SouthSound DJ's Blog..

Speeches

I must say that it's been so much fun the past 20 years and I've seen lots of funny things which of course include many thousands of people getting drunk and acting daft over the years but still to this day 1 thing I like to see more than anything is drunk people with helium balloons.

However one thing I always get asked about on the night are tips about making a speeches, especially best man speeches.

I'm sure you have taken part in the helium thing, however making a good speech is a lot tougher than people think, I've seen tough looking men reduced to tears through fear / nerves because they have to speak to a room full of people.

Usually people turn to me for advice before they have to stand up and try and make people laugh, which is half the battle... being expected to make a room full of strangers laugh.

My advice to anyone is when you have your material and have written your speech then practise, practise, practise until you hardly need the speech in front of you anymore but make sure you take it with you to refer to.. Chin up!! - Don't read from it like you are in a school assembly but stick to what you have written or you will start to ramble on.

Gather some funny & embarrassing stories about the groom and don't be afraid to use them as people are expecting you to do so - I've seen the best man use flip charts / projectors to use during their speeches. If you get the speech right then people will be talking about you for years.

Take your time reading and if you make people laugh then pause for a second or two before carrying on.

Also, don't let the nerves make you freeze up, remember that most of the people listening to you would not want to be in your shoes and have a think about if you get heckled what to say back, but usually people at weddings have lots of respect and keep quiet.

Oh and don't get all emotional.. That's the father of the brides job.

Jas (@southsounddisco)