Writing a speech that sizzles

Part of the secret of writing a good speech for someone else is to become that person.

Over the past few years Dougie Oakes has been a Premier of the Western Cape, at least four MECs, a business woman and a member of a university council.

Preparation is important – and so the first thing he sets up with first-time clients is a ‘face-to-face’ (although this is not always possible).

Says Oakes: ‘In the time it takes to finish a cup of coffee and the last of the Romany Creams, I’d want to have the answers to the following questions: Is he a Barack Obama – or a Jacob Zuma? Is she a Lynne Brown – or a Patricia de Lille?

‘Does he come across like a friendly uncle – or a fire-and-brimstone preacher? Does she speak quickly or slowly? Will he follow the script to the last jot and tittle? Can she adapt what she’s saying according to her audience? They’re very basic questions, really – but important nonetheless.

‘Generally, I’d jot down my impressions in between compiling a list of content ideas (in bullet point form). And, of course, I’d ask questions about the expected audience.’

Now, about getting down to writing that speech.

We love weaving stories into the speeches we write – and we believe that audiences love listening to these stories, and will therefore love listening to everything the speechmaker might say.

That’s what we try convincing them, anyway….

View some examples of speeches we have previously written:

• Smashing the Glass Ceiling – July 2008.
  Speaker: Beryl Kerr
• International Housing Conference – October 2008.
  Speaker Lynne Brown
• Opening of Nelson Mandela’s Bishop’s Court Museum – August 2008.
  Speaker: Lynne Brown
• District Six Museum’s ‘Fields of Dreams’ Project – October 2008.
  Speaker: Garth Strachan
• Launch of the Cape Music Industry Commission – September 2008.
  Speaker: Lynne Brown
• Proudly Manenberg’s Second Annual Conference – September 2007.
  Speaker: Marius Fransman
• Address to De Vrije Zee Primary School Learners – October 2008.
  Speaker: Lynne Brown
• Launch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Green Goal Action Plan – October 2008.
  Speaker: Lynne Brown

Do you need a powerful, memorable speech written? Then contact Dougie Oakes Communications today.