The Hamilton event was a spectacular success tonight. I was proud of all the speakers and the work your had obviously put in. In fact I was most impressed with a comment from Raymond who was in the audience. I have attended perhaps a dozen TEDx events that I have not been involved in organising, Raymond has attended at least twice that number and has always been a straight shooter in his feedback. After the event he said he turned up expecting an academic performance, and was pleased to find that this was a TEDx performance from every speaker! I take that as high praise! Not a lecture in sight! 😃 Well done everyone! I am looking forward to Tauranga on Thursday. 😎

Okay, important note through from the photographer. It is key that all speakers are dressed with hair and makeup done for the dress rehearsal. The photographer will be taking photos during your rehearsal, and you will need to look like you will be in the event later in the day.

Updates on a couple of questions asked. Time in the Concert Chamber for Speakers: - Thursday morning this week is clear and speakers are welcome to drop in. The stage will not be set (as it's vocal exams happening this week) but the team can do a basic stage wash and face-light to give them a sense of being 'under lights'. Rehearsals: - Dress Rehearsals will be from 1pm on the day of the event and we will also be doing photography during this session (as we did last year). This is the same for both Hamilton and Tauranga. Each speaker will do a full run-through, but be aware that stage set up and lighting/audio will be tested and adjusted throughout. Also be sure to send me any slides you need this week.

One of the things that is not practised enough is what to do at the end of your talk. Often, this results in the speaker hurriedly bolting from the stage. Which is terrible! If you have created a moment of rapport with your audience and they are applauding, turning your back on them too soon feels like you are snubbing them. Equally, speakers are worried that the audience won't realise they are finished. So they say 'Thank you' as a signal. I personally don't like that approach. As a speaker, you should not thank the audience unless you did a terrible job and you are thanking them for their forbearance! 😉 Here are some better ways to signal the end of your talk: - Stillness and Pause: Many great speakers use a purposeful pause. After the last line, standing still and letting silence fill the space can be powerful. It signals confidence and closure. Don’t fidget or move away immediately; settle your body, make eye contact, and allow the ending to land.​ For those who use a lot of gestures throughout their talk, simply dropping their hands to their sides is a signal. - Smile or Soft Expression: Using your face to reinforce the conclusion is common. A brief smile or gentle expression—matching the tone of your talk—can reinforce your message and invite applause.​ - Gaze and Eye Contact: Looking out at the audience (versus down or away) after the last line creates a strong visual cue. Purposeful eye contact, especially across different sections of the room, can be effective.​ - Physical Gesture or Nod: A subtle nod or dropping of the shoulders (relaxing) can also communicate a finish, especially if naturally timed after a concluding line. And as I mentioned before, there is no rush! Avoid immediately walking off or stepping back. Allow a moment before leaving the “red dot.” This slight pause gives both the audience and speaker time to process and shows composure.​ If you are being applauded, graciously accept it with a smile for a few moments before you leave the stage.

I managed to do a full run-through yesterday while standing up and gesturing. It seemed to go well and I am at a point now where I'm feeling more comfortable with the script. So, ready to focus more on the performance aspects and looking forward to next week's session.