Birthday Speeches - Ten Tips on What Not to Say or Do

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Birthday Speeches - Ten Tips on What Not to Say
or Do
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1. Don't mention age in your birthday speech
unless it's a specific birthday that is being
celebrated like a 21st or a 50th. Some people
like to celebrate every birthday but prefer not
to have their actual age mentioned.
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2. Never tell a rude story. Birthdays are
quite often family events and grandma might be
offended whatever about the birthday boy or girl.
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3. Don't mention anything embarrassing. The
celebrant might not want it known to his or her
guests that he/she has a drink problem and
his/her family might not want it mentioned either.
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4. Never talk about deceased family or friends
in your birthday speech unless the guest of honor
does or it is appropriate to say that the
deceased is surely there in spirit. Sometimes
grief is still raw and it is better to leave such
mentions unsaid rather than upset anyone at the
party.
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5. Don't mention sad events. Birthday
speeches should be upbeat and optimistic. There
may be exceptions, of course, but unless you are
sure it is better to avoid anything that might
awaken sad memories.
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6. Don't try to be too funny. Comedians are
people with excellent timing and training. Most
of us cannot write witty speeches and certainly
cannot deliver them. It's better to be
light-hearted and genuine rather than trying to
write a script suitable for a TV comedy hour.
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7. Don't call the celebrant by a pet name if
it is an intimate one between you. A husband
might not want all the guys in the football team
to know you call him cuddly bear! Your son would
be hugely embarrassed to be called mummy's baby
boy. It's alright of course to call him Pat
instead of Patrick.
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8. Your birthday speech should not offend
anyone in any way. So you don't say that John's
friends are only there for the free bar. It may
be true in a few cases but you should never
insult guests.
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9. In your birthday speech, don't mention
things the guests don't know about or understand.
If you have a secret joke with the celebrant keep
it secret or explain to the guests the background
to your story.
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10. Don't write reams. Birthdays are social
occasions and people want to party not listen to
your rambling on for twenty minutes. Three or
four minutes would be more appropriate Keep it
short When you have the floor You'll wow the
guests Have them shouting More Niamh
CroweCopyright Speechwriters 1994-2007marketing_at_
speech-writers.comTel. 353 1 8333599 Website
http//ispeeches.com