Michael Bay recently had a very public public speaking meltdown at a Samsung event. There are a few things we can learn from his missteps. Here’s my take:

1. Pace Yourself – Mr. Bay doesn’t take the time to stop and connect with the audience at the beginning of his presentation. He doesn’t breathe. He just rushes right into his speech. No good. Make sure you take your time, and make eye contact with the audience, especially at the top of your speech.
   
2. Don’t Shill if You Don’t Want To – I would guess that Mr. Bay was uncomfortable with the promotional aspect of this event, and perhaps felt conflicted about the wording he was forced to read from the teleprompter (most likely scripted by Samsung). If you don’t feel truly connected to your material, you double your chance of panicking. It’s imperative to believe in what you are saying.
   
3. Know your Pitch if You Choose to Shill – If you are asked to use specific wording for an event, and you are comfortable with the phrasing , write the text down on your phone, and keep it on you while you speak. Don’t just trust the teleprompter because it will break (as it did in Mr. Bay’s case). It’s OK to read from your phone if you have to, and it beats the hell out of blanking.
   
4. Rehearse – Don’t walk onstage for a big event without going through your bullet points numerous times. It’s a recipe for disaster. Get a coach. Review your speech with a friend. You will be happy you did!
   

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