Freelance humanitarian and travel photographer
A couple of weeks ago I flew home to New Zealand to be the best man for my mate Andy’s wedding. Andy and I have been friends for a long time, and he has become more of a brother than a friend. For this reason, I really wanted to do justice to my best man speech. I have spoken many times in public, and don’t find it too nerve-wracking. I actually enjoy it for the most part. I usually make a few notes before-hand and shoot from the hip once I’m speaking. This time, however, I chose to write the whole thing word-for-word before the big day. I wrote it over a couple of weeks before the wedding, and as I wrote it, I was struck by the similarities between writing a speech and writing a blog-post.
The most obvious similarity is that familiar feeling of having no idea where to start. You have your subject, and maybe a rough idea of what you want to include, but actually putting pen to paper I have always found to be the first hurdle. Once I get going, it’s hard to find the balance between too much and not enough. You want to get your point across as thoroughly as possible, but no one wants to listen to a 20 minute speech or read a 1000-word post.
I follow a lot of blogs, and I have listened to a lot of speeches in my time, and there is one thing that can make or break them: humour. I know some very funny speakers and writers, and they have learned how to use humour in their work very intentionally and very effectively. Most of us aren’t naturally funny. I’m definitely not. My idea of humour is to take the piss out of anything and everything (it’s a Kiwi thing), but that can go all kinds of bad for obvious reasons. There is nothing more awkward or embarrassing than a wedding speech that is trying to be funny, but just isn’t. It sucks for the bride and groom, is sucks for the guests, and guess what; it sucks big-time for the speaker. It’s especially hard to be funny in a blog-post because you don’t have the added interaction of body language, facial expression, or voice.
One obvious difference is this: consequences. I love to blog for a number of reasons. One of which is that I can say what I want about whatever I want without doing too much damage. Of course, some discretion is advised when your blog is read by past, present, or potential clients or colleagues. For the most part, if I make a big boo-boo on one of my blogs, I’ll likely be able to clean up the mess relatively easily. Not so if that boo-boo is made in front of 150 of the bride and groom’s family and friends. Again, I have seen this happen, and it’s painful to watch.
So, what have we learned? 1. If you can write a speech, you can blog, and vice versa. 2. Getting started is hard, but you just have to start writing and the rest will flow. 3. Don’t try to be a funny guy if you know you’re not. And if you think you are, ask someone who will tell you honestly. Like me! 4. Know your audience and think about the potential consequences of what you are saying. 5. Don’t be that guy. No one likes that guy.
I would love to hear any additions or examples of speeches or blog-posts in the comments. Thanks for reading.
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Widescreen theme by Graph Paper Press. All content © 2012 by Rowan Sims | Humanitarian & Travel Photographer
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[...] New Zealand recently. While I was there I had a week to fill in between a couple of jobs, so my best mate Andy and I headed over the Rimutakas to the wonderful Wairarapa for a couple of days. Castle Point is [...]