The FastDay Forum

Hi fellow fasters!

Today i am going to give my first ever talk on a Whistler painting, one of my favourite artists, called Symphony in white n2, the little white girl".

I work at the Tate gallery and we can volunteer to give a short talk on any work we particularly like..

I am very nervous but i have worked in it for weeks and pretty much confident with it, its just the thought of strangers ( and colleagues lol ) watching me that is daunting !

Anyway i wanted to share this with you as there is such great support as always on this board, so thanks a million in advance

Angie xxx

ps here is the named painting, its beautiful and i love it!

Hi Angie. Good luck with your first talk. What a wonderful thing to have the opportunity to discuss! I have done alot of public speaking and a voice coach once gave me this exercise to warm up the muscles in the mouth.
Find a quiet place where no-one will see you (will look ridiculous when you do this).
Put the tongue in the roof of your mouth
Now try to speak the first sentence of your talk with it stuck there, eg hello I'm Angie and ... Exaggerate your mouth movements. eg make the hello really round so your cheek muscles go in and out alot.
Do this about five or six times
Now try speak normally and be amazed at how rich the tone of your voice has become

Let us know how it goes! Breath deeply before you start and enjoy your topic - it will show.

Hi Angie
Wishing you all the best x
I know speaking in public can be nerve racking but my guess is that while your audience will be LISTENING to you, they will be FOCUSING on the painting rather than WATCHING you!So you won't have that feeling of " all eyes on you" which can be offputting if you dont particularly like the limelight.
Sounds like you have prepared well, so be ready for a resounding success!
I love the paintjng,have never seen it before
How fantastic to work at the Tate,must be marvellous to be surrounded by wonderful works all day!
Thinking of you ! i admire you for going for it enjoy the experience!
And dont forget to report back x

Awww thank you so much Rawkaren and CandiceMarie for kind words!!

I will defo try that technique Rawkaren... plenty of secret little places here to hide hehe!!

I will let you know how it went, thanks again for your wishes, really appreciated!!

And if you are ever around London please pop in!! we have some great works on display

Angie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Angie, public speaking can be a little daunting, but I'm sure by talking about something that you are so passionate about you will be absolutely great.

Send you tonnes of positive vibes.

Didee

Oohhh good luck. I love the Tate, dragged my daughter around there during the school hols, she loved it.



Deep breaths x

Angie i am in London from Thurs for a few weeks
Will try to call in and find you and say hi
Fingers firmly crossed for you today x! You can do it kid! X knock them out!

Thank you thank you everybody!!

Candice Marie please let us know when you come in!! it'll be lovely to meet

I feel much more positive now, you are all a great bunch,thank you!!!!!!!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Good luck. Before speaking in public, I can't eat for days.... which is good when you're on a diet

Thank you Manderley!!!!!!

Not fasting today lol because i dont think a rumbling tummy like mine would have gone down very well

WOAH!!!
What an interesting thing to do, in such a wonderful gallery and for that beautiful painting... I envy your audience!
Although I'm more of a Tate Modern lass, I've done my fair share of history of art and Whistler is a favourite.
Not sure if there are many members from London here but I would keep us all updated regarding the dates and times of your talks, should you decide to do more of them. I, for sure, would love to come if it coincides with one of my visits.
Best of luck, you will rock!!!

Wow how great is that I'm sure you be fine and afterwards you'll wonder what you was fretting over
Good Luck for Today. Sue.

I'm sure you'll be fine. Just keep focused on the painting and don't think about yourself - it's the painting, not you people are interested in. I know this sounds sort of obvious, but it's when we think about how we look, how we sound, etc etc that we lose focus and the nerves kick in.

Hi all!!

Just to let you know that my talk on Whistler's Symphony in white n02 went well!! thanks again for all your lovely kind words, i was a bag of nerves to start with but after the initial fear i just carried on and focused on the painting
not sure if i want to do it again but i may just!!

Have a good afternoon everyone and thank you again!!
A smiling but hugely relieved Angie xx

Wish I'd been there - bet you were great!