Mark Twain said it takes three weeks to write a good impromptu speech.
Plaque to Twain on Sydney Writers' Walk, Australia. Photo from Wikipedia article on Mark Twain.
If you are short of ideas, have a quotation on travel or any subject relevant to yourself, your work or your destination. On the one hand, 't is better to travel in hope than to arrive'.
On the other hand, you can find advertising slogans and songs about many countries and destinations: New York, New York ...' -
-' maybe it's because I'm a Londoner,'
'if you can make it there, you can make it anywere,.
it's my kind of town.
As for travelling companions, Disraeli said,
'My idea of an agreeable person, is a person who agrees with me.'
'Talk to a man about himself and he will listen for hours.'
'Travel teaches toleration.'
Be Prepared
Whenever you go to a pre-arranged gathering, such as a conference or wedding, you might have a chance to speak. Even everyday, on a plane of train of bus, you may have a chance to speak unprepared. But whey be unrpepared when you can be prepared! Travellers need impromptu speaking.
Impromptu speaking often meanders, but it is more successful for the speaker and listener if you can establish something in common and exchange useful information.
You can start by telling where you are from or where you are going. (Not if this is a security risk.) Or ask the taxi driver, or passenger on the bus, about their immediate or long term plans.
Sales Talk
Rember that the shopkeeper who asks whre you are staying may be planning to double his prices or produce more expensive goods if you are staying in a five star hotel. That is why he is asking. Not just to be polite.
Statue of Disraeli, Parliament Square, London, England, UK.
Disraeli said that nobody is ever bored talking about themselves.
Why Speak If You Are Not Selling?
Some popeo say you are always selling something. If you are not selling an object, or a service, or being an ambassador for your country or religion, you are selling yourself.
Let's make a list of reasons for smalltalk.
1 To establish goodwill.
2 To feel at ease with strangers and crowds.
Now for more improtant messages:
3 To be succinct in an emergency.
4 When making a simple request for directions or help.
5 To have the courage to speak up. The better prepared you are, the faster you can start.
Asking For A Loan
If you went into a bank in your home city to ask for a loan you would probably rehearse what you were going to say and anticipate any objections.
You can do the same when travelling.
Transport
What do you say to the taxi driver to the airport? Can you persuade him to take a different route if you are late?
Is he a reliable source of information on rstaurants, or just promoting a place newly opened which has bought breakfast for all the local taxi drivers?
Hotels
If the hotel cannot find your booking, do you have your facts and figures ready.
I booked on such and such a date, starting this date, ending this date. I booked through this system. I used this credit card. I am booked under this name,. Here is my letter of confimation.
Job Inteviews
If you meet the boss of the company on your way into the building to the interview can you introduce yourself in a way which will make him want to tell his personnel department to hire you.
Longhaul Travel
How to entertain your fellow passengers on the plane. How to tell them you want to watch the film without offending them?
Business Cards
Have a business card handy. I have so often chatted to somebody on a bus or train and then they jump up and say, 'This is my stop - bye!' Both of us are distrssed we have no time to exchange details.
If you are alone, you can tear a piece of A4 paper into 8 smaller pieces and write down sixteen sujects you can talk about.
If somebody ask about your family, will you bore the listener with trivia, or can you impart useful advice. For example, Do you have a method for keeping children quiet on a journey? Can you tell another family about how to get cheaper admission to a theme park?
Where also can yo practice on stage before a real live audience?
Practising Motvational Positive Topics
I went to a postgraduate students group who were attending a Toastmasters meeting. The table topics session consisted of fie speakers pulling objects out of a bag and speaking about them.
On my way to a contest on table topics (impromptu speaking) I rehearsed a series of topics with ny husband. We were travelling on a train for about half an hour.
He suggested:
What do you like about train travel?
What do you think about being late?
Do you procrastinate?
Your topic is "The Ticket".
Strangers.
Friends.
Old people.
Babies.
Lovers.
Marriage.
Noise.
Reading.
Your favourite book.
Plan ahead.
Don't miss out.
Toastmasters Clubs Worldwide
At many Toastmasters clubs visitors are invited to speak in the table topic session. Toastmasters International has groups in more than 100 countries. To find a group, look at their find a club page.
You can limit your search to a specific distance from your location, to a day of week, or type of club.
Useful Websites
australia.com
visitbritain.com
https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
