Short live-stream segment by TJ Walker offering advice on pronouncing names correctly during public speaking events (award shows, ceremonies). Walker shares personal anecdotes—botching names at Miss Serbia and referencing John Travolta’s high-profile mistake—emphasizes preparing pronunciation ahead of time (use Google’s pronunciation audio), and invites viewers to ask questions or take a free public-speaking course at mediatrainingworldwide.com.
Chapters
When it comes to public speaking at major award shows, ceremonies, the names are often more important than what you say. Here's the problem, folks. You can be articulate, poised, confident and comfortable. If you botch somebody's name at an award show, a ceremony, people will remember it, they'll talk about it. Trust me. Just look at John Travolta and how he thoroughly butchered an actress's name at an awards ceremony a couple of years ago. It was humiliating, embarrassing to him, all involved, and people are still talking about it. And I would tell you whose name he botched, but I'm afraid I would botch your name. But I don't want to make matters worse. Now, I can tell you this has happened to me before. I say this without any pride. It was embarrassing, but I was called out on stage. I was in Serbia and I was a judge at the Miss Serbia beauty pageant. I was brought out on stage to announce the semi finalists. I had worked with them all. I knew how to pronounce their names, but I couldn't look at it and read it and pronounce it in the Serbian language. I was handed the list and it was like, oh, no. Thankfully, the emcee could see that, pulled it out of my hands, didn't comment on it and read the names, and I was able to do a nice wave. I don't think many people noticed it, but it was embarrassing. I blundered. I should have taken the time to really figure out exactly how to say and pronounce each name, written some sort of pronunciation guide to myself. So. So I wasn't trying to learn a new language or do anything fancy in front of people. When you're in front of thousands of people and on live national tv, worst possible time to try to put a new skill into place. So I blundered. It was a little embarrassing. I hope that doesn't happen to you. I think John Travolta is going to be much better prepared the next time he's announcing a winner for anything. So please don't just coast. Don't just make the mistake I did, which is I'm a confident speaker. Make sure you know exactly how to say those names. By the way, for anyone in the news, a lot, you just type their name in Google with the word pronounce and typically you'll find a nice little audio file that will say it out loud and you can hear it. So there's really no excuse because it can typically be done in 15 seconds or less. If you have any questions on pronouncing denunciations and issues like this around ceremonies. Let me know. Post your questions right here. Whether you're watching this on Facebook, YouTube or any other forum, I'll try to answer the best I can. If you have other questions about public speaking, send them to infoediatrainingworldwide.com I'll answer them in a video or post them right here. Also, if you'd like a free course on public speaking training, Please go to mediatrainingworldwide.com and sign up for the free online public speaking course today.
