Free Birthday Speech Tips

Welcome to my free birthday speech tips page.

Birthdays are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the joy of living, family, and friends while focussing on that one special person whose 'day' it is. After the 'Happy Birthday' song is sung, the candles have been blown out, the wish made and the cake eaten, it's time for the speeches to begin.

Giving the birthday toast can be the ultimate enduring gift. Words live on in the minds of those who hear them long after the bouquets of flowers drop their petals and the last of the chocolates has been eaten. A birthday speech given from the heart with love, wit and wisdom can last a lifetime.

• Is the planned birthday celebration formal or informal?



• Who is invited? Is it strictly family? Family and friends? Work colleagues?



• Are you the only speaker? If so, what theme would the family/friends/work colleagues like you to focus on? What tone would they like you to use?
  
  ( Generally, the tone is light, humorous, sincere and positive. Yes, you may tease the birthday person a little but within bounds of the occasion. Too much roasting, use of language too spicy or smutty or delving into sensitive subject areas could ruin the event. Be careful!)
  
  If you're not the only speaker: who are the others and what are they likely to cover? Also find out where on the speaking order you come.



• How long are you expected to speak for?

Do you want to know more about birthday customs? This Wikipedia entry provides a great overview of the history of birthday celebrations in Western Culture as well as charts of the zodiac, birth stones and flowers. My flower is the humble but beautiful forget-me-not. What's yours? A rose? A violet or maybe a carnation? There are many free birthday speech tips here to make your speech memorable. Do take a look.

• Use the standard 'sandwich' speech writing format: an introduction ( one slice of bread), the middle (the filling where you expand on your theme) and a conclusion, (another slice of bread). Your opening and ending hold the middle in place.


If you'd like more information about speech structure and the writing process, read my 'how to write a speech' page. You'll find detailed instructions as well as a quick 'see-at-a-glance' overview of the process for those of you just needing a refresher.


• If the birthday is a special one marking a significant age milestone celebrate it. Search out appropriate quotations fitting both the age and the person whose birthday it is.
  You'll find a large selection of birthday quotations here. I've arranged them under the headings 'Wisdom', 'Wit' and 'Milestones' so can find what you need quickly.
  Bear in mind too, they may have said something themselves that could be used. Perhaps close friends or family could tell you anecdotal stories to suit.
  
  (Here's an example of a 50th birthday speech for a man written by a close friend and a 40th birthday speech for a daughter given by her mother. You may like to use them to get your creative juices flowing.)



• Other content suggestions:
  
  What personal milestones (other than age) have been reached? Celebrate the triumphs.
  
  What endearing characteristics or personality traits does the person have?
  
  What does the future hold? What special (personal or career) goals do they wish to attain?
  
  (If the birthday is for an older or elderly person, as the song says: 'accentuate the positive'. Life is for living regardless of age or circumstance.
  Last year we celebrated an eighty-fifth birthday: my mother-in-law's. The speeches remembered the past; her vibrant energy and passion for teaching but they also spoke of her ongoing work. These days she has the grandchildren of her first pupils coming for speech and drama lessons. One of her goals is to keep right on teaching. These young ones give her real joy.)
  
  

  Have you considered writing a birthday poem? It's not as difficult as you may think and you'll have something very special and original to offer. You can find out here how to write a poem in free verse.

  What hobbies does the birthday girl/boy have?
  
  Is there a specific song or saying that could be their signature theme?
  
  What core values does the person have and how are they shown in their life?
  
  What did the person say they wanted to be when they were young and how has it turned out?
  
  What special relationships does the person have? How have they added to their life?




• Perhaps you'd like to place the birthday in an historical context.
  
  What other significant events happened on this day in history?
  
  What popular songs were being sung at that time?
  
  (A quick Google search in the search box below will give you historical event & song suggestions to choose from. Just remember to bookmark this 'free birthday speech tips' page so you can return easily.)
  
  Where was the family living at the time?
  
  Were there any extraordinary circumstances around the birth itself?

And the last free birthday speech tips are:

• Remember to include a thank-you for the opportunity to prepare and give a speech. It could be either at the beginning or end or in both places!



• After your closing summary invite everyone to raise a toast to the birthday person



• Write your speech notes up on cue-cards to avoid the embarrassment of stumbling or temporary memory loss.
  
  (If you need help to prepare cue-cards or don't know what they are go to my 'how to make and use cue cards' page. You'll find full explanations there. A good set will help you deliver your speech with confidence.)



• Remember to run through your speech several times before delivery.
  
  Handy Hint: Read my page on 'how to rehearse'.
  Rehearsing does make a difference. Try it and see for yourself. You'll find out if your speech is too long, too short, not funny enough, phrased awkwardly... Rehearsing exposes any glitches and allows you to fix them privately.



• Give yourself a congratulatory glass of wine or two when you've finished speaking, not before!

PS.

If it's your birthday and you're delivering a speech to welcome and thank everyone for coming to celebrate it with you, apply the relevant free birthday speech tips to yourself. And, yes, you can toast yourself!

There's information about birthdays - traditions, party planning and more at Yahoo Directory - Holiday Observances - Birthdays

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