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Ed McMahon died yesterday at 86. The thousands of articles about his death and his life will refer to him as a “second banana” or “sidekick,” will cite his catchphrase “Heeeeeeere’s Johnny!” and will touch upon the financial troubles that plagued the latter part of his life.
What they won’t do is talk about Ed McMahon as an author, who wrote a book that every law student and lawyer should read.
Turns out McMahon wrote a few books. The biographies (one inevitably entitled Here’s Johnny), of course, and a book called Ed McMahon’s Barside Companion (perhaps also inevitably). But the book I read was a slim volume (122 pages in paperback) published in 1986 called The Art of Public Speaking. It’s a gem, and it helped make me the lawyer I am today.
To many of us who watched McMahon on “The Tonight Show,” it seemed he had a pretty easy gig. Basically, his job was to introduce Johhny Carson (the classic “Here’s Johnny,” stretched out to three or four seconds), then sit on the couch as the foil for Carson’s bits, throwing in an occasional "You are correct, sir.” He was warm, avuncular (which by the way means unclelike, and nothing else), and familiar. (Many also don’t realize that he was a decorated Marine fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, retiring with the rank of colonel.) He probably got paid a decent amount to warm that couch.
But what many don’t realize was that he was a highly successful and sought-after public speaker. His natural ability led him to write this book, which is sadly out of print. You can find copies through Amazon, though.
In his book, McMahon reveals secrets of public speaking that every lawyer should learn. For example, he discusses the differences between written English and spoken English. He admonishes against writing out your speeches word for word, because — as he puts it — you should “write with your mouth.” Otherwise, you’re left translating your written speech into spoken English on the stage (or in the courtroom), and that’s very difficult to do.
He emphasizes brevity.
In fact, every chapter begins and ends with a suggestion of something to leave out of your speech (examples: self-deprecation about your speaking abilities, statistics, apologies, and long words).
He has other excellent tips for any speaker: Use pairs, repeated phrases, and the power of three. Use the active voice, vigorous words, and specific words. Leave out unnecessary words and phrases, tired terms (clichés), and redundancies. Stop decisively.
He also wrote the best advice I’ve ever read or heard on dealing with prespeech nerves. In fact, Chapter One is called “How to Turn Stage Fright into a Positive Force.” Believe it or not, McMahon got stage fright before every performance on "The Tonight Show." He writes:
If you exploit stage fright in a methodical way, you’ll give a better speech. First understand that stage fright isn’t something you’ll ever get rid of completely. I haven’t. Before every public appearance I feel the tension build; I have a sense of growing concentration; I feel myself rising to the occasion.… Forget about obliterating stage fright — your goal should be to help it give you greater awareness, higher concentration and a finer performance.
As a lawyer, I do a lot of public speaking. I give lectures and seminars, I run employee trainings, I appear in court. And after 15 years of doing this, I still feel nerves beforehand. And because of Ed McMahon’s little book, which I first read 23 years ago, I know that this is a good thing. Because it means that the adrenaline is flowing, and that I’m going to be up for the performance. Nowadays, the only time I get worried is if I don’t feel any nerves beforehand.
So for those of you law students and lawyers who aren’t comfortable with public speaking: “Heeeeeeeere’s Ed.”
Note While the book is out of print, you can find it through Amazon here.