Professional Speakers Day is celebrated on August 7 every year. This day is an occasion to celebrate all the people who stand up in front of an audience. These people talk about different topics to inform, educate, persuade and encourage people to take action about the things that matter to them. Professional speakers have an enormous impact on the lives of the people who listen to them. Teaching, persuasion, or entertainment — no matter what the goal of the speakers, they all influence the people who hear them talk. Professional speakers engage in public speaking, which is also known as oration. They speak to different kinds of audiences, either live on stage or through pre-recorded videos.
History of Professional Speakers Day
Professional Speakers Day is celebrated on August 7. It is a day set aside to celebrate all the professional speakers of the world who take up public speaking in front of an audience. Professional speakers have different goals for their speeches. They might want to inform people about something, persuade people to do something, or entertain people by talking about something interesting. The best public speakers in the world always have an impact on their audiences. People listen to speeches to learn something new or to look for ways to transform their own lives.Public speaking as a field developed in Greece and Rome, where it was an important part of rhetoric — the art of persuasion. Today, public speakers are not only looking to persuade their audiences but also educate them or entertain them. Regardless of the type of speech, all speakers aim to get their audiences to act in some way, either by incorporating the knowledge they have gained or taking some action based on what they have learned.In the history of professional speakers, there is some evidence of speeches being made in Egypt, but the first records of the rules and principles of public speaking used by professional speakers are from Ancient Greece. In a culture where the people had to speak for themselves rather than through advocates, every citizen needed to learn the rules and methods of speaking professionally. When the Romans took over, they adopted the Greek system of teaching students public speaking and it was developed into a full curriculum. They added training in grammar, warm-up exercises, and declamation.
Professional Speakers Day timeline
Demosthenes, a famous professional speaker, delivers his first political piece of oration.
Taught by Plato, one of Ancient Greece’s best professional speaking teachers, Aristotle records the rules of professional speaking in his work, “Rhetoric.”
After they take over Greece, the Romans adopt and further develop the curriculum for public speaking.
In the U.S., women are banned from speaking in public from the 1700s to the 1800s, as it is believed that women should be seen and not heard.
Professional Speakers Day FAQs
What is a professional speaker?
Career professional speakers are people who make speeches to large groups as their job.
What is a professional speaker called?
A professional speaker is called an orator.
What are the skills you need to be a speaker?
Good public speakers write intelligent speeches and deliver them impactfully.
Professional Speakers Day Activities
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Take a public speaking class
Brush up on your oratory skills and learn how to communicate your ideas better through a professional speakers’ class.
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Listen to a professional speaker
Pick a topic of your choice and find a professional speaker to listen to, and be prepared for your life to be changed!
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Read about great public speakers
There are a lot of important professional speakers in the United States, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Frances Wright, and we can all learn a lot from them.
5 Important Facts About Professional Speaking
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Confucius was a professional speaking scholar
Confucius is popularly known as a philosopher and politician, but he was also a scholar of public speaking.
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Professional speaking was taught in special schools
In Ancient Greece, Plato founded The Academy, and his student, Aristotle, founded the Lyceum to teach students the rules of professional and public speaking.
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“Rhetoric” is the oldest book about oration
Written by Aristotle, this famous book is one of the foundations of all professional speaking, and modern speakers still refer to it.
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Maria W. Stewart was an important figure
As one of the first female professional speakers in the United States who was also of African descent, Maria W. Stewart broke a lot of barriers.
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There is a fear of public speaking
Known as glossophobia, the fear of speaking in public is one of the most common fears among people.
Why We Love Professional Speakers Day
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We think professional speakers are important
Professional speakers can change lives through speech. We want to celebrate all the good work they do when they go up on stage.
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We want to listen to speeches
Having a day set aside to just listen to speeches and grow as people is a great way to honor all the professional speakers we know. And what could be better than learning something new?
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We want to encourage professional speakers
Professional speakers make the world a better place, and we want to encourage more people to take up this art. Not only does it help educate the masses, but encourages them to spread their ideas.
Professional Speakers Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | August 7 | Monday |
| 2024 | August 7 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | August 7 | Thursday |
| 2026 | August 7 | Friday |
| 2027 | August 7 | Saturday |
