Yesterday, John Oliver spoke on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon about ‘The Worst I ever Bombed’ (‘bombing’ is American for ‘dying’, in a stand-up comedy scenario). The story is slightly unsettling, but for me it reinforces this point:
Everyone has been bad at public speaking, including every succsessful stand-up comic. This is why I think stand-ups rarely become arrogant or deluded about their talents like a pop star can, because if they do, at their next gig they will receive a very rude (offensive* is probably a better word) awakening.
When you start standing up in front of people to speak, you might feel you’re not very good at it. And you’re probably not. All the best public speakers started out by being absolutely appalling at it (anyone who claims otherwise is, quite simply, lying). But you will improve every time you do it (especially if you look at the 60 amazing tips I’ve posted here over the past few months), and with experience you’ll soon become accomplished at it.
*Actually, ‘crushing’ or ‘soul destroying’ are far, far better words for this.