Ideally, we can deliver our presentations without notes but there’s no law against it.
The gods of public speaking are not going to consign you to the bad place for eternity if you bring a few index cards onto the stage.
And as long as you look at the audience more than you do at your paper, they probably won’t notice, either.
If a speech is new or you’re giving a one-off presentation like a wedding toast you’ll hopefully never give again, there’s no need to stress out about whether you’ll get through it.
Tape an outline to the floor.
Leave a script on the lectern.
Even the great orator Winston S. Churchill said, “Never trust your memory without your manuscript.”
Rather than worry about whether or not you’re supposed to use notes, use whatever resources you need to deliver the best performance you can.
If notes will give you the confidence to deliver a better presentation, that’s what’s best for you and what’s best for the audience.
