105 Tami Evans On Being Funny on Stage, Managing Isolating Careers, and What It Means To Be A Female Public Speaker

“You can’t shortcut feet on the stage. You can’t wish or pay your way to being a better speaker. Speak, speak, speak—that’s the way to get good at speaking.” - Tami Evans (click to tweet) Public speaking isn’t for everyone. But before we cross it off our list, we have to make sure we’ve given it a fair shot. That’s because the best public speakers—while they may appear naturally gifted on stage, it is most likely hours and hours of rehearsal driving the performance. In public speaking, there is no such thing as god-given talent or a ‘knack’ for performance. Rather, success on stage boils down to work ethic, rehearsal, and practice. On today’s episode of Steal the Show, we are joined by the humorous speaker Tami Evans to clear the mystery of performing on stage. With a Master’s in Classical Acting, Tami has been performing in some way, shape, or form for most of her life. She is the former president of the New York chapter of the National Speakers Association, and today works on the public speaking circuit. In this conversation, we unpack all topics related to public speaking—what makes a great public speaker, why introverts do well on stage, how the public speaking industry is evolving to be more inclusive of diversity, and much more. Learn more about Tami Evans and her humorous motivational speaking style here. “When someone looks so effortless, it’s because they have put in so much time and effort to get it that way.” - Tami Evans (click to tweet) Steal the Points Rehearse to the point of clarity where improvisation doesn’t feel intimidating. The best way to begin something is to start it. Try to have slogans that are easy to understand and remember. Join the National Speakers Association (NSA) to make public speaking a less isolating career. There is no clear path in the public speaker industry. Content creation is a messy process that involves diving into the unknown. Being authentic becomes easier through preparation. There is becoming more equalization of gender and culture in the public speaker landscape. Public speaking is shifting from a stylized, scripted talk into a more conversational delivery. Many of the best performers are actually shy and introverted. Adjusting on the fly becomes comfortable with more experience. Some people are energized by interacting with other people, and others are depleted by it.