As an athlete at Denison University, I cannot begin to explain the importance of practice. Practice Hard, Play Harder; Practice Makes Perfect; You play how you practice. All encouraging and all very much true (Not to mention profitable when put on a shirt…) But how are these athletic aphorisms relevant to public address? You must practice, practice, and practice again a presentation if you want it to be a successful one.
This video blog post, I will be honest, does not depict me as much of a presenter. I admit that this is not based on confidence, not because I didn’t know the information, but because of practice. How So? I had previously in the year given this very same presentation regarding the representations of race and gender in the Disney film Aladdin. I knew the information down pact just as I had when I had first presented. However, something had changed…
I was out of practice when it came to presenting the information. I knew what I WANTED to say but didn’t know HOW to say it. This faux pas is something that I regrettably could have prevented. Whether it be a two minute or hour long research presentation, one must practice the structure of their speech. Does a chef not taste test a meal before sending it into a dining hall? Does an athlete not try multiple moves, shots, or skills before they have perfected it for game day? Does an actress or dancer not change their performance to appeal to their audience? These culinary, athletic, and theatrical presenters follow the code of practice in order to present themselves and their work in the best possible way. As a student, I have learned to do the same.
-Carly Tschantz-
