Steal the Show MP3 CD – Unabridged, October 18, 2016

We have a tendency, at least in casual conversation, to sometimes equate "acting" with a lack of authenticity.So you might feel wary about the notion that the craft of acting might can help us to communicate with more honesty and authenticity.You might be worried that accepting Port’s world view would mean that rather than communicating and connecting — you’ll *just* be performing. As a shell. As someone other than yourself.Don’t.It’s exactly the opposite.Michael Port has written an important, compelling, potentially life-changing book — and it’s perfect for those of us who care about communicating as whole, honest, real human beings.It’s not about being slick or sleazy, and it’s not about using artifice to sway your audiences or your colleagues — it’s about finding ways to strip away the habits, artifice, and distractions that we often pile on to our communications when we’re anxious about the stakes. So yes, those types of communications -- speeches, job interviews, pitches, hard conversations, first conversations.Port shows us that the actor’s craft — the true actor’s craft — is _not_ about relying upon artifice, but rather, about finding ways to communicate and present in a way that keeps you wholly present and connected to your audience. It’s really about creating the strength to be open, honest, and vulnerable, and developing the communication and perceptual skills that will help us be compelling, engaging, and persuasive in ways that matter.I received a pre-publication galley of this book as part of a pre-publication purchase incentive, and I’m glad I opted to purchase the book early. It’s a terrific read, full of insight, and full of practical yet often unusual tips for becoming a better communicator — and yes, a better public speaker.Sure, as part of it all, he tells you about the importance of story, the usefulness of the 3-act structure, and the importance of being prepared — all of which I think we’ve come to expect from books about public speaking. (Like we should all know this now, right?…even if we’re not doing it.). But he also teaches you to stay present for your audience, even when you feel your mind going blank, and how to see your own communications from an audience’s point of view. By providing his own analyses, he helps you understand why what you say may not always connect with those you are trying to reach, and how you might address the gap. Port is especially good at this: seeing communications from the receiver’s point of view — and he’s great at articulating the likely undercurrents in way that’s clear, while also providing some concrete suggestions for his readers.Stuff I loved and found especially helpful:-his description of the actor’s rehearsal process — and why adopting it will make your presentations, pitches, and speeches an order of magnitude more engaging than a typical presentation (and why isn’t just about repeating your written speech over and over again in your hotel room or the shower…or please please please no [as he so rightly advises against]…in front of the mirror)-his argument for rehearsal — even for those of us who feel like we’re pretty good on our feet…and who think we’re getting away with “winging it”-his argument that the best actors — and the best speakers — are the ones that are willing and able to strip away all artifice and allow themselves to be fully in the moment, fully present, and fully vulnerable to their audience-his advice about *listening* to your audience, so that you can respond to people in the moment-his info on the process of content mapping: the process of taking a speech and mapping the content and meaning onto the delivery-his insight that many of the core principles of theatre and acting are in fact principles of effective communication — because ultimately it is about engaging and connecting with other human beings on multiple levels (i.e., not merely intellectual, but emotional, visceral, aesthetic, sensory, kinaesthetic, and associative levels)-his focus on taking the reader on a journey from the inside out, because ultimately, you can’t communicate honestly and authentically unless you understand your own internal barriers to doing so, and doing the work.I think his description of the rehearsal process and content mapping alone are worth the price of the book for experienced public speakers.And for all of us who just want to communicate more effectively — Port’s advice on the internal work of communication, and his ability to show us (and remind us) how we respond to speakers when they do certain common things — is reason enough to buy and read this book. Even if you only get halfway through. :)I also love the fact that if you really, really want to master the art of communication, you can approach the ideas in his book from multiple angles, and consume the information in the way that works for you. I used to feel a little stupid about the fact that I had started consuming certain books in multiple formats (e.g., audiobook, Kindle edition, and hard copy!) — but now I realize that I learn better when I can access the same material in multiple ways. I don’t do it for everything — only the stuff that’s really, really rich and really, really good. And Michael Port’s work is that rich and that good — at least for me. Consuming information in multiple formats engages more of my senses, more of my memory, and for the stuff that matters — the extra effort (and yes, investment) is totally worth it.Port does have a freely available podcast of the same name, Steal the Show (http://stealtheshow.com/podcast). If you’re on the fence, it’s is an excellent take on the same material, presented in a slightly different manner while also modelling exactly the same behaviours that Port recommends in his book. I think you’ll find it an excellent complement to the book — whether you take the book in as either an audiobook or a text, or even both. There are some free videos online, as well as paid courses and training through his speaker training business, Heroic Public Speaking.This is not your usual public speaking advice, nor the kind of advice you’ll see in business books with strained acronyms and presumably proprietary “systems” with superlative-ridden product names.I’ve heard Port say that this will be his last book — but I hope it’s not true. What I’d like to see? A follow-up to this book, similar to Book Yourself Solid illustrated. Because I think an illustrated complement to this book — perhaps with diagrams and photographs that help to reinforce some of his descriptions of theatrical concepts — would be enormously helpful as a teaching resource.So Michael Port — if you’re listening…don’t stop at this book. If you don’t want to do all the work of birthing yet another tome…I think you already have your logical co-author on your team.

Steal the Show is the kind of book that can impact your life IF you are looking and open to learn new things without second guessing the author, Michael Port. I learned very quickly that it is not his way or my way, it's the way that works that should be the one we should move towards to.Learning contrast, how to perform before during and after shows, interviews, dates (thank God I am married already) can help you be comfortable in your own skin at any moment, situation, or environment.Michael takes the time for you to get the tricks of how to speak publicly in any situation in life without seeing cocky, arrogant, but in a serving manner to others. How to control yourself first by admitting that you can be nervous and that's fine, but acknowledging that first will help you move towards the goal and deliver on your promise of your talk.I was one of the people who taught mainly about knowing the material very superficially and going on and speaking from the hear as practicing and performing in my head meant being fake and not genuine. But following the advice to read out loud my speech, theBlocking, the improv help me amazingly . Even controlling my emotions!I have three testimonial's to share:1. I am an introvert. It is quite difficult for me, or it has been, connecting with strangers and doing small talk. However, I recently went on vacation on a Cruise with my wife. While at the dinner table I was able to engage in conversation and own the table telling stories, conveying my knowledge and expressing my points of views without being seen as arrogant, but rather a nice guy who wanted others to laugh and enjoy their vacation. It didn't matter their age, which range from 22 to 65 years old, we all had a laugh at my own sake and I was able to even talk about my new business.2. My nieces 15th birthday(sweet 16 in the Hispanic Culture) was just after the vacation. I had to talk about what my niece meant to me. This is a very emotional subject for me. THinking about what I wanted to say and whenever I sat down to talk would bring tears to my eyes. Just pausing, changing the tempo/speed, adding contrast with my voice changing pitch and tone help me avoid a good 3 minutes of tears.3. Wedding Toast. My best friend asked me to give the toast as his best man. I sat down immediately to write my speech. I read it about 10 times. Then read it out loud and realize some things did not make sense at all. Then after I was comfortable with the main idea and I pretty much knew it by heart I added four jokes. Three of those would be superficial, which I thought that if they didn't laugh it would be fine. But the main one was the one that if they didn't laugh at it I knew I was in trouble.The day of the wedding came and I was so calmed and sure of my self I gave that toast and felt like a Presidential candidate, without the nonsense, speaking. Since the first joke I had them. I was able to improv, deliver with contrast, use the pauses, move while talking and stop moving when the jokes and points that I wanted to have an impact would come up. I owned the material. The crowd was though since this was at a church that I knew no one except for the groom, the bride, the grooms parents and brother. So about 88 people were strangers to me.By the end of the night even my wife said wow.Steal the show is the kind of book that will get your gears going and will motivate you be a better speaker. Even if you only wish to give performances for dates, job interviews, or be a better at interacting with people this book will surely impact you and help you impact others that you come across. Everyone should read this book to be a better speaker and have so many AHA! Moments.

Pretty impressive guide on performance, communication and public speaking. I've heard Michael Port say that this is the book he was meant to write and you get the sense that he's brought all his experience of acting, coaching and public speaking into this one book. Some really good stuff in here, especially since I do public speaking training myself. Worth the read

If you have any type of presentation to do, buy this book!I have had to do many presentations through work, then since reading this book and applying its principles I am receiving better feedback and gaining much more confidence the more I do.

good content, not massively enamoured with his tone of voice though.

Parlo spesso in pubblico (corsi, convegni, lezioni, presentazioni) ed ero alla ricerca di qualcosa di nuovo, che non fosse il solito libro trito e ritrito sul public speaking al fine di migliorare i miei skills. Ho avuto la fortuna di ricevere una copia del libro prima che venisse pubblicata ed e' veramente ottimo. Innanzitutto non troverete le solite nozioni su come muovere le mani o roba del genere!Questo libro punta ad aiutare coloro i quali sono alle prime armi a superare la barriera della paura di parlare in pubblico e coloro i quali hanno gia' esperienza su come raggiungere il livello successivo.Mi piace molto il formato pragmatico del libro con consigli pratici (ad esempio come strutturare il contenuto, come gestire le Q&As). Quello che mi ha sorpreso piacevolmente e' l'adattabilità del contenuto: non e' "solo" per coloro i quali vogliono migliorare le proprie presentazioni da un palco o da una cattedra, ma anche per coloro i quali vogliono comunicare in modo più chiaro senza snaturare il proprio stile. Michael Port e' un attore professionista ed insegna al lettore come esprimere la propria personalità al meglio, senza dover copiare nessun altro.Ascolto anche le podcast di Steal The Show su iTunes ed il contenuto e' veramente di alto livello. Libro consigliatissimo: se avete una presentazione importante al lavoro, se avete un evento e dovete parlare in pubblico, se avete un colloquio di lavoro e dovete organizzare al meglio le idee ed anche se volete migliorare il modo in cui comunicate giornalmente questo libro offre spunti pragmatici e di facile attuazione. Niente roba trita e ritrita o aria fritta. Ottimo.

Was für eine Entdeckung! Dieses Buch von Michael Port ist gepackt voll mit Tipps zum Thema "besser reden". Dabei beschränkt er sich keineswegs auf rhetorische Tricks, sondern adaptiert Wissen und Praxis aus seiner früheren Schauspieler Karriere für den täglichen Gebrauch.Das Buch beginnt mit einem Teil über mindset, geht über zu Performance principles und schließt mit einer masterclass zu Rhetorik. Ich weiß jetzt das eine oder andere zum Redenhalten :) doch das Buch begeistert mich vollkommen.Sehr empfehlenswert für alle die sicher kommunizieren möchten in allen Lebenslagen.