| Don't confuse people. Keep it simple. Are You the | | | | the whole ceremony. |
| Best Man For the Job? | | | | You are going to need to at least write a |
| You are in a position of honor. Your close friend is | | | | flowchart to have in front of your eyes to keep |
| assuming the position and he needs your help. He | | | | you on task. Don't make the mistake of thinking |
| has asked you to be his "best man", to stand by | | | | you'll be able to fake your way through it. Most |
| his side and support him through his last act as a | | | | people are not fluent public speakers. This has |
| free man. You relish your thoughts of all the fun | | | | nothing to do with you; it's just that public |
| aspects of your job; you get to help coordinate a | | | | speaking, sometimes especially in front of friends |
| stag party, ok, so maybe that's the extent of the | | | | and acquaintances who you would think you'd be |
| fun parts. Still you want to help your old buddy | | | | at ease in front of, makes people nervous. |
| make as cool and smooth transition to the other | | | | Without some notes for reference, |
| side as possible; you want to be the best best | | | | speechmakers commonly will draw a blank at the |
| man you can be. You're going to have to make a | | | | crucial moment of deliverance. Although the |
| speech, a verbal representation of good times | | | | friendly crowd won't judge you for a poor |
| past, current times observed in a promising light, | | | | performance, in retrospect you will wish that you |
| and words of ominous wisdom pertaining to the | | | | had shined when the focus was on you. You will |
| future of the newly linked couple. | | | | want to flow like a pro, making all wonder how |
| Let's break this speech thing down into some | | | | you pulled off such an orchestrated masterpiece. |
| workable components. You need to first embrace | | | | As for the content, that is where you are the |
| the fact that as the deliverer of a speech, you | | | | expert already. Remember that you got this job |
| need to project not only your voice, but others | | | | because of your knowledge. You know the |
| projectiles like enthusiasm, positivism, confidence, | | | | groom. You probably know him better than his |
| and an entertaining sense of composure. I know it | | | | new wife (mostly), especially if you have been |
| sounds like a lot. Don't worry; we have a plan to | | | | friends for an extended period of time. Use your |
| bring you through to the successful side of this | | | | knowledge to bring out the lighter side of life. |
| speech writing/delivery. | | | | Keep topics non-offensive and lighthearted for the |
| The most important component of your speech | | | | most part. It is expected and would be a letdown |
| is not the words you choose to deliver, it is how | | | | to the crowd if you did not do at least a little |
| you present them to your audience. Think about | | | | grilling. Poke some borderline, yet still clean, fun at |
| it, you know that the last thing that they want to | | | | the groom and whoever else may be present as |
| endure is a long winded, non-personally relevant, | | | | a target of your room-captivating speech. |
| over-mushy, big bag of wind. They want | | | | Spontaneity is a beautiful thing as well. If you |
| entertainment. They want lighthearted laughter. | | | | draw a blank, just take a breath and tell a little |
| They want it to be over relatively soon so that | | | | story that nobody but you and the groom would |
| the celebration can continue. So there is your first | | | | know. The audience will appreciate being made to |
| lesson. In a nutshell: Be confident; speak up; smile | | | | feel like insiders, and you will be remembered as |
| a lot; don't belabor your points. These aspects of | | | | the best man who knew how to lay it down like a |
| delivery will make even a poorly written speech | | | | breeze through the trees. Salute! |
| flow easier thereby enhancing the undercurrent of | | | | |