We ask presenters what their purpose is and what kind of feedback they want or need. We provide feedback in a structured environment that includes guidelines both for evaluators and for speakers. This helps to provide supportive, constructive, and useful advice.
Is there an area of your speaking that would benefit from some feedback? Come join us at Speaker Studio and experience the valuable feedback and encouragement to help you improve in any area of your content development or presentation skills.
Speaker Studio usually meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month (except December 2023) from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at MAC6 in Tempe.
You may attend these sessions as a Guest. However, if you wish to present, you must be a Chapter member in good standing.
In a regular meeting, we fit in as many speaking slots as possible. The maximum time allocated is 20 minutes but many are less based on what the speaker is trying to accomplishwe usually have time for four 20-minute slots – 10 minutes for presentation and 10 minutes for feedback. Speakers can use the time to receive feedback and tips for a specific purpose, like trying out new material or a new form of speaking.
“Jim and I attended the last session and it was amazing!! Don is GREAT at leading this...and the privilege of having some platform time with constructive feedback is priceless!! Don't miss this. We will both be at as many as possible!”— Naomi Rhode
SPEAKER PRACTICE SESSIONS
To request a practice session slot, please contact Don Thoren at don@donthoren.com or 480-560-3525, by no later than the Friday preceding an upcoming Speaker Studio meeting.
There may be more participants wanting to present at a specific practice session than time can accommodate. Requests will be approved on the following priority basis:
A. New Studio participant (following at least two observation sessions)
B. New Studio participant follow-up practice session
C. Participants not presenting in the most recent four Studio sessions
D. NSA-Az members requesting feedback on specific presentation elements
E. All other requests.
Special circumstances will be taken into account when scheduling practice sessions.
SPEAKER STUDIO COMPILED READINGS
Don Thoren has contributed many documents – articles, emails, etc. – over the past several years as teaching aides. These documents are contained in this file (click to access).
The documents have been organized into four sections: A) Annotated Table of Contents; B) Speaker Studio Feedback Forms; C) Speech/Presentation Preparation; and D) Business Development. Please access and apply any of the content that is relevant to your learning and work. Also, please feel free to submit your own documents and articles that may be helpful to other Speaker Studio participants.
BECOME OR REMAIN AN IN-DEMAND AND HIGHLY PAID
SPEAKER, TRAINER, COMMUNICATOR
PRACTICE PRESENTING TO A LIVE & SAFE AUDIENCE – Receive valuable personal coaching from Don Thoren CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame as well as other mentors and speakers.
JUST OBSERVE THE PRESENTERS - Your speaking and writing skills improvement will accelerate 10-fold.
Questions or suggestions? Feel free to contact Ev Taylor via email or phone at 480-720-9065
LOCATION: MAC6, 1430 W. Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282
All Speaker Studio sessions will be held on the second floor training room.
By attending this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs (or screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
Project Lab
What is it? A casual, virtual co-working support space
Why do it?
How long is it? 2 hours, once weekly
When is it? Monday from 12:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m.
Project Lab Flow:
Start at 12:00 p.m.
Facilitator schedules a 50-minute work session
The regular host is Michele Redmond, with co-host Shevon Quijano.
By registering for this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs (screenshots) that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
'Tis the season to celebrate the holidays and new year, so join your colleagues and friends old and new for a party with delicious food, awesome music, and fun surprises. Let's celebrate together at Chateau Luxe for laughter, hors d'oeuvres, dessert and holiday experiences! Charge bar (credit cards only, no cash). Silent Auction, Arizona-style: we will be auctioning off gift baskets with fun themes celebrating the best of Arizona.
Bring your spouse, family members or friends to enrich this special gathering of our NSA-Arizona family!
Food donations: we will be filling up Santa's sleigh with donated food for the food bank. Please consider bringing canned and boxed food to donate.
Signature cocktail and mocktail: Have a Gila Monster Margarita!
Come celebrate the season with NSA Arizona!
Join us anytime between 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Deadline to register: Monday, December 11th.
By registering for this event, you are giving permission for NSA-Arizona to add your contact information to our email list and to use any photographs that are taken at the event containing your likeness for as long as NSA-Arizona deems appropriate and desirable.
This meeting will be held upstairs in the training room.
Please note: Coffee, water and light snacks will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own beverage and snacks.
Join us in person or register to receive a link to the recording afterward.
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS ON JANUARY 8TH. REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE!
G.R.O.W. – Strategically Your Speaking Business! Get yourself booked,
Run a great business,
Open the opportunities,
with Mary C. Kelly, PhD, CDR USN (ret)
Are you running your business like a business?
Did the crazy of the last few years cause you to lose focus?
Did you take your foot off the gas pedal?
Are you looking long-term at your profits and expenditures, and effectively planning your business and personal finances properly?
Do you have a succession plan for your business? Are you developing the products and multiple streams of income (no, that does not mean working as a greeter at Walmart AND working the window at Taco Bell) that provides you with a sustainable lifestyle?
In this fun, relevant, and irreverent session, Mary discusses:
Mary loves dogs, horses, and most people. She became a professional speaker and corporate advisor after retiring from the Navy after 25 years on active duty. A university professor for over 30 years, she taught leadership, business, management, and economics at the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, Hawaii Pacific University, and Colorado State University. Mary is dedicated to helping people grow their businesses to be profitable. Mary served on the board of the Colorado NSA Chapter, and published the NSA CO Directory to help meeting planners find and book local speakers. Mary was the Chair of the Editorial Committee of Speaker Magazine from 2014-2015, because she has not mastered the ability to saying “NO” to her NSA friends. She was also the Head Coach (another volunteer job) of the Air Force Academy’s Equestrian Team for 7 years.
Mary grew up in Dallas, TX before going to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and as a result, she tends to drawl after a margarita or two. Her future goals include eliminating world poverty, getting animals out of shelters and into great homes, and meeting Condoleeza Rice.
Thank you to our Showcase Your Business sponsor!
Cancellation Policy: No refunds.
Please notify us if you have any special needs for the meeting.
with Crystal Washington, CSP®
Having a successful and sustainable speaking business requires more than simply rocking the stage. Developing systems and policies are key! Let Crystal Washington, CSP, share some of the most powerful and underutilized tools for extraordinary business growth. Whether you are a new speaker or a seasoned veteran, you'll learn new ways to leverage old tools and the coolest new tech for business growth.
1. Discover how to create a system for prospecting
2. Learn the best tools for event management
3. Uncover how to market yourself to grow your business
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS ON FEBRUARY 5TH. REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE!
Crystal Washington, CSP® works with organizations that want to leverage technology to increase profits and productivity!
As a technology strategist and certified futurist, Crystal takes complex social media, app, and web topics and makes them easy to understand and accessible for everyday people.
Crystal’s clients comprise Fortune 500 companies including Google, Microsoft, and GE, and as a sought-after keynote speaker, she has entertained and educated audiences around the globe.
As one of Forbes’ 50 Leading Female Futurists, She appears weekly on season two of the Emmy nominated show, Life 2.0 and she’s appeared in numerous publications including Entrepreneur and Bloomberg Businessweek. She is regularly called on by major television networks as a tech expert.
Crystal is the author of the books One Tech Action and The Social Media Why.
CONTACT US
10869 N. Scottsdale Road
Suite 103, PMB 238
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-968-7443
info@nsa-arizona.org
CONNECT WITH US
NSA-Arizona is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization.
