Why You Should Always Record Your Speeches
There used to be an elderly woman in my Toastmasters club who recorded our speeches.
Her name was Sue.
She’d come early, set up the equipment, and record with diligence.
Then she would upload the videos on YouTube.
A lot of the other members asked:
‘Why are you recording these speeches? No one is watching them.’
Sue’s response was:
‘Maybe the speakers will one day want to watch them.’
That was all the logic that she needed.
A few years go by, and I start the ArmaniTalks YouTube channel.
I would post videos consistently.
But you know…
Life happens.
There were certain days I didn’t have an idea for a video.
What should I do?
That’s when I thought of Sue.
I thought:
‘Hm…maybe I should post one of my old school speeches on the ArmaniTalks YouTube channel. It’ll be a nice flashback.’
I surfed the internet and found Sue’s channel.
Flashback indeed!
The first thing I felt was a wave of cringe.
I couldn’t believe I was that bad!!
But then, I felt joy.
Because as I was comparing those old-school clips to recent clips, I thought:
‘Wow, the delivery is night and day.’
I wished I recorded more speeches throughout my journey.
Nowadays, I do my best to record speeches.
I want to share why you should too.
Why You Should Record Your Speeches
A lot of times, we gave a great talk but our emotions make us think that we gave a bad talk.
The opposite is also true.
We think we did a great job, but when we watch the content back… the delivery was piss poor.
The camera doesn’t discriminate.
It gives a peak into the real you.
I believe you should record your speeches because it takes the emotions out of it.
Another Reason You Should Record Your Speech
Another reason you should record your speeches is because it puts the emotions in it.
This is what I call the nostalgia effect.
When we feel a connection with something, we increase our concentration.
An increased concentration allows our nervous system to rapidly process & store new information.
When I look back at Sue’s channel, I saw the 2016 Armani.
I saw the work badge that was hanging on my waist.
That badge reminds me of my past job.
I’m dressed nicely for that talk, not because I dressed up for the speech, but because I just got off work.
I got off work at 5 pm and drove to the meeting location. I arrived at 5:45 pm, but the meeting starts at 7 pm. So, I have 1 hour & 15 minutes to kill. There was a cold office room where I could relax and get work done. There was a Pollo Tropical nearby if I was hungry.
All those memories came flooding back.
Nostalgia was in the air.
I can now empathize with this creature that I see on the screen.
Empathizing allows me to give critiques without feeling guilty.
‘OK Armani, you’re looking a little too much at the floor, but the content of your speech is really good. How about for your next speech, you look up more?’
Even though everything I am noticing happened 5 years ago, it doesn’t matter.
Once my emotions connect with the past Armani…
The lessons of the past beautifully intertwine with the present.
My nervous system is downloading the lessons.
I won’t be looking at the floor again.
How to Record Your Speeches
To record speeches, we have the formal way and the informal way.
I have a friend who started his career as a motivational speaker.
Whenever he gets booked to give a talk, he hires an audio guy and 2 cameramen.
This is the formal method.
- Pro: The video quality is top-tier.
- Con: You need money.
The informal method is to give your phone to an audience member and have them record.
Or you can angle your phone on a book and record it yourself.
- Pro: Recording can be done with ease.
- Con: Production quality won’t be as good.
Quick Disclaimer
One time, I was an emcee for an event.
The event coordinator said, no recording was allowed.
I asked the event coordinator:
‘Hey, I’d like to record myself throughout the event. Do you think we can make an exception?’
He said:
‘Sorry, can’t allow that. The participants in this event don’t want to be recorded.’
I never knew a concept like that existed.
But it is a rule for plenty of events.
As a speaker, be aware of this, so you don’t find yourself in a frivoulous lawsuit.
With that being said, I understand the mindset of a renegade speaker:
‘I rather beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.’
If that’s your strategy, I’m not hating on that!
Aristotle in Awe
Imagine Aristotle just got done giving a speech.
His manager comes to him after the talk and says:
‘Aristotle. The first half was great, but the second half was flat. Let me show you.’
Then the manager pulls out an iPad to show Aristotle his speech.
In shock, Aristotle asks:
‘What the hell is that?’
The manager says:
‘I said I was going to show you the second half of your speech.’
Still in shock, Aristotle grabs the iPad and asks:
‘No, what the hell is this??’
The manager gives Aristotle a brief class on information technology and proceeds to give his feedback.
Aristotle says:
‘From here on out, record every speech!! After the speech, come to my office with this iPad and we will analyze the talk.’
Aristotle understood that seeing yourself talk is mind-blowing.
In terms of history, seeing yourself talk is a new phenomenon.
In the initial stages, the brain is going to be like:
‘Please make this torture stop! I am used to seeing life through 1st perspective, not 3rd.’
Stick with it.
Keep watching yourself back on tape.
Take what works & discard what doesn’t.
Watch your evolution in real-time.
For more insights into public speaking, be sure to check out my book, Speaking Wizard!
