Best way to get over nerves when speaking in front of a crowd?

[misle]

Tomorrow, I get to stand in front of fellow students and Professors and give a presentation. I am but one of four in my group, but I really don't like speaking in front of people. And my section of the presentation is about 5 minutes.

I always seem to start well, but then the nerves kick in and I can feel my face getting warm/turning red (what normally happens when I'm nervous or extremely embarrased).

Anyway, I really would like to get over this, so does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks.

Edit: To be honest, I'm really not that nervous about it now. Right before I speak, I'll get anxious, then while speaking, the nerves creep in.

Maybe :beer:x2 before the show will help...

 

[Crusty]

Get drunk

 

[iamwiz82]

I have found that preparing my speech beforehand actualy screws me up because I mix up words and such. I prefer to shoot from the hip when it comes to presentations, usually with a copy of the slides in my hand so I can jot down notes.

 

[VoteQuimby]

imagine everyone in the audience is naked

 

[bootymac]

Don't be a puss?

I have no problem with presentations, even when I'm soloing it. Don't know.. I rather enjoy presentations and being the center of attention (aka attention whore)

 

[mercanucaribe]

In sitcoms they say to pretend everyone is in their underwear. I doubt that works though.

 

[ShowdOWN]

take a valium

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Play the part of "One Step Closer" (by Linkin Park) in your head where Chester starts screaming "Shut up!". Be careful not to say it out loud though :laugh:

 

[misle]

Originally posted by: bootymac
Don't be a puss?

I have no problem with presentations, even when I'm soloing it. Don't know.. I rather enjoy presentations and being the center of attention (aka attention whore)

Yeah, yeah. One guy in the group is that way. The other two are indifferent. I'm the only scardy-cat.

 

[olds]

Sack up

 

[dsfunk]

skip class

 

[Cattlegod]

take a few deep breaths before you have to speak.

 

[misle]

Originally posted by: dsfunk
skip class

Man, I wish. This presentation is the final in this class. It's a capstone class and I get to attempt to explain a wireless system that we have attached to a high performance Radio Controlled Nitro Truck. Fun, fun.

 

[cjgallen]

I HATE presentations. The only thing that really makes it better is to do it more and more.

 

[grrl]

I don't know, realize that a lot of people would be just as nervous as you?

 

[FeuerFrei]

POP SOME XANAX
you'll be ultra relaxed

 

[Landroval]

I recommend rehearsing your main points (NOT memorizing a script), so when nerves kick in you keep going. If you can manage eye contact, excellent. If not, look just over people's heads OR at a friendly face. If something does go wrong, make a quick joke about it and move on. Good luck!

 

[gar3555]

I wouldn't recommend getting drunk, but I like a little glass of scotch or whiskey before a good presentation...then many, many more afterward

 

[Orsorum]

The best advice I can give is simple advice: know what the fvck you're talking about, and know your audience. If you know what you're talking about and you know what your audience needs and wants to know, your presentation will go fine. If you're so nervous and clueless that you're trying to memorize a presentation verbatim, you're going to look and sound bad.

It's taken me... nine years of schooling to learn that, but I've taken it to heart in the last year and it's helped so much that that's all I do now. I don't even prepare a list of notes, I just study the material I'll be presenting on over the course of two days to a week beforehand.

 

[DaWhim]

practice make perfect.

 

[cchen]

rub one out in the bathroom before you go onstage

 

[cerebusPu]

i winged two presentations the other day. the first one i delievered perfectly. the second one i got nervous and screwed up. i didnt seem very professional at all.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Wear a thong.

 

[bootymac]

Oh, forgot to mention.. I hate practicing and that stuff before a presentation. Learn it well enough the first time you're doing it, then you should know enough of it. Practicing can add way more stress and make you more nervous.

 

[geno]

breathe and take things slowly, that wosk for me. Usually when I'm not in form, I'm rushing my words and stumbling over them. Just try to pretend you're speaking to one person instead of a room full of them.... but most of all, don't get all freaked out by thinking about it this far beforehand