birthday speeches - ten tips on what not to say or do
DESCRIPTION
Niamh Crowe is the CEO of the web's leading speech site (ispeeches.com) according to Alexa.com and Ranking.com. Online since 1994, her site has thousands of speeches for every event and occasion including birthdays, weddings, graduations etc. She lives in Ireland where she is married to Fred. The have 5 children.TRANSCRIPT
1. Don't mention age in your birthday speech unless it's a specific birthday that
is being celebrated like a 21st or a 50th. Some people like to celebrate every
birthday but prefer not to have their actual age mentioned.
2. Never tell a rude story. Birthdays are quite often family events and grandma
might be offended whatever about the birthday boy or girl.
3. Don't mention anything embarrassing. The celebrant might not want it known
to his or her guests that he/she has a drink problem and his/her family
might not want it mentioned either.
4. Never talk about deceased family or friends in your birthday speech unless the
guest of honor does or it is appropriate to say that the deceased is surely
there in spirit. Sometimes grief is still raw and it is better to leave such
mentions unsaid rather than upset anyone at the party.
5. Don't mention sad events. Birthday speeches should be upbeat and optimistic.
There may be exceptions, of course, but unless you are sure it is better to
avoid anything that might awaken sad memories.
6. Don't try to be too funny. Comedians are people with excellent timing and
training. Most of us cannot write witty speeches and certainly cannot deliver
them. It's better to be light-hearted and genuine rather than trying to write a
script suitable for a TV comedy hour.
7. Don't call the celebrant by a pet name if it is an intimate one between you. A
husband might not want all the guys in the football team to know you call him
cuddly bear! Your son would be hugely embarrassed to be called mummy's
baby boy. It's alright of course to call him Pat instead of Patrick.
8. Your birthday speech should not offend anyone in any way. So you don't say
that John's friends are only there for the free bar. It may be true in a few
cases but you should never insult guests.
9. In your birthday speech, don't mention things the guests don't know about or
understand. If you have a secret joke with the celebrant keep it secret or
explain to the guests the background to your story.
10. Don't write reams. Birthdays are social occasions and people want to party not
listen to your rambling on for twenty minutes. Three or four minutes would be
more appropriate:
Keep it short
When you have the floor
You'll wow the guests
Have them shouting – More
Niamh Crowe
Copyright Speechwriters 1994-2007
Tel. +353 1 8333599
Website: http://ispeeches.com