In preparing for a note-free speech or presentation, you have to play by an entirely different set of rules. This is keynote land, folks. The very place I publicly announced I wanted to go.

Well, be careful what you wish for. My normal presentations last from 1-2 hours and are on fairly technical topics. Sales tax, financial statements, nerd communication, the usual exciting stuff. But I can use my notes and no one is filming me. 

My TEDx topic will be inspirational and it is limited to 18 minutes with no notes. The longest I have talked up to this point without notes is during my graduation from the Stand Up Comedy Workshoppe. That was 5 minutes of delivering a comedy routine on stage at the Punchline in Atlanta.  

Here's the thing though.  I had a hand held microphone when I was on that stage at the Punchline. That occupied my hands and kept them from shaking uncontrollably. This time, there will be a hands free mike. 

What in the world am I going to do with my hands???? 

In one of the many public speaking classes I've taken over the years, we were told about all of the wrong poses for your hands, there's the prayer pose, the straight jacket which involves stiff arms plastered to your side, the gerbil pose, and several other presentation no-no's. Joey Asher's Speechworks classes and his book, Even a Geek Can Speak, demonstrated all of the wrong things to do. Now in my hour of need, I can remember all of those clearly. 

But I can't remember what the correct occupation of my hands is supposed to be. I know he showed us. 

I need something to do with my two dangling arms while I'm talking. I know I should make sweeping gestures that reach out so as to not look frightened, but I'm not sure what part of my talking about a Basset Hound is appropriate for a sweeping gesture. 
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