Absolutely agree, too many soundbites or 'in' phrases/words and it makes you look like you nicked the local MPs speech brochure...not good.

I think sally cinnamon was joking about the soundbites...

I can never tell with SC...

Good call on the glass of water too, apart from anything else it's a great time waster - if you forget your place, take a sip and regroup. If you get nervous, take a sip and a deep breath. And take a sip when you've made an important point, it gives your audience a moment to absorb it, especially if you're making multiple complex or technical points.

Just don't get carried away with that, the same manager I mentioned on the management b'llox thread, looked like he was dehydrating, every little point he made was accompanied by a sip of water. Make it look natural.

There is film footage of one J Stalin doing that during a speech.

Very effective way of slowing down – and raising tension if you use it very deliberately too.

Preferred Hitler's more manic (and, arguably, Scargillesque) style myself.

Scargill was 7 when Hitler died, he must have been some child.

Make it up as you go along. That's what I usually do, especially if it's only for 10 minutes.

Remember that the vast majority of the audience want you to come across well - they are silently supportive. Very few people enjoy the embarrassment associated with watching someone stumble and stutter over a speech. I'd also question very much trying to be funny - if it doesn't come naturally don't go there.

I just want to thank everyone who gave advice in this thread. I’ve took some of the things mentioned into consideration and I’ll be speaking next Monday. Someone is travelling from Manchester to see me speak and to offer me potential employment.

My local MP Stuart Andrew just tweeted that I should just speak from the heart. So all is going well

I'll just be doing the final tweeks to my speech for the rest of this week.

What entrance music should I have?