Merry Christmas to ALL!

 

Merry Christmas to All!

This is a wonderful time of year but don't let It become too stressful and overwhelming.

Sometimes, stress comes from not knowing what gift to get someone. Whether it's for a family member, a friend, someone at the office, or a hostess gift, we can place a lot of pressure on ourselves to get the perfect gift. Some of our thoughts may run like this - I like the gift but will they like it? Is it appropriate? Tasteful? Unique? Memorable? Clever? Affordable?

Gift giving is a kind of communication. By giving a gift, you are letting someone know that you are thinking of them, that you care. So, that what you select may reflect on you.

A few times I was more than a little nervous opening a gift from a particular gift-giver. Often, the gift was better left unopened. The lovely wrapping and over-sized bow, guarding the mystery of what was inside.

Once I opened it, the mystery was over. There I was, facing the reality.

A surprise is one thing. A shock is another.

Yes, a gift says you were thinking of them. But, in this case, what were they thinking? Maybe this was really meant for someone else.

Now is the time to employ your training in social etiquette and dust off those old-school manners taught by your mother. If it so happens that you have not benefited from any education in the social graces, it is time to start learning!

Say "thank you", graciously. Make every effort to look and sound like you mean it. Even if you never knew a plastic sequin-studded backscratcher existed. Watch your facial expression - your face can give you away!

Console yourself with the fact that you do not have to keep it. The gift has done its work when it is given. It is perfectly acceptable to return it, donate it, throw it away (later), sell it, lose it, re-purpose it, whatever. Be VERY careful about re-gifting!!!

It can be very humbling to consider that someone might be having the same ideas about your gift! But do not stress about it. Do the best you can. Give with a happy heart and then..

Relax, have a cup of hot chocolate (go ahead and put Bailey's in it!), some homemade cookies and enjoy the season.

Remember the most universally accepted form of communication, crossing all cultural boundaries, withstanding the test of time, available at a second's notice, needing no translation, and costing nothing, is a smile.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

 

Top 7 Strategies for a Dynamic Voice – for Actors!...and YOU!

Whether you are an actor, or toying with the idea of trying out for community theatre, or maybe you are a business person with an upcoming presentation and need more confidence when speaking, this FREE ebook will start you on the right path!

A few simple, helpful, DIY strategies cover some of the prep work actors need to do to improve their speech and take of their vocal image so necessary for their careers, and may be necessary for you.

Although, I wrote this mainly for actors, the strategies can be helpful for anyone who wants some simple DIY tips for improving their speech - right now!

To get your FREE digital copy of Top 7 Strategies for a Dynamic Voice - for Actors!, send your request to:

Info@barringerconsultants.com

or text 248.561.9520

 David Barringer Wins Literary Prize!

My son, David Barringer, won the prestigious Black List Literary Prize for 2025 Unpublished Novel Award in the Horror category. The Black List,(not to be confused with the television series), recently announced the winners of its Unpublished Novel Award. They previously have focused on screenplays and scripts. The winners in each of the seven novel categories will be awarded $10,000.

The following is from The Literary Hub:

"We created the Unpublished Novel Award to do what the Black List has always done: Find exceptional work and tell people about it,” said Black List founder Franklin Leonard in a statement. “The range and quality of these seven manuscripts is a reminder of just how much great work there is in the world that hasn’t yet been discovered. I look forward to seeing these novels on bookshelves and in book readers’ hands imminently.”

"HORROR

A Box Came for You by David Barringer

A Box Came for You is a 65,000-word horror novel about Mitch Siebold, a naïve young man from a troubled Michigan family, who moves to an LA apartment to start a new life when he opens the wrong moving boxes and releases a vengeful spirit bent on his humiliation."

To learn more about Dave Barringer, his fascinating background and prolific writing, here’s the link to his story and his website:

A Box Came for You

https://www.writerdavidbarringer.com/

To read the complete article, please visit:

The Literary Hub

The Black List.

Reading in Public is Different from Speaking in Public - Tip #3

 Speaking or reading aloud in public is not the norm if you are an engineer, a crane operator, a doctor, a pilot, a business owner, a law clerk, a horse trainer, an office manager. Many people have had some experience with some type of public speaking.

Speaking in public is one skill, but reading in front of an audience is quite another.

Someday, someplace, sometime, you will have a situation where you, and only you, will be selected to read an engineering report, a medical paper, a legal document, a formal introduction, a passage from the Scriptures, a dedication, an article from a newspaper or journal. You want to be prepared.

Should you suddenly find yourself in this predicament - needing to read aloud in front of a group of people you don't know (maybe some you do) and not look or sound awful, embarrassing, stupid, vague, unprofessional or, the worst, boring - there are some strategies you should know.

The biggest challenge when reading aloud is that you cannot change or eliminate  any of the words. You have to read what is on the page.

Tip # 3 - Here are a few strategies for Speakers who suddenly have to be Readers...

1. Practice - read the piece aloud and correct any pronunciation errors. Use an online pronouncing dictionary for help.

2. Read your work, do not perform it. You are not an actor. Unless you are, but then, still do not perform unless it's a script, poem, or literary passage.

3. Speak slowly, clearly, and use a microphone if available.

4. Drink plenty of water before the event and have some available while you are reading.

5. Wear comfortable clothing. Do not wear a new outfit or shoes that are too tight, itchy, noisy, or require frequent adjustments.

6. Identify places in the document where you can pause and take a breath. Do this ahead of time. Some of these places are indicated by commas.

7. Stand up straight and take a few deep breaths to relax before you begin.

And don't forget to Smile. Or at least don't frown, grimace, or sneer.

For additional strategies for a truly professional reading, simply contact Barringer Consultants. czbarringer@gmail.com

Jazz Up Your Speech - Part 2

 

By the time we reach adulthood, language researchers estimate we know anywhere from 7,000 to 20,000 words. That’s a lot of words. Unfortunately, we seldom use them all, at least, not on a regular basis.

This means that you already know lots of words. You are probably not using these words as often as you could and in the all the ways that you could. Most people go through the day saying the same things in the same way and only using a small percentage of their active, available, and useable vocabulary.

People rely on tired phrases like, “Where did I put my stuff? I have to get my things.” What did you mean? What stuff, what things? Using the terms stuff and things instead of a more precise term is a way to avoid the work of thinking and over time, you lose access to the words you already know and a good deal of clarity.

A simple and effective way to give more life to your speech is to improve your vocabulary and use more of the words you already know.

Tip #2. Start by eliminating or reducing the number of times you say stuff or things in a day. Simply substitute one of your own words for the vague terms stuff and things.

Pick one, either stuff or things, and focus on substituting a different word for one day, 24 hours. Pick one word, for example stuff, and focus on not saying stuff for one whole day. Use the same strategy for things the next day. (Stuffing the turkey does not count.)

Need help with your presentations, speeches, or podcasts? Contact Barringer Consultants for a FREE Consultation.

5 Ways to Jazz Up Your Speech!

5 Ways to Jazz Up Your Speech 

 I was asked to speak at a college English Composition class specifically on oral presentations. The students were required to give an oral presentation as part of their final and needed a few tips.

So, I just hit a few highlights and in no particular order. One simple strategy bears repeating and maybe going into more detail (just a bit).

Tip #1 - Don’t start your talk, speech, audition, demonstration, presentation, PowerPoint, podcast, video, with an “Ummm…”.

Stand up there, in front of the class, at your desk, at the table, at the podium, on stage, in front of the camera, and say, “Hello,” “Good morning,” “My name is Bill,” “Thanks for coming in this snow storm,” “Turn off your cell phones,” whatever. Just don’t say “Umm….my name is Bill.”

If the first word out of your mouth is "Umm” or “Uhhh”, it sounds like you are not too sure of who you are, where you are, or what you are doing. This also gives the impression that you are totally uncertain of anything including the rest of your presentation.

Speakers, including professionals, can lose focus for a moment and find themselves saying. “Umm…uhh...” at the very beginning of their talk and sometimes in the middle.

“Umm, uhh….” and other fillers, as they are called, actually serve a linguistic function. They are called vocalizations as opposed to verbalizations. Verbalizations are real words. Vocalizations are just sounds. These sounds actually differ from culture to culture. These sounds keep the listener aware of the speaker, keep the listener listening.

If you overuse them, if you let these sounds start wandering around in your speech, you may lose the listener. I have seen audience members start counting how many times the unfortunate speaker said “uhh..ummm." If this happens, as a speaker, you have lost the audience, lost their attention, and perhaps lost your credibility.

It takes work to totally eliminate all fillers from your speech, but the place to start is right at the beginning of your talk.

Let that first word you say be a real word and not just a wandering vocal.

Stay tuned for Tip #2!