

Author:Barney Davey [Davey, Barney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-04-07T22:00:00+00:00

Overcoming your reluctance to public speaking

Public speaking arguably is the most dreaded fear for many people, but it does not have to be that way for you. Anyone who has the desire to learn can become an effective public speaker. I know some of you may not believe that, but it is true. I worked with an editor at DECOR magazine who, in her spare time, was a prolific writer of fantasy and young adult novels. Her fear of public speaking was almost morbid. To stand up in front of a group of her colleagues with whom she worked with daily, and to speak to them made her tremble so visibly that it was painful to watch.

Now, she often speaks at public book signings and does it remarkably well. She has managed to overcome her fear by practice, and with that confidence she could conquer her fears, and so can you. If you are ready to do this, it is a brilliant way to promote yourself and your art, and become well known in your local community. I recommend getting a copy of Mac Keynote, Microsoft PowerPoint, or the free Open Office Impress presentation software. You will need a digital projector or to borrow one. Create an outline using your presentation software. There are many useful sites on the Internet that will help you learn how to create a PowerPoint presentation.

Once you start practicing with these visual aids, your ability to present your material will become easier. As you become accustomed to hearing yourself talk about a subject you are interested in, you will be taking monumental first steps toward being able to speak in front of groups. You can start with making presentations to your family and friends. Once you have mastered that, you might want join the local chapter of Toastmasters International. They help people learn how to speak in public. In Toastmasters, you speak privately just to the group. The groups are anywhere from five to ten people, sometimes larger. Your peers will provide constructive critiques about your speaking, your physical demeanor, and your slides and content. Overall, with practice and determination, you will develop a sophisticated, professional presentation style.

So what do you talk about? One thing you do not want to talk about is your art. People do not want to hear a 30-minute sales pitch. Instead, uncover some art-related topics that will stimulate their interest. Perhaps you live in a culturally rich community and could discuss an upcoming exhibit at a local museum. If there is a particular artist who was born or lives in your city or state, you could develop a slide show and talk about that artist. Your presentation could be about a famous artist whose work is currently on exhibition. Your speech could be about the life of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Pablo Picasso, or Georgia O’Keefe. Anyone who was instrumental in creating/fostering an art style or who inspired others would be a proper subject. If you are able to weave

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