The Pre-Speech Checklist.
You’ve done the hard part. You built the talk. You know what you want to say. Now don’t let a cold voice, a missed logistics detail, or five minutes of mouth-breathing kill the first three minutes. This checklist handles the rest.
The Pre-Speech Checklist.
What top speakers do before they walk on stage.
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Dry mouth, what actually works
Bite your tongue. Gently press your tongue against your teeth for 2–3 seconds. Triggers saliva instantly. No one sees it. Works mid-speech.
Eat a piece of green apple backstage. The pectin cuts through mucus and stimulates saliva production. Many broadcast journalists swear by this.
Room temperature water only. Cold water tightens the throat. Keep a glass within reach, don't wait until you're parched.
Avoid before going on: coffee, alcohol, dairy, and energy drinks all dry the mouth or coat the throat.
Breathe through your nose when you're not speaking. Mouth breathing dries everything out fast.
Old school? Print it.
Not everyone trusts a screen they can’t spill coffee on. Download the PDF, print it, keep it in your bag. It won’t need charging.