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