Tomorrow evening I've got an AGM with the society of my course at university, and I'm running for the position of social sec (the guy who gets everyone to drink, basically). This year, unlike the last four years, there are two people running for the position, rather than one. That means one thing: speeches.
Now, I haven't spoken in front of a crowd for a seriously long time. We're talking around 5 or 6 years, and that was to around 800 people. Now I'm going to be delivering my speech to a group of around 30-50 people, which isn't that bad really. I've done small powerpoints at college within the last year, so this should be a walk in the park.
But it raises an interesting topic: how many of you are good public speakers? Are you confident on the spot, or are you a little more reclusive and unwilling to be involved in something like that? I know that I speak quite quickly under pressure, so I need to slow it down a notch. It's only for a society, anyway.
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I'm good at public speaking but I do not enjoy it. The worse part for me is preparing for it.
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I suck balls at public speaking. My stuttering doesn't help that fear at all either. I tend to rush through my lines when I get nervous, so I have to constantly make a conscious effort to keep my speech rate under control or I will quickly start to loose it mid-speech and turn my well-crafted presentation into a flaming train wreck from hell. The only speech I've done well on was in my 2nd year of college. I smoked a fat Cuban cigar before the speech to calm my nerves and it worked beautifully. I was offered other substances, but given the locale I declined.... Granted, being a bit buzzed may have helped even more IMO.
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Yeah man, I get standing ovations.
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just convince yourself that you care more about your appearance and what you have to say than the audience does; drink water and breathe before hand otherwise
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I used to freeze up and my voice would crack, but now I can get through it. I don't like making speeches at all.
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i am. bro