How to Practice Part 4: Don’t Skip Dress Rehearsal

I finish every workshop and coaching session with a reminder that nothing improves a presentation more than practice. For musicians practicing usually includes repeating exercises that improve technique, carefully learning new repertoire and refining material they’re already performing. But what exactly does that mean for a speaker? This four-part series lays out how speakers can use their prep time best.

 A couple weeks before my senior recital in college, my voice teacher told me I should come to my next lesson wearing the shoes I was planning to perform in. Sooner rather than later I should get an understanding of what it felt like to stand in them for an extended amount of time and learn how they would affect my posture, breathing and movement as I sang.

For most professional performances in a theater there is a series of “tech” and “dress” rehearsals, giving performers a chance to transition from a rehearsal space to the stage, hold the props, figure out how to move in costumes and adjust to the lighting. Most speakers don’t have that luxury. Particularly if you are speaking at a conference or in a new environment, many elements of the space will be new to you on the day of your presentation.

As you finalize your preparation for an important talk, think through the talk you are planning, envision the space you will be giving it in and incorporate as many elements as you can into your practice runs. For example:

• What will you wear?

• Will you be standing or sitting?

• Will you be at a podium or moving around?

• Will you be holding a mic?

• If you have slides how will you change them?

• How will you refer to any notes you may need?

There will likely be surprises in real time. Your shoes shouldn’t be one of them.

Contact me about scheduling a group workshop or one-on-one coaching session today.