It’s political convention time in America. The horse race is on. The bets are rolling in. Every word counts. We are witnessing the equivalent of the Academy Awards contest for the best speech. “And the Ronnie goes to…” The two dominant American political parties are having their nominating conventions in Boston and New York. Political speeches are everywhere.

Politicians Know Speeches

If you listen to the main political keynote speeches, you will hear two techniques being utilized extensively: The Phrase That Pays and Theme Weaving. A Phrase That Pays is a short phrase such as Walk Your Talk or Cast Your Ballot that calls the listener to action. It is short and sweet, musical and rhythmic and generally begins with a verb or action word. There is generally one predominant Phrase That Pays in an important speech. Theme Weaving is the repetition of a theme that is woven throughout (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2002

This is the SYNERGY issue

“We never become truly spiritual by sitting down and wishing to become so.

You must undertake something so great that you cannot accomplish it unaided.”

Phillips Brooks

SYNERGY

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Synergy is defined as combined action or operation. It simply means working together. Mastermind groups are about synergy. Working with a mentor or coach is a synergistic relationship. I like the above quote for this month because it eloquently speaks to where I am in my career and in my life, and to the need for synergy.

Story Theater is an outgrowth of tremendous synergy. As a result of this synergy, Story Theater has taken me all over the United States and now to England and back.

If you are trying to build your business alone – you are going to suffer from one of the most debilitating diseases known to man or woman – singular ignorance. You won’t know what (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2000

Story Theater tip of the month: Stop trying to please your audience!

The time to think about pleasing your audience is not when you are in front of them. By then it’s too late. The time to focus on pleasing your audience is at home, in preparation. That is where you can customize your material, consider their specific needs and add or subtract stories, quotes and content points. My philosophy is this; rehearse at home, not on stage. As an actor I am used to rehearsing prior to opening night. Actors would never consider stepping in front of an audience unprepared. Although speaking is uniquely different, one thing is the same. The best in the business are the best because they spend more time preparing what they are going to do and say and less time winging it. The concept of winging it brings to mind an unrehearsed (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2001

STORY THEATER Tip of the Month: Speak From Your Heart

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I’ve had a revelation and it has changed my keynote delivery forever. The change was so subtle and powerful that it amazes me that I didn’t get it sooner.

It happened in Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell Chapter of the National Speakers Association. At least that’s where the revelation hit me with full force. I had just presented Story Theater to the

chapter members and…once again…it was an amazing experience. I say once again because I’ve presented Story Theater at fifteen chapters over the past four years and it’s always been a huge hit.

There’s something about speaking to speakers that touches me deeply. I feel like I’m talking to “us” rather than “them”.

Here is my revelation. Although I talk about speaking from the heart alot, I realized that I was doing it with a deeper conviction at NSA chapters than (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2004

This is the “Signature Stories” Issue – Part Two

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“It is far better to cover three points that people remember and implement, than twenty- seven points that no one can remember. Speaking success is measured not by the volume of material disseminated, but rather by the velocity of change that results from the presentation.”
Doug Stevenson – Story Theater International Founder

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Signature Stories: Part Two – What's the Point?

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Last article I asked you to pick three stories that had the potential to become signature stories – stories that you wanted to develop and use time and again. The criteria for choosing your stories are as follows:

* You learned a life lesson

* It was a memorable experience

* It was powerful and made a lasting impression on you

* It was a turning point for you

* There was a clear and present danger or obstacle

* You'll enjoy telling the story for years to (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2004

This is the “Signature Stories” Issue – Part One

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“There are two ways to persuade people. The first is by using conventional rhetoric, which is what most executives are trained in. That's not good enough, because people are not inspired to act by reason alone. The other way to persuade people – and ultimately a much more powerful way – is by uniting an idea with an emotion. The best way to do that is by telling a compelling story.”

Bronwyn Fryer, Senior Editor at Harvard Business Review

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SIGNATURE STORIES: Part One – Choosing Your Million-Dollar Story

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My definition of a signature story is a story that you become known for, maybe even famous for. Over time, you become so good at performing this story that people ask for it again and again. I know speakers that have made over a million dollars with one good story. Check that…one great story. (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2001

This is the SERVE THE MESSAGE Issue

Quote of the Month

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin

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STORY THEATER Tip of the Month – Serve the Message

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As an actor in a play, you don’t try to please your audience. Your job is to serve the message. Before you even begin to memorize our lines, the playwright has spent thousands of hours crafting the message. He or she has considered every choice, visualized every scene and agonized over every word. When the actors and directors arrive on the scene, the message is clear. Prior to the opening night performance, many hours will be spent in interpretation and experimentation, all in the service of the message.

The reason I love speaking even more than theater is that I get to be the playwright, (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2002

This is THE SCRIPT SHALL SET YOU FREE Issue

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“Stories are the window through which the audience sees their own truth” – Doug Stevenson

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STORY THEATER Tip of the Month – Brand Your Message

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In every two-day retreat and Story Theater presentation, I hear the same question: Do you need a Phrase That Pays for every story? The answer is NO.

First, let me re-define a Phrase That Pays. It is a short phrase that brands the point or message of a story. It is like an advertising jingle in that it is short and sweet, musical and rhythmic, and immediately memorable. It’s a call to action. It’s a command to do something positive, rather than a command not to do something. Rather than use, “Don’t Just Sit There”, a positive Phrase That Pays would be, “Get Up and Go.”

Nike is a good example of a company that has branded itself (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2000

How To Rehearse

Many of my students have asked if rehearsing in front of the mirror is a good idea. It is not. Rather than looking outside of you to see what something looks like, look inside to see what it feels like. You movement, gesture and inflection all come from within. They are organic first, then they are choreographed. In my work with speakers of all levels the most difficult concept to communicate is that of congruence. Story Theater is all about technique and how to technically achieve an optimal best result. The technique however can only build on a foundation of truth; the truth that comes from your desire to touch peoples lives.

Given that, rehearse on your feet and out loud. Once you have done your writing homework, practice your material on your feet and out loud so that you can integrate the concepts and words (Continue Reading…)

by Doug Stevenson 2001

STORY THEATER Tip of the Month: React!

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We all do it all the time. Someone says something and we react. We react facially, physically and vocally. It’s as natural as breathing. It happens between the words like an emotional exclamation point. Some people react more than others, but we all do it. The question is: do you do it when you tell your stories? If I could wave a magic wand and make all of my students react in their stories, it would make them all funnier, more dramatic and more real.

When we get good news, we smile and pump our fists. We jump for joy or squeal with delight. Reactions. When we get bad news, we slump in our chairs, stomp our feet or pound the table. Reactions. When we’re surprised, we freeze, step back or giggle.

Reactions are organic, verbal or non-verbal, communications. Remember to react facially, (Continue Reading…)