NOTE, lest there be any confusion 😛: My coaching is virtual-only (over video conference), not in-person, & the cost is $170 for each hour-long session.
MOST REVIEWS
In the last year, I've received more verified 5-star reviews for public speaking coaching than any other professional on Thumbtack. Plus, rather than offering a bunch of different services (like acting, life coaching, vocal coaching, voiceover, etc) as many do, I'm a full-time, dedicated speech coach. This means that I spend 100% of my professional hours honing a single craft by working exclusively with public speaking & communication students.
PUBLIC SPEAKING EXPERIENCE & APPROACH
Over the years, I've spent thousands of hours public speaking--in sports radio broadcasting, competitive speech & debate, corporate settings, stand-up comedy and podcasting. Then, since launching Silva Speech Coaching about five years ago, I’ve spent even more thousands of hours helping my students reach their speaking goals! Thanks to this range and depth of experience, I'm able to help both adults and kids tackle a wide array of speaking challenges.
In addition to being deeply knowledgeable, extremely dedicated and highly responsive, I take time to learn about each student's unique speaking goals, struggles and strengths--and then thoughtfully design individualized lessons for each. I also take students behind the scenes of the coaching process, explaining my methods and encouraging self-analysis--so that after our sessions conclude, you can be your own coach, and keep honing your speaking skills for the rest of your life!
WHO I USUALLY COACH
I serve three primary categories of students:
- Professionals who find themselves speaking more often & in front of new/bigger/more important audiences at work, and fear inadequate speaking skills and/or nerves are holding back their career.
- Adults or children whose shyness or lack of conversation skills inhibit self-expression and make socializing with peers difficult & uncomfortable.
- High-achieving children whose parents want to help them take their communication skills to new heights and/or prepare for high school speech & debate or future academic interviews.
If any of these sounds like you (or your child), perhaps we should talk! :-)
THE DETAILS
Areas of focus:
- Business communication (presentations, Q&A or just contributing to/leading meetings)
- Content development (e.g., brainstorming ideas, adding structure, & shaping them into a coherent & compelling presentation or speech)
- Job, book tour, or academic interview prep
- Helping shy kids (or adults) build conversation skills & become more comfortable speaking in class, at work or in social settings.
- High school speech & debate training.
- Political candidate debate & media interview practice.
- And if nerves are your nemesis, I offer a wealth of practical strategies to overcome, manage and speak well despite them.
Common speaking challenges I can help address (not an exhaustive list):
- An unconfident delivery
- Excessive fillers (um, uh, like, etc.)
- Speaking too fast
- Flat, monotone style
- Weak volume/too quiet
- Poor enunciation/mumbling/verbal stumbles
- Mind blanks/freezes
- Trouble thinking on your feet
- Inability to express what's on your mind
- Rambling & poor organization
- Unclear explanations
- Conversational awkwardness/coming up with things to say in social settings
- Brainstorming ideas/developing & organizing content
- Inferior stage presence, video presence
- Body language
- Unsure how to practice
- And of course, nerves!
PRICING
The default rate is $170/hour (each session is an hour). This gets you all my customary content, analysis & feedback, with all exercises & speaking done live in-session.
If you send me a recording of you speaking for me to review beforehand, that's an additional $30 charge. Recordings can be great fodder for coaching, since I can get a glimpse of how you speak in real-life situations.
DISCOUNTS
Students who leave a review on Thumbtack will receive $50 off their next session! & there are package & referral rebates available as well--ask about them in a free consultation!
LINKS & FREE CONSULTATION
You can watch/listen to some of my work in the links below, which include the winning speech at a company-wide presentation competition, plus a couple episodes of my 125-plus-episodes podcast (in which I coached the guests in speaking/voiceover fundamentals).
Reach out for a free consultation--I'd be delighted to chat!
