How to Present Yourself Confidently Before Any Crowd or Audience

How to Present Yourself Confidently Before Any Crowd or Audience

If being a crowd pleaser makes or breaks your career, you don’t have time to waste on fears or forgetfulness. You need to know that when you walk on that stage, that you are going to presenting your best self; confidently, before any crowd.

So how do you do that? Well, we at New York Acting School for Film and Television are asked this question over and over again, so much so that we have created multiple class and coaching options to help you get through it and face the crowd boldly.  

In the meantime, here are some simple ways to help you present yourself more confidently before any crowd or audience.

Prepare well.

Good presentations require great preparation, but do not start by writing your presentation out like an essay. Caroline Goyder, a former acting coach at the Central School of Speech and Drama who helps business leaders to communicate effectively says, "Writing it down tempts you to just read it out, which gives a dead, impersonal delivery."

Practice often.

Practice well and often into an audio or video recorder so you get used to what you sound and look like to an audience. Then deliver it to a small live audience of colleagues, friends or family and be open to constructive feedback. This is a very helpful tool.

Use support.

If you are a speaker or presenter, always have a visual tool or engaging story to help make your point. This helps the audience to go from listening with just their ears to also with their heart, emotions and memories. When they can relate, they’ll pay close attention.

Personalization.

When Anthony Hopkins was playing serial killer Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, he used a technique called personalization  that helped him convey the inner anger of Hannibal by reaching into his own experiences of anger that he actually felt like killing someone. (we're all glad he didn't, right?) But you can use this technique and tap into your own emotional experiences to bring their impact and authenticity into your performance and presentation.

Slow down.

When you are reaching a point of importance or dramatic climax, be sure to slow down or pause. The silence or change in flow gives the presentation contrast and dynamics; a must for all performance and art. Also try to imagining you are delivering to one member of the audience and wait until you can see from their face that they have got it. This is a technique used by stand-up comedians.

The New York Acting School for Film and Television is always here to support your growth and education on your way to success. For more information and guidance, call us today!

MARK STOLZENBERG, Founder and Director of the New York Acting School for Film and Television has been in the business for a very long time and can help you find the scammers.