(Improv for) Public speaking

Speaking publicly, PHOTO: Seth Carnill

If you know me, you know that I love teaching improv.

I’m currently into a seven-week beginners course, last Saturday I taught a one-day session on improv and creativity. And I’m regularly collaborating on improv components for company away days, departmental skill building, self-development, or just about any other application, so long as it’s badged as ‘improvisation’.

Because it’s good for you, and can be applied to just about any area of your life. Confidence, creativity, awareness, listening, interpersonal relationships, self-esteem – to name just a few core areas that can be improved by learning and practicing improv.

However, I’ve also discovered that for every person who’s interested in learning improv, there are hundreds who just don’t care at all about improv, no matter how much it could help them. I love teaching, and I know improv can build skills people want to develop, but needed a way to present it.

And I found one: Public Speaking.

Presenting my next Guardian Masterclass: Learn to love public speaking and presentations. It focuses specifically on something that improvisation can help with, yet in the course copy, there’s almost no mention of improv whatsoever (just one little mention in the last line of my bio).

Learn to love public speaking and presentations

Improvisers love to get on stage in front of a paying audience, without any idea of what we’re going to talk about and make them laugh. Having even a fraction of that ability (and chutzpah) is something many people want desperately.

And so I created a daylong session for the Guardian that’s designed to decrease the fear of – and increase the ability to – present publicly. It leans heavily on the experience and exercises from the world of improv – but unlike improvisation – is all about the results rather than the process.

It’s classic win-win: I get to teach improv, they get to learn public speaking. And we all go home happy.

PS: The class isn’t until the mid-May, and it’s already nearly sold-out. Maybe I’m onto something here..

By Ryan Millar|2021-12-14T20:05:05+00:00March 22 2016|

“Absolutely brilliant! Exceptional work!”

Anonymous, Impro Hotel

“Working with you was an absolute blast! I’ll take your writing advice with me wherever I go.”

Marton, Budapest

“Ryan is an incredible teacher. He took a straggling group of beginners and turned us into a viable company of improvisational actors who regularly perform together – in front of actual, paying, repeat customers.”

Carrie, Brussels

“Thank you for your positive spirit, energy and creativity. Your public speaking sessions really helped me feel more comfortable standing in front of a group of people.”

Serena, Amsterdam

“I’ve learned so much from you and thank you for giving me that nudge to get out of my comfort zone.”

Imaan, Amsterdam

“I really admire your energy, creativity and knowledge and I’ve learned a lot from your training sessions.”

Natasha, Amsterdam,

“The skills I learned from those two weekends, which were two of the most enjoyable weekends I’ve ever had, have been an invaluable tool I use to this day in my daily life, both at work and in personal interactions.”

Andy, Brussels

“Ryan is the most enthusiastic, positive workshop leader I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I’ve been to several of his workshops and after each session I came away with a sense of achievement and feeling that I had learnt something new.”

Chris, London

“I especially enjoyed the clarity in all of what you were doing – I always understood what it was that you were teaching. I never felt lost. That was really awesome.”

Martin, Tampere

“Ryan’s improv workshop is incredibly fun but also ruthlessly effective. Participants are taught to drop their inhibitions, let their imagination flow and and embrace the positive attitude at the heart of improv. They are also treated to Ryan’s personal blend of enthusiasm, wit and generosity.”

Jeremy, Brussels

“Ryan is a natural at teaching and you get the feeling he puts his heart and soul into helping others. I look forward to doing more workshops with Ryan.”

Shauna, Tunbridge Wells

“I LOVED the fucking GREAT and positive energies in the workshop. They so got me going. Perhaps the highest moment during this festival was laughing in the workshop (to the dances… :)).”

Ben, Tel Aviv

“Because of you my fear of speaking or presenting in front of an audience has lessened a great deal.”

Samora, Amsterdam

“Ryan is a great teacher, very serious (and very funny!) gives great coaching during scenes! I had a great time studying with him!!”

Alon, Tel Aviv

“I’ve benefitted immensely from this journey which I would recommend to anyone looking to learn more about themselves in a fun, immersive way.”

Simon, Amsterdam

“Thank you so much for passing your writing knowledge onto me. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun too.”

Larissa, Amsterdam,

“Ryan seemed to know just what to do to get the best from everyone. I would jump at the opportunity to do another workshop led by him.”

Calum, Brighton

“Very inspiring and useful workshop. Picked me up from where I’m at and helped me develop strategies to improve developing scenes and my performance skills.”

Anonymous, Switzerland

“Plenty of energy, enthusiasm, good clear guidance on how to make the scene ‘deliver results’ without killing the improviser… Ryan’s enthusiasm for improv is infectious.”

James, Brighton

“I loved loved loved your workshop. I liked the way it was structured and meaningful. Time flew unnoticed. I liked the shortness of the exercises, the surprise and fun, and the fact that you gave me so much to explore. I now can be in an empty prison cell or in a desert island and never feel alone or bored anymore. Now I can expand my world.”

Elsa, Lisbon

“As a coach Ryan’s ability to zone in and identify the main agenda for each sessions was amazing. His coaching helped me reflect, make decisions and make positive changes in my business.”

Tracy, Dublin

“Ryan is an extremely qualified, talented, and professional teacher and coach. I’d recommend Ryan’s services to anyone!”

Derek, Amsterdam,

“Your Taking It Easy session helped me relax more into the truth of a scene and let it grow more organically instead of pushing too hard to make it funny or dramatic. I loved that you were really clear about what you wanted us to get and how the exercises played into the scene work we did later. I really got a lot from one short session.”

Andrew, Brighton

“I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. I learned how beautiful authenticity is, with such little moments as sharing your breakfast. Being in the moment is so amazing to see and to feel.”

Laura, Amsterdam

“Ryan really made the most out of the workshop. No time-wasting. He gets to the point quickly, in a clear and effective way.”

Pedro, Lisbon

“Ryan’s coaching sessions really improved my public speaking skills and made my presentations much more interesting for my audience.”

Furio S., Berlin

(Improv for) Public speaking

Learn to love public speaking and presentations

How was working with Ryan?

Contact Ryan Millar

(Improv for) Public speaking

Learn to love public speaking and presentations

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How was working with Ryan?

Contact Ryan Millar