Speaking advice as given by me

[gremcint]

So somoene on facebook jokingly told someone to get speaking lessons from me as I can Bellow with the best. This was after an event that they ran. So here's the speaking advice I posted separately.

As Requested Voice Lessons from Gremcint.
1. It is much easier to be loud with full lungs, take a deep breath.
2. The attention getter word will usually be the loudest the rest of what you say does not need to be as loud.
3. a pack of halls is a great way to keep your throat from getting dry if you have to talk a lot through the day
4. practice can definitely help
5. Stand up straight, the sound spirits have an easier time escaping in a straight line
6. Try to keep it to clear short sentences and try to do a sentence in one breath, it lets the spirits out in groups rather than on their own and they do get lonely.
7. If you do have to let a sound spirit out on it's own do it quickly and start the next sentence after so it is at least with a group and isn't eaten by the noise crabs on your shoulders.
8. now if you are low on sound spirits you can immediately inhale near someone else speaking to try and catch some of theirs
9. remember that sound spirits subsist on a diet of oranges and pepsi so try to keep them well fed
10. if you want further advice on caring for sound spirits I recommend "Caring For Sound Spirits" by S.P. Iritly

[Seshat]

To keep yourself from 'uming' and 'ahing', make use of dramatic pauses and pacing to think about how you're going to phrase your next point.

If possible, make a list of points you intend to cover before you start.
Even if you have to do it while you're being introduced.

Don't try to say everything in one speech. You can't. Just say enough to get people interested.

[EricKei]

A trick I picked up from singing in choruses/choirs over the years -- If you don't have a mic, "project" your voice. Pretend you're singing/talking to an imaginary person way in the back row, center, and focus on that spot. If that person can hear you loud and clear, chances are, so can everyone else.

[KuariKaydrith]

My sound spirits can be rather loud...I have been heard over the sound of a SCA war field when calling a hold due to some Mundane's child wandering onto the war field, despite said Mundane being told to keep a good hold on their child. Up until that point nobody would have even guessed I could be quite so loud...and the local Herald started making noises about trying to recruit me for his position.

[dalesys]

My sound spirits can...

De-calcify your spine.
[/Cos]

[KiaKat]

A note about breathing (from a trained singer): picture your diaphragm expanding down and out, pushing your organs out of the way. You're trying to distend your stomach, not lift your shoulders. This will give you a deeper breath than just pushing your lungs up and out. Voice teachers always talk about breathing into your pelvis - think of it that way, and it'll help with both the breath and the subsequent support necessary to project the voice.

The same muscles that are worked in Kegel exercises are used for supporting sound in singing. Tighten up all the little muscles in the pelvic floor, lower abdomen, and hips. You'll find that not only are you getting more sound, but you're also saving your throat.

[EricKei]

On #5 /stand up straight, permit me to offer an alternative (different teacher, obviously) -- I've had teachers say to stand straight, but NOT to "lock" your knees. If you have one foot angled out a bit, so that you can easily keep your balance without thinking about it, you will be more relaxed, and things will flow better. Consider even bending the knee in the "angled" leg slightly. Whether sitting or standing, stay as vertical as possible from the waist up, though.

[KiaKat]

YES. That's actually critical. Locking the knees puts pressure on the nervous and circulatory systems, which can result in a giant thud, resulting from the subject hitting the stage during a high note.