how do i get over my fear of talking infront of a crowd?

shaggy15

What are some of your ways of talking in front of crowds. I usually practice alot think i have the material but botch it. Then the sweat starts comming down my forehead.

Some classes I can speak fine others I get really nervous. I just don't get it. Most classes I get to know everyone in class and this still happens.

LONGRD

beer and booze.

shaggy15

LongRd. wrote:

beer and booze.

That will look good to the teachers. My speech teacher used to tell us to take a fake shot of energy to help us get in the zone. One kid took a shot of very real shot of tequlea and was very good, so maybe.

stylo17

some say to practice in front of a mirror. I've never done it but they say it helps.

personally, the best way is just to know the material through and through. become an expert on what you're talking about. when you finally talk, you'll be comfortable with it because you're confident in the field.

wolfbear

I think if you're passionate and well informed about something that helps for sure. Also, I just think that some people are more inclined for speaking than others. Practice also helps from what I've heard. I know it's not for me. Good luck!

chadwick

shaggy10680 wrote:

What are some of your ways of talking in front of crowds. I usually practice alot think i have the material but botch it. Then the sweat starts comming down my forehead.

Some classes I can speak fine others I get really nervous. I just don't get it. Most classes I get to know everyone in class and this still happens.

this works for me..

write some deep personal poetry
then go read it to someone or a group of ppl

that will get your stomach all messed up
if talking in front of a crowd bugs ya..
but it wont kill ya and it will help your confidence
at the public speaking level..
after awhile you'll love it..

if i've helped, cool.
if not, bummer deal..

Heineken Helen

picture them all naked

illegal pants

i don't know how i made it through my degree, seminar after seminar, and still survive :eek:

for me... i tried not to give myself a reason to be nervous, that is... if you know your material inside out, if you practice it a bajillion times (try not to learn it as a 'script'), and if you prepare all possible questions beforehand that may get throw your way... you should be right

a long pause to get yourself together (will always seem longer to you than your audience) always helps.. plus a smile.. i find smiling prevents me from rambling on too fast

good luck

nuffingman

Heineken Helen wrote:

picture them all naked

But what if you're addressing a meeting at Weightwatchers :eek:

Heineken Helen

nuffingman wrote:

But what if you're addressing a meeting at Weightwatchers :eek:

well, it'll certainly make them less intimidating hmm... I dunno! Picture them all with bunny ears or something!

DeLukin

I always find that a little humor before you start helps. Not necessarily a joke but maybe a comment or something to break the ice - it's amazing the confidence you can build by hearing your audience chuckle at something (intentionally) funny that you've said. I also agree with stylo 17 about knowing your material inside and out. That allows you room for improvisation during your presentation and in general makes you appear more at ease (as opposed to constantly having to reference notes)... I usually do practice in front of a mirror and time the presentation and find that it helps me to focus on my hands, eye contact, pacing, etc.

SENROCK

nuffingman wrote:

But what if you're addressing a meeting at Weightwatchers :eek:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA freakin great!

reeferchief

Heineken Helen wrote:

picture them all naked

Beat me to it.:)
But then I thought about this, I'd be panning the crowd with a little smirk to myself and the most beautiful girl ever is sure to appear and bang now I'm left with a semi daft one and struggling with getting her out of my mind let alone on what I'm stood there to say.:p

reeferchief

nuffingman wrote:

But what if you're addressing a meeting at Weightwatchers :eek:

That would be too easy:

"Guys, girls, we really need to lose some weight here, here I am trying to picture you all naked so I find it easier to speak to you all at once and it's not looking good believe me, I might have nightmares for a week or more...

catefrances

reeferchief wrote:

Beat me to it.:)
But then I thought about this, I'd be panning the crowd with a little smirk to myself and the most beautiful girl ever is sure to appear and bang now I'm left with a semi daft one and struggling with getting her out of my mind let alone on what I'm stood there to say.:p

then you best just stay behind that lectern.

i find that if i start the talk off casually and slide into the formal talk slowly, im okay. im a good talker but i dnt like to do it cause i dont do the people thing. teaching a class should be an interesting experience for me.

know1

Toastmasters

Flannel Shirt

The thing that makes speaking in front of crowds horrible for me is when I forget to breathe properly. That ruins everything, and then I get nervous about SOUNDING nervous and its a terrible rolling snowball into sweating and a racing heart.

To answer the question, I would recommend practice. It took me a long time to get over it. Take a communications class. I took a literature interpretation class in college and that helped me. It was cool because you didnt have to prepare your own speech, just read poetry, short stories, etc in front of a class. Part of your grade per speech was you had to make eye contact with the class (only could use index cards with notes) and breathe properly, so it helped a lot. The instructor would even stop you in the middle of your speech if you got nervous and your breathing was off and ask the class to give recommendations to you while you were up there on how to handle it better. Its was weird, but it worked.

reeferchief

Flannel Shirt wrote:

The thing that makes speaking in front of crowds horrible for me is when I forget to breathe properly. That ruins everything, and then I get nervous about SOUNDING nervous and its a terrible rolling snowball into sweating and a racing heart.

To answer the question, I would recommend practice. It took me a long time to get over it. Take a communications class. I took a literature interpretation class in college and that helped me. It was cool because you didnt have to prepare your own speech, just read poetry, short stories, etc in front of a class. Part of your grade per speech was you had to make eye contact with the class (only could use index cards with notes) and breathe properly, so it helped a lot. The instructor would even stop you in the middle of your speech if you got nervous and your breathing was off and ask the class to give recommendations to you while you were up there on how to handle it better. Its was weird, but it worked.

kind of like Speech therapy, sounds good.

libragirl

I'm the same way, I cannot talk in front of a lot of people. The whole picture everyone naked just freaks me more out. .

Rhinocerous Surprise

I found forgetting that I have any sense of shame worked pretty effectively.

decides2dream

stylo17 wrote:

personally, the best way is just to know the material through and through. become an expert on what you're talking about. when you finally talk, you'll be comfortable with it because you're confident in the field.

exactly.


if you feel confident in your knowledge you feel WAY more confident in your ability to share said knowledge. the best way to overcome any fear really, is to just do it....over and over...until you conquer it.


i've personally never had a problem per se with public speaking. however, i also took tons of courses and sure, was an education major....taught for 10 years....so yea, you get accustomed and comfortable, in time. i DO still get a wee bit nervous at first, especially when it's a new group, or it's been awhile since i spoke in front of a large group - such as nowadays, 3 years out of the classroom - and sure, adults ....since my 'crowd' has been 14 and under for so long. overall though, i am a fairly confident individual, and comfortable with myself, in groups, speaking ability, etc.....so i find my stride easily.



i think the more you do it, the better you will get and the more comfortable and ease you will be, and more quickly each and every time. good luck!

Heineken Helen

I dunno... ya still need something to help you with confidence! There have been several issues that I feel very very strongly about... but when I'm put on the spot and somebody asks me 'why' I'm completely blank sometimes! It pisses me off... ok, speeches usually aren't being put on the spot.. but knowing the topic inside out often isn't enough :(

That's why I picture them all naked

mca47

I'm not really the nervous type but...

I'm my brother's best man for his upcoming wedding and I'll have to give the toast in front hundreds of people. That kinda freaks me out a bit. I was thinking about just winging it (I'm usually good "on the spot") but I think if I try that in front of so many people I might end up f'ing it up.

I think I'm just going to put back a few shots beforehand. LOL

Flannel Shirt

mca47 wrote:

I'm not really the nervous type but...

I'm my brother's best man for his upcoming wedding and I'll have to give the toast in front hundreds of people. That kinda freaks me out a bit. I was thinking about just winging it (I'm usually good "on the spot") but I think if I try that in front of so many people I might end up f'ing it up.

I think I'm just going to put back a few shots beforehand. LOL

I was best man for a bud of mine and I was going to wing it, until that morning. I spend the first four hours of the morning sitting at my table working to come up with something. The thought of the possible embarrasment of having nothing to say and stumbling over my words scared the shit out of me that morning for some reason. I wanted to create a balance of the nice things I said about him and her, and I could imagine myself saying "and she is nice too....a toast to them". I think its kinda odd when the best man only has stories and things to say about the groom.

A few beers/shots to loosen up helped.

prytocorduroy

The only way to get comfortable is to practice. So speak in front of people as often as you can. Make it become a normal activity.

AmentsChick

One word...

alcohol

JOEJOEJOE

If I rehearse too much, I get nervous that I will forget something, so I usually just have an outline to follow, and my spontanoeus mind takes it from there.

Who Princess

People have given a lot of good advice. I used to teach and I've done a lot of public speaking. I was always very nervous when I first started out but I got over it with time. So by 'practice' I don't think it means practicing your speech over and over--just get as much experience speaking as you can. That helps you with those unexpected questions and interruptions.

The best preparation, as other people have said, is knowing your subject. If you're really familiar with it you'll feel comfortable talking about it. If you're interested in it your enthusiasm will come through and you'll really look good.

As far as picturing people naked and silly stuff like that, it never worked for me. I've always felt like I had to earn a group's trust and that wouldn't happen unless I knew what I was talking about.

And if it's appropriate, smile! If you look like you're having a good time the audience will too.

libragirl

Sometimes at meeting I have to talk in front of a lot of my coworkers and I feel self conscious. We have these semi annual staff meetings that include these icebreaker activities, I hate that.

Rhinocerous Surprise

A tip I picked up from a Dilbert book:

If you're feeling really nervous a little bit into your speech, stop, and look at the person at the back of the crowd you're talking to. Ask him/her if they have a question. They'll say no, since you're just picking them randomly. Then you say "Sorry, you just looked really confused." That way, you've shifted everyone's judgement onto that person, and you look smart already.

JOEJOEJOE

Join the WuTangClan...they have alot of members on the mic, so you'd just have to grunt into the mic a few times, and RZA and GZA would do the rest.