Why the red coat?
The English Toastmasters Association offers the toastmaster training courses UK based people need to expand their skills.
Toastmaster training courses UK from a dedicated Association
When you think about Toastmasters the first image that comes to mind may be the red coat. This is a good thing because the individuals holding the role are designed to stand out and wear the coats for that exact reason. The history of the garment is very interesting and the story has helped to add a great deal of prestige to it. We are proud to share it here.
When you think about toastmasters the first image that comes to mind may be the red coat. This is a good thing because the individuals holding the role are designed to stand out and wear the coats for that exact reason. The history of the garment is very interesting and the story has helped to add a great deal of prestige to it. We are proud to share it here.
The very first toastmaster to wear a long red coat was William Knightsmith. He chose it in 1894 after becoming increasingly frustrated at being confused as a waiter when he was working at events and wearing his black coat.
Initially other toastmasters thought the idea was a little eccentric. William Knightsmith was even originally dissuaded from continuing to wear his red coat when he heard the Prince of Wales commenting on it. He moved back to his black coat but at another event just a week later the Prince of Wales said he was sorry to see Knightsmith not wearing the red one. He quickly changed and received a great deal of applause when he re-entered the hall.
Since then the long red coat has carried a huge amount of prestige. William Knightsmith even commented over a century ago that toastmasters have become expected to wear one to ensure they are easily distinguished from other guests and staff at meetings. The garment is a sign of the role and sets the toastmaster aside, marking them as an important functionary but not one of the guests.
At The English Toastmasters Association we understand how symbolic the red coat is and instil this in everybody who comes to us for training. We preserve the history of the garment and ensure it remains a sign of a professional, highly skilled toastmaster.
If you are thinking about taking up a role and want to expand your skills and knowledge we offer the best toastmaster training UK based people can take. Please get in touch to find out more or have a look at our website.
We have so many testimonials from delighted members regarding their training courses. We value all feedback because this helps us to continually update our information and the way that it is delivered for the benefit of our members.
Monday 27th February e-mail
Hi Richard
I would just like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you for the 3 days of training.
You tailored the course to meet my personal needs and gave lots of practical and real examples that will be useful on my journey to be an excellent toastmaster.
I was very touched that you were even prepared to help me in making sure that I have the right uniform and all at the right size.
I know that you were not feeling well but you did not cancel on me and kept driving yourself through to make sure my training was completed.
The quality of the training, the handouts, the ladies song CD and my framed certificates are all there for me to remember an excellent 3 days of training.
Thank you
Sonal Dave
A testimonial and follow up second testimonial and thank you letter from one of our members about his toastmaster training course.
Dear Linda and Richard, May I thank you both very much for your kind welcome, hospitality and for looking after me for the past three days. It was a pleasure to spend time in your company and that of your friends. I look forward to a lasting and productive friendship.
Coming from a military background my previous training environments have usually been more formal and rigid in structure. I actually enjoyed the informal, relaxed approach of this course as the “lessons” were conducted in a more conversational format. I can actually reflect on those conversations we had as they are more memorable than PowerPoint presentations etc. I will now use my couple of days ‘off work’ to reflect on these discussions and put them into a meaningful and structured format.
As I explained to Linda yesterday, I expected to walk away from the course with a detailed plan of how all weddings worked and the part each person had to play in them. This was obviously very naïve of me, as I now realise there is no set format for any of these occasions. Tuesday night with the couple in Ipswich was an important example of the need for careful questioning and understanding when dealing with clients. Many of my interview training techniques came flooding back.
I have no negative comments from the past three days. You explained by example and experience so I now have many of ‘your’ experiences to reflect on whilst, hopefully, being employed as a toastmaster. Linda the talk-through of a wedding from start to finish on Wednesday was extremely useful and enabled me to consolidate much of what I had learned, thank you.
I have enjoyed good accommodation, good training and excellent company. Good luck to you both and thanks again. Best Wishes, Dave Parker. Somerset.
A Follow up letter after nearly a year on from David's Toastmaster Training Course arrived with us and we are very pleased to share this.
Dear Richard & Linda, I hope you are both well and the sun is shining in Essex. As I have been with you for coming up to 12 months (and I assume my renewal will shortly be in the post) I thought it only appropriate to drop you a line.
I am now doing toastmaster and ceremonies full time having recently resigned from the registration service (a long story which I won’t bore you with). I had my first two ceremonies back in April and I was surprised just how much of what you told me stuck in my thick head.
My first wedding was a Muslim wedding with about 450 Asian guests. I think they call it a baptism of fire. I was run ragged for about 10 hours and still kept smiling at the end.
My second was a Gypsy wedding with about 300 guests, most of whom just wanted to sit outside smoking all day.
Anyway I got through them and currently have another 10 confirmed over the next 12 months. A couple of hotels have taken me under their wing and have asked me to be their toastmaster for high end weddings.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you both for all the tips and tricks you gave me 12 months ago, they really worked. Look after yourselves and hopefully see you soon. Kind regards, Dave Parker
Toastmaster Training Courses - Testimonials
Here are a few recent comments about our toastmaster training on a one to one basis, but I will put up some more stunning comments over the next few weeks.
I just want to take a moment to say THANK YOU. I cannot believe the number of you who took the time to like my post about becoming a member of the English Toastmasters Association. Many of you left me wonderful comments. The calls, texts, WhatsApp messages and the wedding and events teams who have offered to take me onto their books. It is this kind of support that can help anyone take on new challenges.
Thank you 
😊
There were 398 comments from people on Facebook to get Sonal off to a great start.
Is making announcements the only requirement for a Toastmaster?
The English Toastmasters Association helps people learn the essential and advanced skills that they will need to be a successful toastmaster during their toastmaster training course
Toastmaster training that teaches more than just running an event to time.
At the English Toastmasters Association, we tend to receive a number of questions and queries about our toastmaster training. It really is always a pleasure to answer them, as we firmly believe that the value of knowledge is measured by how it is used and shared. With this in mind, we'd like to spend some time in this article looking at one of the more frequent questions that arises.
If you were to ask someone what the most distinguishing features of a good toastmaster are, we would be surprised if the answer was anything other than they must have a strong, confident and authoritative way about them, and work with a very kind attitude. This is, of course, quite the correct answer to both give and to expect.
It could well be the case that we are stating the obvious, but being able to run an event with strength and confidence is an absolutely vital, non-negotiable skill required by anyone wishing to be a toastmaster. The question we are asked on top of this, however, is whether or not any other skills or abilities are as vital.
Our answer to the above is yes, very much so. The duties and responsibilities of a toastmaster go some considerable distance beyond the requirement to make formal announcements, introductions and run events to a time schedule. To fulfil the role, the individual must have impeccable organisational skills and second to none leadership abilities. How successful an event goes, invariably hinges on how they perform their designated functions.
The purpose of our toastmaster training is to provide you with the skills and abilities required to support your talent for taking care of everyone attending an event. Your exceptional, extrovert ability to speak with confidence at events makes you an ideal candidate for the role, but it is not enough in itself. On our course you will learn the important traditions of the role, and further how to handle both the organisation and administration side of your clients’ requirements.
Being able to confidently take care of people in public and at events is quite a talent. Our training courses will enable you to transform this talent into a highly rewarding profession.
Is being a Toastmaster an opportunity for all?
The English Toastmasters Association work hard to offer the very best toastmaster training courses, delivering professional help and support.
Our Toastmaster training courses are open to everybody
Let us be very honest about modern life. We are fortunate to live in a time when we've never been more aware of the importance of respecting matters of gender, ethnicity and lifestyle. I would hope that each of us would agree that our society is much better for this being the case.
As progressive as our world is and as a consequence of the above, there are still some aspects and functions of life which tend to be associated only with very specific people. To carry on with an honest and open approach to discussing this, the role of a toastmaster is not excluded from this association. When people picture an individual in the role it is quite common for them to think it is fulfilled by Englishmen alone.
I am to say that this is not the case at all. We are phenomenally proud of the fact that the door to our toastmaster training courses is - and always has been - open to all. To place any sort of limit or restriction on who may become or take on the role of the toastmaster, would, to us, go against the very tradition and function of our industry.
It would go against the very nature of our open and understanding society to single out any of the many different people we have provided toastmaster training for. What we believe to be of the greatest importance is to emphasise the fact that the ability to take on the role is an opportunity truly open to all. If you have a passion for organisation and caring for people and wish to learn how to transform this into a profession then you can - with our training, guidance and support.
We'd like to close this article by highlighting how the common - perhaps stereotypical - perception of a Toastmaster is in fact an advantage. If everyone, quite innocently, expects an English male, it can be quite the conversation piece and point of attraction when this transpires to not be the case.
Ultimately, being successful in the role is not about who you are, but what you can do in terms of the service that you provide for your clients. Our toastmaster training enables you to flourish and build a reputation for excellence within this most prestigious profession.
Top tips for up and coming toastmasters
The English Toastmasters Association is the place to be if you are looking for top quality toastmaster training courses
Our Toastmaster training courses include many useful tips
Not everyone is naturally comfortable with working as a toastmaster or master of ceremonies, but that doesn't mean you can't learn. To assist people in building their abilities in these fields, we host an array of exceptional toastmaster training courses. No matter the occasion, we will work with you in order to make certain that you are as prepared as you can be.
It's only normal that toastmasters become excited before a big event, especially those new to the profession, as it may be an unfamiliar experience. Even some of the top toastmasters today started out shaking prior to their events. By following a series of guidelines however, you shall soon become more confident in your skills.
To begin with, the transition from a client briefing to your itinerary whilst you are preparing for an event may be dealt with more comfortably by working as follows;- Instead of thinking of your event as a large and complicated agenda, to be unfolded in front of an audience, consider it a normal event, like a play in a theatre with special times for scenes, rather than looking at the event as a whole. Write out a complete initial draft and read it repeatedly until everything begins to sink in. Afterwards, check and check again to make sure that you are familiar with your client's wishes.
Be sure to utilise your program as well as your notes and write down about four or five bullet points which summarise the primary aspects of the whole event. This is much better than just using the program alone. Notes should be thought of as simply a means to help jog your memory and keep you on the right track if you ever end up stuck. However by spending the right amount of time on the planning, you should be well prepared for the event with contingency plans, just in case.
At the English Toastmasters Association we work hard to teach people great tricks as well as the skills they need to fill the role. With our courses at your disposal, becoming the next best toastmaster will be an easier, more enjoyable feat. Our basic courses last for three days and can be either successive or individual depending on your preferences.
If our toastmaster training courses interest you and you'd like additional information, feel free to contact us.
Toastmaster training with the English Toastmasters Association is the start a great career for the right person
Toastmaster training is never finished - you are always learning
When people contact us they commonly want to know why we so boldly claim that we offer toastmaster training courses that you will find great value in. We are more than happy to answer this and explain all about what our training courses entails.
Surprise is quite often the most popular reaction to the fact that our standard course is just three days in length. This is very easy to understand, as it just does not seem practical to be able to learn absolutely everything about what the role entails within such a short space of time.
It is quite correct to reach this conclusion. Your training with us should not be seen as a one-stop, self-contained occurrence. It is rather the beginning of being a part of our organisation and joining our profession with ongoing learning included in the membership fees.
The role of the toastmaster is one which has evolved over many, many years. It would be no exaggeration to say hundreds. To suggest that anyone, no matter how naturally gifted or talented they are, could learn all there is to know about being a toastmaster or master of ceremonies within a set number of days would be terribly misleading. We are indeed aware that certain organisations do make this bold claim. Our professionalism, however, means that we would much rather concentrate on the positives of what we do than the negatives of others.
We offer toastmaster training courses that UK based people will really appreciate and also have members in other countries and members that have and will travel to most parts of the world to look after our clients. They provide you with the perfect understanding of the role. Our world class sessions give you the knowledge and insights you will require to act as toastmaster or Master of Ceremonies at any form of function or event.
We will show you the ways in which your natural abilities will be added to with skills related to the control, management and administration of the various functions where you shall serve as the toastmaster.
After taking our main toastmaster training course, you are very welcome to join our highly respected association. It is in doing so that you come to better appreciate that the training itself is an introduction rather than a conclusion. We provide continuous support, updates and understanding to all our members, within our membership fees, to allow you a continuous career development path, one that embraces the traditions and prestige of what it is to be a toastmaster, with backup and comradeship as we carry on learning together.
Seven Cs Toastmasters should be aware of
Communication skills are very important for people who take on the role of a Toastmaster. Without them they may struggle to perform their duties. We strive to help develop these skills when we offer our training courses.
To help you develop your skills here are seven Cs that you should be comfortable with.
1. Clarity - Clear communication is important, especially when it comes to an understanding of the client's needs. Before the event you should ensure you understand the messages that our clients are trying to get across. Think about the purpose of your work and ensure you remained focused on it.
2. Concise - Being side tracked may be a big problem when it comes to running events. There may be someone that needs some help and is looking for a friend. It can result in the order of the schedule getting behind if focus is lost. It is always better to be aware that the agenda for the event takes priority and going off on a tangent is not advisable.
3. Concrete - If you are using details and facts about the running order, you need to make sure they are correct. The last thing you want is to look poorly prepared and the timings can be lost if the details are incorrect. You also run the risk of losing the guest's confidence, particularly if they have a good knowledge of the usual order of events.
4. Coherent - Every announcement should make sense; if it does not you will leave the guests confused. All of the points you make should be relevant. The whole message should be consistent and flow properly so people understand what you are saying and the next course of action.
5. Complete - When you make an announcement, you should take it to completion were your audience understand the point that you are putting over. A message is completed when all relevant points are made and people understand the purpose of that announcement.
6. Courteous - Courtesy is very important, regardless of the event you are working at. You should communicate in an open, friendly manner, be empathetic, and avoid inappropriate tone. Killing people with kindness is always the way to go.
7. Creativity - Being creative with how you work and how you deliver your services is a great way to win new clients and keep existing clients happy. When making announcements the content, and how you put it over, is very important if you want to get the best results for your clients. You should be confident in expressing yourself and able to ensure you work in the way and the manner that suits your clients.
At the English Toastmaster Association we strive to offer the very best training for people who want to take on the role of the toastmaster. We work hard to ensure our courses deliver the best value, making them as comprehensive and useful as possible. This is one of the reasons why we are the best choice for toastmaster training courses.
Adding an impressive skill to your repertoire after your toastmaster training.
The English Toastmasters Association has a fantastic reputation in our field, making us the best choice for training to be a Toastmaster.
An eye-catching skill to learn after completing toastmaster training, to give you another edge.
A skill that some toastmasters possess is the art of sabrage. This is the act of opening a bottle of champagne with a sabre or sword. The French began this practice of sabering over two hundred years ago, with some believing it became popular amongst the armies of Napoleon. It has subsequently spread around the world and is performed at various events including weddings.
At the English Toastmasters Association we are committed to providing the very best toastmaster training in the world. We have a big passion for this and enjoy a wonderful reputation. Although we don't teach sabrage on our three day courses many of our members do learn the skill at a later date. It can become a very impressive string to their bow.
There are a number of important functions to the art of sabrage. Firstly the champagne needs to be properly chilled in a fridge. If the bottle is too warm the bottle may shatter, creating a lot of mess and waste.
Holding the bottle safely is very important. Placing the thumb of the non-sword hand in the indent (or punt) on the base of the bottle helps to keep it stable.
An important part of this art is to follow one of the two seams up the side of the bottle. You can follow this to the collar of the neck, ensuring you strike in the right place and in the right way. This is the weak spot of the bottle and it should only take a relatively small amount of force to take off the annulus or neck of the bottle, sending the cork and the collar flying.
Many people find it surprising that the sabre or sword used in sabrage is not sharp. Generally only the tip is and the rest of the blade is blunted. This actually makes it safer. The force of the blunt blade opens the bottle whilst reducing the risk of the whole thing shattering. A sharp blade is not necessary for this act.
Sabrage looks great at events and is one skill you may want to look into learning after you complete our Toastmaster Training Course. You can find out more about the courses we offer on our website and see exactly why we stand out as the best provider in the UK.
To learn more about our Toastmaster training, please get in touch.
Tips from the 'best Association for Toastmasters' that look after our clients at all types of events
The English Toastmasters Association has a fantastic reputation and standing for the quality and value of our toastmaster training.
Ongoing Toastmaster training will boost your skills.
Toastmasters can face a big task in remembering all that they are planning to do for our client at an event. A simple change can make all the difference to our client though.
We have some of the best documentation in the business which helps our members to understand our client's needs. It also helps us to stay on top of our work as we know exactly what is needed at every stage of our client's event.
After-all, trying so hard not to let something slip can result in a great deal of stress and anxiety, if it is not managed correctly, but we record every stage of our client's events to make sure that they run like clockwork.
It is important to visualise every aspect of our client's event positively, rather than letting the potential of forgetting any aspect of the event be a distraction. This focus coupled with the correct documentation in place means that our toastmasters have covered just about every angle and the likelihood of anything not quite working out is drastically reduced.
On top of this we understand the importance of using non-verbal communication in the right way. Hand gestures, poses, correct eye-contact, and even standing in the right place at the right time all help to make an event run smoothly.
It is better to use these ways and gestures to complement and enhance an event with the least distraction to its smooth running
At the English Toastmaster Association we work hard to prepare our members to be the best toastmasters that they can be.
This is the focus of our three day training courses.
We work hard so that our members will develop their skills during their time on the course and we will support them going forward to ensure they never stop learning and developing. We have found from experience that this is a key point to their future success.
If you are interested in toastmaster training, we are confident you will not find a company with a better reputation or a bigger commitment to providing the very best value, long term.
We stand out from our competitors in a number of ways, including the fact that we work hard to stay current. On top of this we are in support of on-going training and development, offering regular sessions for our members so they never get complacent.
To learn more about our toastmaster training, please get in touch.
Call Richard Palmer now on 07971 409977 for a friendly discussion or more information.
Working in the wedding industry
I am very pleasantly surprised to find a really professional attitude and approach to the wedding business, but it appears to be by only a very small number of companies.
Some people understand networking, but strategic alliances take a lot of working at and need deeper knowledge and care. There is so much to be gained from spending time with the right people so that knowledge may be shared and working partnerships formed with non competitive professions in our business.
I enjoy learning from the professionals in our business. It does not matter what other professions we are working with, it will serve us well to get to know how to give them the best level of help and to make sure that they are able to furnish our mutual clients with the best possible results. The business of giving our clients the best possible help, advice and service is what we are about. Any time that you can spend with our colleagues in the other professions, will be justly rewarded with a higher level of knowledge that you can use for helping them to achieve higher levels of service and results for our mutual clients. To work in harmony with our colleagues will enhance your relationship with them and help to create a true understanding of what our work is about.
I am truly amazed that there are some more people out there that also care for their clients to the same demanding standards that we at the English Toastmasters Association try to work to. To some people their work is just a job. Our work should be a passion for excellence and this will show when you are working with or helping anyone around you. If you do not feel the passion - you are in the wrong line of work!!!!!!!
There is a difference between doing a job and being passionate about excellent client service. When you are passionate about making your clients feel special and about being the best in the business, the satisfaction obtained from each job is much higher.
One of our members
came over earlier in the week to discuss moving our services to an even higher level. I need all of our members to give me feed back about how they see the English Toastmasters Association, in terms of gaining greater awareness from potential clients. Why are we so different from other Associations? We aim to be more professional in our approach to potential new members and our clients. We focus's on our clients needs and look for the best ways to meet those needs with a wow factor. We are passionate about our work and about learning and growing together. We share our experiences and our knowledge to help each other progress. There is a great deal of satisfaction in sharing knowledge and all growing together. There is also cover for each other, if ever there should be an issue about looking after clients. Our clients should all have total peace of mind when using a member of The English Toastmasters Association, safe in the knowledge that we all care about each other and our clients.
Thank you Iain Wagstaff for your time on Wednesday (Wednesday 14th May 2008) ( iainwagstaff.co.uk ). Iain is a very kind and gentleman who is a real pleasure to work with. The DVD's that he produces are absolutely top notch quality and Iain was very kind to me during a wedding that we worked at on Sunday 6th April at Parklands, Quendon. It was great to find out just how passionate Iain is about his work and getting the video just right for his clients. He dresses in a suit when working and is very unobtrusive. The fly on the wall approach.
This is only a short start to our blog page, but I will make the time to get as much useful and helpful information here as possible. Please do not hold back with your comments, I am always willing to learn.
I have had a comment about not belonging to the Toastmasters General Council and why we are not a member. The most useful thing about the TGC from discussions with other members, is the £5,000,000.00 Public Liability Insurance that they are able to provide. We have this insurance as a group from a major insurance broker and they are pleased to extend this insurance to a higher lever for any members that would like to make use of this facility. The brokers are also willing to offer advantageous terms to our members for any other insurance services that they offer. For our members, please see the members area for full details of these offers.
Excellent news.
Quality is appreciated, and we are getting an influx of excellent quality enquiries from potential new toastmasters who will be very client focused.
I have to rush now as I am off to the Royal Chace near Enfield to meet up with one of our members to learn more about Jewish functions.
Now 19.05hrs on Friday 16th May 2008. Back from the meeting. my colleague has a real passion for his work. He loves to work for brides on their wedding day, and he puts his heart into it. Thank you for your help, advice and professionalism, and for the couple.
Since writing my previous comments, i have found that some brides and potential clients may like to see some testimonials. Most of our members have loads but have not realised that they may influence potential new clients as to the quality of the services that we deliver. I have persuaded some of our members to let me put a few of their excellent testimonials on our site, on their member's pages.
We are seeing more members go through their training and join our association. Quality of service delivery is a prime consideration for potential new members. A good way to determine the quality of service delivered by our members is from their client testimonials. Please do not hold back on letting me have any testimonials for your members pages.
Very best wishes everyone
Richard Palmer
We have so many testimonials from delighted members regarding their training courses. We value all feedback because this helps us to continually update our information and the way that it is delivered for the benefit of our members.
Monday 27th February e-mail
Hi Richard
I would just like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you for the 3 days of training.
You tailored the course to meet my personal needs and gave lots of practical and real examples that will be useful on my journey to be an excellent toastmaster.
I was very touched that you were even prepared to help me in making sure that I have the right uniform and all at the right size.
I know that you were not feeling well but you did not cancel on me and kept driving yourself through to make sure my training was completed.
The quality of the training, the handouts, the ladies song CD and my framed certificates are all there for me to remember an excellent 3 days of training.
Thank you
Sonal Dave
A testimonial and follow up second testimonial and thank you letter from one of our members about his toastmaster training course.
Dear Linda and Richard, May I thank you both very much for your kind welcome, hospitality and for looking after me for the past three days. It was a pleasure to spend time in your company and that of your friends. I look forward to a lasting and productive friendship.
Coming from a military background my previous training environments have usually been more formal and rigid in structure. I actually enjoyed the informal, relaxed approach of this course as the “lessons” were conducted in a more conversational format. I can actually reflect on those conversations we had as they are more memorable than PowerPoint presentations etc. I will now use my couple of days ‘off work’ to reflect on these discussions and put them into a meaningful and structured format.
As I explained to Linda yesterday, I expected to walk away from the course with a detailed plan of how all weddings worked and the part each person had to play in them. This was obviously very naïve of me, as I now realise there is no set format for any of these occasions. Tuesday night with the couple in Ipswich was an important example of the need for careful questioning and understanding when dealing with clients. Many of my interview training techniques came flooding back.
I have no negative comments from the past three days. You explained by example and experience so I now have many of ‘your’ experiences to reflect on whilst, hopefully, being employed as a toastmaster. Linda the talk-through of a wedding from start to finish on Wednesday was extremely useful and enabled me to consolidate much of what I had learned, thank you.
I have enjoyed good accommodation, good training and excellent company. Good luck to you both and thanks again. Best Wishes, Dave Parker. Somerset.
A Follow up letter after nearly a year on from David's Toastmaster Training Course arrived with us and we are very pleased to share this.
Dear Richard & Linda, I hope you are both well and the sun is shining in Essex. As I have been with you for coming up to 12 months (and I assume my renewal will shortly be in the post) I thought it only appropriate to drop you a line.
I am now doing toastmaster and ceremonies full time having recently resigned from the registration service (a long story which I won’t bore you with). I had my first two ceremonies back in April and I was surprised just how much of what you told me stuck in my thick head.
My first wedding was a Muslim wedding with about 450 Asian guests. I think they call it a baptism of fire. I was run ragged for about 10 hours and still kept smiling at the end.
My second was a Gypsy wedding with about 300 guests, most of whom just wanted to sit outside smoking all day.
Anyway I got through them and currently have another 10 confirmed over the next 12 months. A couple of hotels have taken me under their wing and have asked me to be their toastmaster for high end weddings.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you both for all the tips and tricks you gave me 12 months ago, they really worked. Look after yourselves and hopefully see you soon. Kind regards, Dave Parker
Toastmaster Training Courses - Testimonials
Here are a few recent comments about our toastmaster training on a one to one basis, but I will put up some more stunning comments over the next few weeks.
I just want to take a moment to say THANK YOU. I cannot believe the number of you who took the time to like my post about becoming a member of the English Toastmasters Association. Many of you left me wonderful comments. The calls, texts, WhatsApp messages and the wedding and events teams who have offered to take me onto their books. It is this kind of support that can help anyone take on new challenges.
Thank you 😊
There were 398 comments from people on Facebook to get Sonal off to a great start.
Is making announcements the only requirement for a Toastmaster?
The English Toastmasters Association helps people learn the essential and advanced skills that they will need to be a successful toastmaster during their toastmaster training course
Toastmaster training that teaches more than just running an event to time.
At the English Toastmasters Association, we tend to receive a number of questions and queries about our toastmaster training. It really is always a pleasure to answer them, as we firmly believe that the value of knowledge is measured by how it is used and shared. With this in mind, we'd like to spend some time in this article looking at one of the more frequent questions that arises.
If you were to ask someone what the most distinguishing features of a good toastmaster are, we would be surprised if the answer was anything other than they must have a strong, confident and authoritative way about them, and work with a very kind attitude. This is, of course, quite the correct answer to both give and to expect.
It could well be the case that we are stating the obvious, but being able to run an event with strength and confidence is an absolutely vital, non-negotiable skill required by anyone wishing to be a toastmaster. The question we are asked on top of this, however, is whether or not any other skills or abilities are as vital.
Our answer to the above is yes, very much so. The duties and responsibilities of a toastmaster go some considerable distance beyond the requirement to make formal announcements, introductions and run events to a time schedule. To fulfil the role, the individual must have impeccable organisational skills and second to none leadership abilities. How successful an event goes, invariably hinges on how they perform their designated functions.
The purpose of our toastmaster training is to provide you with the skills and abilities required to support your talent for taking care of everyone attending an event. Your exceptional, extrovert ability to speak with confidence at events makes you an ideal candidate for the role, but it is not enough in itself. On our course you will learn the important traditions of the role, and further how to handle both the organisation and administration side of your clients’ requirements.
Being able to confidently take care of people in public and at events is quite a talent. Our training courses will enable you to transform this talent into a highly rewarding profession.
Is being a Toastmaster an opportunity for all?
The English Toastmasters Association work hard to offer the very best toastmaster training courses, delivering professional help and support.
Our Toastmaster training courses are open to everybody
Let us be very honest about modern life. We are fortunate to live in a time when we've never been more aware of the importance of respecting matters of gender, ethnicity and lifestyle. I would hope that each of us would agree that our society is much better for this being the case.
As progressive as our world is and as a consequence of the above, there are still some aspects and functions of life which tend to be associated only with very specific people. To carry on with an honest and open approach to discussing this, the role of a toastmaster is not excluded from this association. When people picture an individual in the role it is quite common for them to think it is fulfilled by Englishmen alone.
I am to say that this is not the case at all. We are phenomenally proud of the fact that the door to our toastmaster training courses is - and always has been - open to all. To place any sort of limit or restriction on who may become or take on the role of the toastmaster, would, to us, go against the very tradition and function of our industry.
It would go against the very nature of our open and understanding society to single out any of the many different people we have provided toastmaster training for. What we believe to be of the greatest importance is to emphasise the fact that the ability to take on the role is an opportunity truly open to all. If you have a passion for organisation and caring for people and wish to learn how to transform this into a profession then you can - with our training, guidance and support.
We'd like to close this article by highlighting how the common - perhaps stereotypical - perception of a Toastmaster is in fact an advantage. If everyone, quite innocently, expects an English male, it can be quite the conversation piece and point of attraction when this transpires to not be the case.
Ultimately, being successful in the role is not about who you are, but what you can do in terms of the service that you provide for your clients. Our toastmaster training enables you to flourish and build a reputation for excellence within this most prestigious profession.
Top tips for up and coming toastmasters
The English Toastmasters Association is the place to be if you are looking for top quality toastmaster training courses
Our Toastmaster training courses include many useful tips
Not everyone is naturally comfortable with working as a toastmaster or master of ceremonies, but that doesn't mean you can't learn. To assist people in building their abilities in these fields, we host an array of exceptional toastmaster training courses. No matter the occasion, we will work with you in order to make certain that you are as prepared as you can be.
It's only normal that toastmasters become excited before a big event, especially those new to the profession, as it may be an unfamiliar experience. Even some of the top toastmasters today started out shaking prior to their events. By following a series of guidelines however, you shall soon become more confident in your skills.
To begin with, the transition from a client briefing to your itinerary whilst you are preparing for an event may be dealt with more comfortably by working as follows;- Instead of thinking of your event as a large and complicated agenda, to be unfolded in front of an audience, consider it a normal event, like a play in a theatre with special times for scenes, rather than looking at the event as a whole. Write out a complete initial draft and read it repeatedly until everything begins to sink in. Afterwards, check and check again to make sure that you are familiar with your client's wishes.
Be sure to utilise your program as well as your notes and write down about four or five bullet points which summarise the primary aspects of the whole event. This is much better than just using the program alone. Notes should be thought of as simply a means to help jog your memory and keep you on the right track if you ever end up stuck. However by spending the right amount of time on the planning, you should be well prepared for the event with contingency plans, just in case.
At the English Toastmasters Association we work hard to teach people great tricks as well as the skills they need to fill the role. With our courses at your disposal, becoming the next best toastmaster will be an easier, more enjoyable feat. Our basic courses last for three days and can be either successive or individual depending on your preferences.
If our toastmaster training courses interest you and you'd like additional information, feel free to contact us.
Toastmaster training with the English Toastmasters Association is the start a great career for the right person
Toastmaster training is never finished - you are always learning
When people contact us they commonly want to know why we so boldly claim that we offer toastmaster training courses that you will find great value in. We are more than happy to answer this and explain all about what our training courses entails.
Surprise is quite often the most popular reaction to the fact that our standard course is just three days in length. This is very easy to understand, as it just does not seem practical to be able to learn absolutely everything about what the role entails within such a short space of time.
It is quite correct to reach this conclusion. Your training with us should not be seen as a one-stop, self-contained occurrence. It is rather the beginning of being a part of our organisation and joining our profession with ongoing learning included in the membership fees.
The role of the toastmaster is one which has evolved over many, many years. It would be no exaggeration to say hundreds. To suggest that anyone, no matter how naturally gifted or talented they are, could learn all there is to know about being a toastmaster or master of ceremonies within a set number of days would be terribly misleading. We are indeed aware that certain organisations do make this bold claim. Our professionalism, however, means that we would much rather concentrate on the positives of what we do than the negatives of others.
We offer toastmaster training courses that UK based people will really appreciate and also have members in other countries and members that have and will travel to most parts of the world to look after our clients. They provide you with the perfect understanding of the role. Our world class sessions give you the knowledge and insights you will require to act as toastmaster or Master of Ceremonies at any form of function or event.
We will show you the ways in which your natural abilities will be added to with skills related to the control, management and administration of the various functions where you shall serve as the toastmaster.
After taking our main toastmaster training course, you are very welcome to join our highly respected association. It is in doing so that you come to better appreciate that the training itself is an introduction rather than a conclusion. We provide continuous support, updates and understanding to all our members, within our membership fees, to allow you a continuous career development path, one that embraces the traditions and prestige of what it is to be a toastmaster, with backup and comradeship as we carry on learning together.
Seven Cs Toastmasters should be aware of
Communication skills are very important for people who take on the role of a Toastmaster. Without them they may struggle to perform their duties. We strive to help develop these skills when we offer our training courses.
To help you develop your skills here are seven Cs that you should be comfortable with.
1. Clarity - Clear communication is important, especially when it comes to an understanding of the client's needs. Before the event you should ensure you understand the messages that our clients are trying to get across. Think about the purpose of your work and ensure you remained focused on it.
2. Concise - Being side tracked may be a big problem when it comes to running events. There may be someone that needs some help and is looking for a friend. It can result in the order of the schedule getting behind if focus is lost. It is always better to be aware that the agenda for the event takes priority and going off on a tangent is not advisable.
3. Concrete - If you are using details and facts about the running order, you need to make sure they are correct. The last thing you want is to look poorly prepared and the timings can be lost if the details are incorrect. You also run the risk of losing the guest's confidence, particularly if they have a good knowledge of the usual order of events.
4. Coherent - Every announcement should make sense; if it does not you will leave the guests confused. All of the points you make should be relevant. The whole message should be consistent and flow properly so people understand what you are saying and the next course of action.
5. Complete - When you make an announcement, you should take it to completion were your audience understand the point that you are putting over. A message is completed when all relevant points are made and people understand the purpose of that announcement.
6. Courteous - Courtesy is very important, regardless of the event you are working at. You should communicate in an open, friendly manner, be empathetic, and avoid inappropriate tone. Killing people with kindness is always the way to go.
7. Creativity - Being creative with how you work and how you deliver your services is a great way to win new clients and keep existing clients happy. When making announcements the content, and how you put it over, is very important if you want to get the best results for your clients. You should be confident in expressing yourself and able to ensure you work in the way and the manner that suits your clients.
At the English Toastmaster Association we strive to offer the very best training for people who want to take on the role of the toastmaster. We work hard to ensure our courses deliver the best value, making them as comprehensive and useful as possible. This is one of the reasons why we are the best choice for toastmaster training courses.
Adding an impressive skill to your repertoire after your toastmaster training.
The English Toastmasters Association has a fantastic reputation in our field, making us the best choice for training to be a Toastmaster.
An eye-catching skill to learn after completing toastmaster training, to give you another edge.
A skill that some toastmasters possess is the art of sabrage. This is the act of opening a bottle of champagne with a sabre or sword. The French began this practice of sabering over two hundred years ago, with some believing it became popular amongst the armies of Napoleon. It has subsequently spread around the world and is performed at various events including weddings.
At the English Toastmasters Association we are committed to providing the very best toastmaster training in the world. We have a big passion for this and enjoy a wonderful reputation. Although we don't teach sabrage on our three day courses many of our members do learn the skill at a later date. It can become a very impressive string to their bow.
There are a number of important functions to the art of sabrage. Firstly the champagne needs to be properly chilled in a fridge. If the bottle is too warm the bottle may shatter, creating a lot of mess and waste.
Holding the bottle safely is very important. Placing the thumb of the non-sword hand in the indent (or punt) on the base of the bottle helps to keep it stable.
An important part of this art is to follow one of the two seams up the side of the bottle. You can follow this to the collar of the neck, ensuring you strike in the right place and in the right way. This is the weak spot of the bottle and it should only take a relatively small amount of force to take off the annulus or neck of the bottle, sending the cork and the collar flying.
Many people find it surprising that the sabre or sword used in sabrage is not sharp. Generally only the tip is and the rest of the blade is blunted. This actually makes it safer. The force of the blunt blade opens the bottle whilst reducing the risk of the whole thing shattering. A sharp blade is not necessary for this act.
Sabrage looks great at events and is one skill you may want to look into learning after you complete our Toastmaster Training Course. You can find out more about the courses we offer on our website and see exactly why we stand out as the best provider in the UK.
To learn more about our Toastmaster training, please get in touch.
Tips from the 'best Association for Toastmasters' that look after our clients at all types of events
The English Toastmasters Association has a fantastic reputation and standing for the quality and value of our toastmaster training.
Ongoing Toastmaster training will boost your skills.
Toastmasters can face a big task in remembering all that they are planning to do for our client at an event. A simple change can make all the difference to our client though.
We have some of the best documentation in the business which helps our members to understand our client's needs. It also helps us to stay on top of our work as we know exactly what is needed at every stage of our client's event.
After-all, trying so hard not to let something slip can result in a great deal of stress and anxiety, if it is not managed correctly, but we record every stage of our client's events to make sure that they run like clockwork.
It is important to visualise every aspect of our client's event positively, rather than letting the potential of forgetting any aspect of the event be a distraction. This focus coupled with the correct documentation in place means that our toastmasters have covered just about every angle and the likelihood of anything not quite working out is drastically reduced.
On top of this we understand the importance of using non-verbal communication in the right way. Hand gestures, poses, correct eye-contact, and even standing in the right place at the right time all help to make an event run smoothly.
It is better to use these ways and gestures to complement and enhance an event with the least distraction to its smooth running
At the English Toastmaster Association we work hard to prepare our members to be the best toastmasters that they can be.
This is the focus of our three day training courses.
We work hard so that our members will develop their skills during their time on the course and we will support them going forward to ensure they never stop learning and developing. We have found from experience that this is a key point to their future success.
If you are interested in toastmaster training, we are confident you will not find a company with a better reputation or a bigger commitment to providing the very best value, long term.
We stand out from our competitors in a number of ways, including the fact that we work hard to stay current. On top of this we are in support of on-going training and development, offering regular sessions for our members so they never get complacent.
To learn more about our toastmaster training, please get in touch.
Call Richard Palmer now on 07971 409977 for a friendly discussion or more information.
Working in the wedding industry
I am very pleasantly surprised to find a really professional attitude and approach to the wedding business, but it appears to be by only a very small number of companies.
Some people understand networking, but strategic alliances take a lot of working at and need deeper knowledge and care. There is so much to be gained from spending time with the right people so that knowledge may be shared and working partnerships formed with non competitive professions in our business.
I enjoy learning from the professionals in our business. It does not matter what other professions we are working with, it will serve us well to get to know how to give them the best level of help and to make sure that they are able to furnish our mutual clients with the best possible results. The business of giving our clients the best possible help, advice and service is what we are about. Any time that you can spend with our colleagues in the other professions, will be justly rewarded with a higher level of knowledge that you can use for helping them to achieve higher levels of service and results for our mutual clients. To work in harmony with our colleagues will enhance your relationship with them and help to create a true understanding of what our work is about.
I am truly amazed that there are some more people out there that also care for their clients to the same demanding standards that we at the English Toastmasters Association try to work to. To some people their work is just a job. Our work should be a passion for excellence and this will show when you are working with or helping anyone around you. If you do not feel the passion - you are in the wrong line of work!!!!!!!
There is a difference between doing a job and being passionate about excellent client service. When you are passionate about making your clients feel special and about being the best in the business, the satisfaction obtained from each job is much higher.
One of our members
came over earlier in the week to discuss moving our services to an even higher level. I need all of our members to give me feed back about how they see the English Toastmasters Association, in terms of gaining greater awareness from potential clients. Why are we so different from other Associations? We aim to be more professional in our approach to potential new members and our clients. We focus's on our clients needs and look for the best ways to meet those needs with a wow factor. We are passionate about our work and about learning and growing together. We share our experiences and our knowledge to help each other progress. There is a great deal of satisfaction in sharing knowledge and all growing together. There is also cover for each other, if ever there should be an issue about looking after clients. Our clients should all have total peace of mind when using a member of The English Toastmasters Association, safe in the knowledge that we all care about each other and our clients.
Thank you Iain Wagstaff for your time on Wednesday (Wednesday 14th May 2008) ( iainwagstaff.co.uk ). Iain is a very kind and gentleman who is a real pleasure to work with. The DVD's that he produces are absolutely top notch quality and Iain was very kind to me during a wedding that we worked at on Sunday 6th April at Parklands, Quendon. It was great to find out just how passionate Iain is about his work and getting the video just right for his clients. He dresses in a suit when working and is very unobtrusive. The fly on the wall approach.
This is only a short start to our blog page, but I will make the time to get as much useful and helpful information here as possible. Please do not hold back with your comments, I am always willing to learn.
I have had a comment about not belonging to the Toastmasters General Council and why we are not a member. The most useful thing about the TGC from discussions with other members, is the £5,000,000.00 Public Liability Insurance that they are able to provide. We have this insurance as a group from a major insurance broker and they are pleased to extend this insurance to a higher lever for any members that would like to make use of this facility. The brokers are also willing to offer advantageous terms to our members for any other insurance services that they offer. For our members, please see the members area for full details of these offers.
Excellent news.
Quality is appreciated, and we are getting an influx of excellent quality enquiries from potential new toastmasters who will be very client focused.
I have to rush now as I am off to the Royal Chace near Enfield to meet up with one of our members to learn more about Jewish functions.
Now 19.05hrs on Friday 16th May 2008. Back from the meeting. my colleague has a real passion for his work. He loves to work for brides on their wedding day, and he puts his heart into it. Thank you for your help, advice and professionalism, and for the couple.
Since writing my previous comments, i have found that some brides and potential clients may like to see some testimonials. Most of our members have loads but have not realised that they may influence potential new clients as to the quality of the services that we deliver. I have persuaded some of our members to let me put a few of their excellent testimonials on our site, on their member's pages.
We are seeing more members go through their training and join our association. Quality of service delivery is a prime consideration for potential new members. A good way to determine the quality of service delivered by our members is from their client testimonials. Please do not hold back on letting me have any testimonials for your members pages.
Very best wishes everyone
Richard Palmer
