A - ATTITUDE: be bright, alert and entertaining. Everyone will listen to you.
B - BRIEF: short sharp and effective. You don't want to bore them.
C - CONFIDENCE: be confident, believe in yourself. You can do this.
D - DUPLICATE COPIES: copy your speech and give copies to a couple of people you trust. If you lose your copy, they will have one of your stand-by copies.
E - EYE CONTACT: they are only people. Look around you and deliver your speech to all. They won't bite you.
F - FOLLOW: always follow your speech with a toast.
G - GET IT RIGHT: check with others delivering a speech so that familiar stories aren't repeated. This would be boring for the audience and embarrassing for the person in question.
H - HUMOUROUS: all successful speeches include a little humour.
I - INTRODUCTIONS: if you have a toastmaster, he will announce the speeches. If not, the Best Man will announce each speech as required.
J - JOKES: keep them to a minimum and use jokes to amuse all - think of who will be listening to you.
K - KIND: be kind. Don't overly embarrass anyone.
L - LANGUAGE: it is not a letter, but a spoken ‘document’. Write it as one.
M - MEMORISE your speech if you can. It will save you looking at your notes.
N - NERVES: calm your nerves by breathing deeply and slowly prior to delivery of your speech. There is no need to be nervous - you are among friends.
O - OFFENDING: try not to offend anyone. This is embarrassing and unnecessary.
P - PAUSING: remember to pause, don't rush it. You're not reading to them, you are talking to them.
Q - QUALITY NOT QUANTITY: This will be a long day! Make sure you cover all the essentials but don't keep your guests waiting too long.
R - REMEMBER don't drink too much before your speech.
S - STRUCTURE your speech. Split it into appropriate sections. Ensure all sections flow nicely.
T - TAKE NOTES whenever, wherever you think of something to say in your speech. Write it down so you don't forget it.
U - UNIVERSAL: remember your audience - something that suits all.
V - VIBRANT: be alive and kicking - get up there and deliver.
W - WAITING for your slot, be patient. Be calm and relax. Your time will come. It will be over before you know it.
X - X-RATED: remember your audience, keep it clean.
Y - YELLING: don't yell at them. Don't shout. Speak loudly so that you can be heard. Practice your voice projection.
