Richard is an amazing teacher. He is patient, accommodating, and will give you the right feedback to get you to your best speaking abilities. I had a lot of fun during these sessions, and could see the immediate impact they were having in my business. Would 100% recommend him! read more

Highly recommended - a life saver! I hired Richard to help me prep for a keynote speech. I had decent content, but he helped me refine it and get better at delivery. Practicing with him was extremely helpful. I felt prepared, confident and I nailed it! Thank you, Richard read more

Highly recommend using Richard help with presentations and sales He provides thoughtful advice and great tips on how to captivate your audience read more

I did one-on-one speech coaching with Richard to prep for a podcast interview, and I couldn't be happier with the results. I ran an extensive selection process because it was important to me to get this right. I spoke with several top coaches in the SF Bay Area. What made it easy to select The Confident Speaker was Richard's own ease in communication. During our first call, I was struck by how confidently and articulately he expressed himself. It was evident that he practiced what he preached and I wanted to sound just as good -- both authentic and refined. Once we started working together, Richard's encouraging approach quickly put me at ease. He has a clear passion for helping individuals find their voice and speak confidently. Throughout our one-on-one coaching sessions, Richard provided valuable insights, guidance, and feedback that were tailored to my goals. He helped me refine my message, improve my delivery, and build the confidence I was missing to deliver the podcast interview. I felt prepared and also genuinely excited to share my work. He's the real deal. Look no further and give him a call. read more

Richard is a great person to work with. He carefully took his time to understand my goals and mimics the environment you will be presenting in. Our sessions were engaging and he provided endless advice on how to improve. I appreciate how observant he was during our entire practice. Definitely a pleasure working with him and I would highly recommend. read more

I went to Richard with a somewhat unusual project in mind: I wanted to develop a speaking style that would work for a particular kind of online courses. Richard was fantastic in helping me explore relevant styles of notable public speakers and develop my own. He coached me on using my voice and body language to convey emotions and information in compelling ways. His feedback was extremely valuable, not only in improving my delivery but also in crafting the material and creating gripping stories. Working with Richard took my public speaking to a whole new level, and it all happened over just a few hours! I highly recommend Richard. read more

Richard is an exceptional and supportive coach for preparing impactful presentations. He takes the time to understand your needs and provides personalized, actionable advice. With his guidance, I worked on my presentation pace, clarity, and voice control. Highly recommended! read more

Working with Richard was a privilege! I reached out to Richard about setting up a few workshops for my colleagues (total 12 people). What I enjoyed the most: 1. Richard is thorough and goes the extra mile. He took time to understand what we wanted to get out of the workshops. He seems to treat this as his calling and not just a job (my words, not his) 2. Richard is super friendly and easy to get along with, and funny. He was just a pleasure to be with in the same all-day workshop. I want to be his friend and have him be a regular in my (professional) life! 3. The workshops for my company had universally rave reviews. We keep on citing Richard in our daily conversation about our communications since and talk about how we have all come so far, thanks to Richard. This is several weeks after the workshop! I researched and interviewed a few other public speaking / communications before finding Richard, and could not have been more fortunate to find Richard. I wholeheartedly recommend him, esp for corporate folks, and plan to work with him again. read more

I had the pleasure of working with Richard over 4 coaching sessions this year. Richard was a great coach and I would highly recommend working with him if you are thinking of improving your public speaking game. He took the time to dive in and understand the situations I have been in and will continue to be presented with in my professional work to identify a different theme that we would work on for each session. For example, one of the sessions revolved around presenting to a large audience, whereas our focus for another day was around holding a discussion with senior executives. I enjoyed the way the sessions were structured - we would start off with a cold presentation by me, from which we would identify areas of improvement and then continue working on them. I thought that setup immensely benefited me. Richard's extensive experience was evident throughout this process. His suggestions for improvement - ranging from my word choice, tempo, energy, and even body language - were all spot on and suggestions that I have eventually adopted through his coaching and extensive practice. I can indeed claim that I have come out of the sessions as a more 'confident speaker'. 10/10 read more

I have enjoyed working with Richard. He is thoughtful and helped tailor his coaching to my requests. He is professional and very knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about public speaking. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to level up their speaking abilities. read more

I really enjoyed working with Richard and would highly recommend his coaching for any kind of public speaking. I was officiating a large wedding and Richard really helped me with both content and delivery. Hope to work with him again soon! read more

Richard's public speaking workshop was a wonderful experience! The Saturday program was well organized and allowed me to practice public speaking, learn various speaking styles, and uncover ways to engage the audience. I work in commercial real estate management and speak in front of groups/staff regularly. I learned a ton of practical tips/ideas to put into action immediately. The class value is tremendous and well worth the investment. read more

One of the best workshops I've ever taken. The format of the workshop--receiving live feedback during speeches and implementing it right then and there --was immensely impactful for improving my public speaking skills. I appreciated that Richard was tactful, yet didn't mince words and provided precise, actionable feedback. He demonstrated every aspect of public speaking that was covered, and also ran through some breathing and enunciation exercises that I was not expecting but immediately saw the value in. My favorite advice of the day was "To have presence, you need to be present." As someone who commonly has difficulty being present, and as someone who also wants to HAVE presence when speaking, I will definitely be remembering this piece of advice. read more

I had the pleasure of attending Richard's workshop "The Secrets of Powerful Public Speaking". It was a fantastic experience. The workshop was highly interactive, and Richard was able to coach and film each of us in turn. As someone who does a lot of public speaking, I found Richard's insights to be extremely helpful in taking my speaking to the next level. I highly recommend Richard if you are a professional speaker looking to up your game or simply want to hit a home run with an upcoming talk. read more

The Confident Speaker - Richard Bannin in action! - Speech Training Near Me

If you're looking to up your public speaking game, I highly recommend working with Richard. Not only is he an expert speaker, but his tips and tricks help you elevate your skills. I recently attended one of his public speaking workshops and learned so much about myself and my ability. In preparation for the class, Richard provided some pre-work for us to ensure we make the most out of the workshop. The group size was small, offering a perfect setting to work on your skills while getting to know everyone. Everything from the pre-work, to the reminder email, to the execution of the workshop itself were well-organized and thoughtful. After taking his workshop, I gave a speech to my company. The feedback I received from the workshop helped me give a well-delivered speech. After my presentation, I got a lot of positive feedback from my peers and my manager. I don't think I could have pulled it off without Richard's help. read more

I have known and worked with Richard Bannin for more than ten years through Toastmasters. Over the years, I have seen him in both speaking and coaching roles with the club. On every occasion, Richard has exemplified the absolute best practices in both public speaking and leadership. He is always prepared, insightful, caring, perceptive, precise, intelligent, and - best of all - he delivers his words with a huge dollop of humor that has his audience laughing and appreciative of what he has had to say. As I see it, working with Richard could only be a positive experience. read more

Great class! Richard is a great teacher who helps in a very practical way. If you are looking for any of public speaking or speech coaching or presentation skills training this will really help you significantly improve your skills. read more

I took one of Richard's speaking workshops a while back. I'm not naturally comfortable in front of people. In fact I hate speaking formally in front of groups (who doesn't). Work however demands that I present fairly regularly on various topics both with and without powerpoints to refer to. I can say that the group setting of Richard's workshop was a great balance between feeling like I was in a safe environment as well as pushing me out of my speaking comfort zone. He has a background in both sales and theater and man will he get you to break some public speaking "rules". My presentations have been more comfortable for me and much much more impactful and exciting for my audiences as well. If you have a speaking engagement or presentation with something on the line I'd definitely recommend doing some work with Richard. read more

Took the 8 hour seminar on Saturday. Great group of people from diverse backgrounds and careers in the city. Richard had a good day set for us and it helped me to notice some of my weaknesses when speaking particularly in groups and meetings and just made me more self-aware. You can't be a pro over night but working with someone who does it for a living is a good place to start. read more

Richard is an excellent communicator and coach. I seeked guidance to improve my communication skills because I know they are lacking. Could I have improved them myself? Maybe. But hiring a coach and hearing feedback to see where I can improve, what old habits I should let go and what new habits I should adopt accelerates my learning curve. I'm glad I hired Richard as a coach because I needed someone who would point out my flaws and tell more honestly where I can improve. With his help and practice I can see that I'm improving day by day but there is still a lot I can improve on and that really excites me! If you're on the fence about hiring a speaking coach, don't hesitate to reach out to Richard! If you do a lot of public speaking, negotiations, or just want to improve your overall communication skills, then spend the investment on yourself. You are the best investment you can make. read more

Oh my goodness, Richard is such an amazing public speaking coach! His attention to my quirky mannerisms and help in focusing my message to a nonprofit audience is so important and helpful! I give him and his services my highest recommendation. In just an hour, I came away with a game plan to explain my message with alacrity and readiness to take on the world! Go chat with Richard today! read more

I had the pleasure of working with Richard this year for the first time and let me tell you this was way more than I expected! Richard is extremely detailed, enthusiastic, supportive, driven, and knowledgeable about his business and industry. Even for those who have 10+ years of experience can come to one of the classes and learn new things and even identify new skills when working with Richard. I highly recommend taking one of his workshops and seeing for yourself the dynamic atmosphere he brings and will leave you wanting more. Thanks for an awesome and educational workshop!! Asher J. Bell read more

I worked with Richard in 2016 when I launched my online Marketing business, EmPower Media. Richard was patient and constructive while we perfected my elevator pitch. Due to his drama background and professional experience he makes an extraordinary coach. Richard really cares about his clients and wants to make improvements in short amounts of time. He is not afraid to tell you how it is. Hire him if you want to improve your business, your life and your public and personal speaking skills. read more

One word can sum up my experience with Richard: WOW! I attended "The Secrets of Powerful Public Speaking" workshop-- a 6-hour, intensive workshop to help improve public speaking skills. I went from legs-shaking, barely able to move in the first presentation to being able to express myself in a grounded, moving way-- with minimal shaking! I have a much better idea of how to properly layout a presentation, not to mention how to make presentations from 30 seconds to 30 minutes engaging for the audience so I don't have a barely-listening crowd on my hands. On a side note, the workshop is also fantastic because it was a great bonding experience for the attendees. We were mostly at similar points in our public speaking skills (though attendees did range from beginning speakers to advanced; Richard gave customized feedback based on where each person currently was), and going through the experience together was phenomenal. Thank you, Richard, for being true to your name and giving me confidence in my speaking abilities! read more

I recently engaged Richard Bannin as a Communications Consultant to bring my public speaking to the next level and I cannot recommend him more highly! I have known Richard through Toastmasters and I have always been impressed how he speaks with confidence and poise. Richard brings to The Confident Speaker a unique and dynamic combination of talents and credentials, including his seasoned business presentation skills, his professional / degreed theatre training, and his extensive Toastmasters experience. Both as a speaker and as a coach he is as good as it gets. As a JD, I have a background in legal services but I am looking for new opportunities to combine multiple other interests, including public speaking. The first project that Richard and I worked on was a humorous presentation. Richard was quickly able to identify aspects of my speech and of my general presentation style that I had not considered and offered practical and achievable suggestions for improvement. Richard helped better organize my structure, refine and get my point across more clearly, and, summoning his acting skills, challenged me to get of my comfort zone by expanding my emotional range and being more deliberate about my vocal and movement choices. I was feeling nervous about this presentation, but after working with Richard, I felt much more confident and at ease. I would definitely recommend Richard to anyone who wants to improve their public speaking skills, whether for professional or personal reasons !! read more

I'm a particular person... :) But I couldn't recommend Richard more highly. While I don't love public speaking, I have to do it often professionally. When I found out I was tapped on to present a TedTalk to my global management team, I discovered Richard on Yelp and tapped on him to help me develop this new muscle. Richard and I met several times and he helped me nail this presentation -- he's officially my new secret weapon! I so appreciate his attention to detail. He modeled pace, tone, and overall framing that really made my story come to life. Last but not least, Richard's just a lovely person. I always looked forward to our sessions together. Thank you again, Richard! read more

Working with Richard was a delight. I hired Richard to help prepare an opening statement for a personal injury jury trial. Richard provided excellent input, that both improved the content of the presentation and the delivery. After two one hour sessions with Richard, my presentation was dramatically improved and I felt confident to present. Richard is a great set of trained eyes to help you take your next important presentation to the next level. Thank you Richard! read more

Working with Richard was the best decision I could've made before stepping on stage to present my app, Explorest, at SXSW. Not only did Richard help me produce a beautifully written pitch, he also helped me to harness my passion for the business in the words I was speaking. He often challenged me to re-emphasis a particular word--to put more heart into what I was saying--which proved extremely beneficial during my actual pitch. And aside from being an awesome speaking coach, Richard is a great guy who showed genuine interest in what I was presenting. read more

I attended one of Richard's speaking seminars hoping to address that near-universal discomfort toward public speaking that most people experience. At the end of the seminar, I realized that I'm actually quite amazing already! Jokes aside, Richard was a very engaging and organized presenter, and his program consisted of incremental individual and group exercises designed to slowly push a small gathering of strangers to become more and more confident in presenting various topics to one another. At the end of the day-long seminar was a "final" presentation that was recorded for our benefit, complete with group and instructor critique. While the individual exercises along the way may not seem otherworldly impressive at first, it's the combination and synchronization of the various tips and tricks and titbits peppered throughout the day that creates a noticeably different presenter in the participant, comparing them from their first hour to their last hour in the program. read more

The best speech coaching, public speaking training, presentation skills coaching!!! Richard is an excellent communicator and coach. I seeked guidance to improve my presentation and public speaking skills. Richard was accommodating to my request even my presentation was a week away. If you're on the fence about hiring a public speaking and presentation coach, don't hesitate to reach out to Richard! If you do a lot of public speaking, negotiations, or just want to improve your overall communication skills, then spend the investment on yourself. You are the best investment you can make. read more

As an attorney, I'm trained to speak in front of judges and juries, and I have years of experience in the courtroom. However, I have less experience in other public speaking venues, so I worked with Richard to improve in those areas. Richard helped me prepare for speaking engagements that I do on behalf of my business. He shared techniques with me that I simply didn't know before working with him: how to move around the room with intention; where to look; how to engage the audience; and how to prepare interesting visuals. Based on my work with Richard I know my speaking engagements are more interesting, professional, and engaging. I highly recommend The Confident Speaker. read more

Richard did a mock interview with me in preparation for an executive level job interview. He did an excellent job in pointing out what I did well and suggesting ways to make my responses more coherent, concise and powerful. He encouraged me to speak with passion and confidence and to demonstrate relevant emotions. He helped me organize my responses for greatest impact. Now I am more excited than nervous heading into my interview. I can't wait to speak confidently at my interview. Thanks Richard! read more

I had the pleasure of listening to Richard Bannin as the keynote speak at a business planning session. Just from his workshop like presentation, I have been able to implement his methods into my own public speaking engagements. He is clear, concise and dynamic in his teaching which makes learning fun. Of all the speaker coaches I have worked with he came out on top. If you need more return from your Speaking Engagements, Sales Presentations or Networking, The Confident Speaker is the one for you. read more

I took Richard's course, "The Secrets of Powerful Public Speaking," and let me tell you: It was nothing short of fantastic. Richard is patient, perceptive, and highly experienced. In this workshop, he will walk you through a series of exercises that allow you to practice using effective speaking tools, and then have you apply them in fully customized role-play scenarios. Since taking the workshop about 6 weeks ago, I have, on countless occasions, thought back to some of the lessons that Richard imparted upon us in the course - "your impression starts when you walk in the room," "your audience reflects back to you what you are giving to them," the right amount of eye contact, and many many other gems. Importantly, Richard did not simply TELL us these lessons, but allow us to experience them with him and burn their truth into our brains. Many of us know a confident and authoritative speaker when we see one. We may even know some of the tools we need to use to seem confident ourselves - sit up straight, lean in, make eye contact. Actually using those tools to speak effectively can be a different story. As a speaker and communicator, I have consistently struggled with effective body language during both presentations and meetings. In the workshop, Richard pushed us to really FEEL what it's like to use body language that commands a room and communicates confidence. Without a mirror to observe myself during meetings, this was the first time I really understood the difference between what I was doing and where I wanted to be. Everyone wants to be taken seriously when they are proposing ideas at work - now I have a road map for how to get there. This course is not just for those who want to traditional public speaking - on a stage with a crowd, with a visual presentation to supplement. Richard has also thoughtfully tailored the workshop to include best practices to use in meetings, where many of us find ourselves on a near daily basis. The habits of effective speaking translate across those forums, but with slight nuances to approach. In Richard's course, you get the opportunity to feel out both scenarios. I can't say enough about the worth of this course. We are challenged to speak and persuade and interest others every day of our lives, and so few of us know how to consistently get it right. Richard will teach you those lessons, and guide you through really living them. If you are serious about improving your speaking, there couldn't be a better way to spend your time. read more

Richard Bannin uses his acting background to make great suggestions on how to improve one's voice, the intelligent use of pauses while speaking, ideas for posture and movement and so much more. I have used his methods, and my public speaking has definitely improved. As an attorney, I am called upon to speak in front of various people and in the court room. Using Richard's methods has definitely made me a better public speaker and improved my confidence as well. I recently watched him do a mock negotiation between two volunteers and he made terrific suggestions for both parties after the demonstration. I heartily recommend him and already have given his name to several business associates. Nancy L. Attorney at law. read more

After taking Rich Bannin's workshop, I had an experience I'd never had before: I spoke in front of people and a) the whole room was filled with guffaws of laughter, and b) I was able to pause, enjoy the moment, and look into people's eyes. I also learned that I am not in fact missing the "public speaking gene" as I thought before. I just didn't have the skills I needed! I highly recommend Rich Bannin, his prices are a screaming deal with you consider what you get from him: the confidence to stand in front of people, feel at home and in your element, and for your words to land the way you want them to. read more

Richard gives highly actionable advice during his coaching sessions. I recently gave a speech using techniques I learned from Richard's class and earned many compliments for 1) structure, 2) story telling techniques, and 3) vocal variety among other areas. Richard's class has helped me go from a solid public speaker to a public speaker with much more range and variety. Would definitely recommend! read more

I just had my video session with Richard. His questions and comments leading up to the session were insightful. During the session he was specific and constructive with explicit praise, concrete suggestions, and provoking questions. Can't wait to get the videos and his summary of the session! read more

I hired Richard Bannin of the Confident Speaker to assist me with my public presentations. I do a lot of public speaking and didn't have any problems with nerves or lack of confidence. But I knew I needed speech coaching to help me organize and simplify my PowerPoints to simplify my presentations and make them run more smoothly. (I suffered from that common problem of too much data and information on each slide.) Richard helped me simplify my slides, organize my presentations, and just make them run much more smoothly. It worked! And it's so much easier than trying to speak from over-stuffed PowerPoint slides (which everyone hates and no one reads anyway). Richard was a fantastic help and so easy to collaborate with. If you do any amount of public speaking, be sure to contact Richard. Highly recommend! read more

Richard came to our meeting to give our group quick tips on how to improve our infomercials. He was very concise and helpful. Meeting with him afterwards taught me quite a bit about myself. You can see his confidence in his body language! Keep up the good work! read more