SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - Speaking in front of the school tomorrow...

Posted: Apr 29 2011 01:17 am

I'm speaking in front of the school tomorrow, as a part of my senior thesis. I'm nervous as hell, it's 1:15 AM and I can't sleep... any suggestions?

Posted: Apr 29 2011 01:19 am

http://www.wikihow.com/Speak-In-Front-of-Large-Groups-of-People

Posted: Apr 29 2011 01:31 am

just dont have one of those dreams where you give the speach in your underwear only to realize its not a dream

Posted: Apr 29 2011 02:24 am

You'll be alright. But if things start going bad, fake a seizure.

Posted: Apr 29 2011 02:44 am

Bring a gun and slam it on the podium before you start to let people know you mean business. That should help your confidence. And if you need help sleeping, drink a lot of beer.

Posted: Apr 29 2011 03:36 am

or how about a giant battle axe into the middle of a table...

that should show everyone how bad ass you are and that you must be taken seriously

Posted: Apr 29 2011 04:33 am

Kill whoever is up before you in the middle of their speech with a gun that shoots axes, that'll show'em you mean business.

Or just concentrate really hard.

Posted: Apr 29 2011 05:07 am

Tell them all they're gay. Very gay. Multiple times.

Joined: Jun 29 2010 Posts: 1818

Picturing everyone in their underwear is a good idea, but it might give you an indiscreet boner. If that happens, picture everyone as spiders, and it should go away. Unless you're attracted to spiders. In which case, you have no business speaking to people, and should go back to your basement.

Posted: Apr 29 2011 05:53 am

Picture everyone having an orgy. Then scream "I am the orgy master!" and whip it out.

Posted: Apr 29 2011 08:24 am

lol at all the joke answers on here.

A tip I was given forever ago is, when you're making "eye contact" with people, look instead at their forehead. They can't really tell that you aren't making actual eye contact, and it gives you something else to look at when you're talking.

On that note, making eye contact. Some people find making eye contact embarrassing, which is why they just stare down at their papers the whole time they're talking. Looking up and around makes you seem more confident.

I guess it dawned on me I'm not sure exactly what you wanted help with. Sad

Not being able to sleep, or your nerves? Tips on how to make the speech go better?

Anyway, hope it helps. Good luck!

Joined: Aug 04 2009 Posts: 2515

What i have found helps me is to not give a fuck about what happens.

People are gonna appreciate that you are going to be nervous, if you stutter, muddle up your words, forget what your going to say then whatever. Just ignore it.

Best of luck!

Joined: Mar 13 2009 Location: Arlington Posts: 467

Is it on stage or in a classroom? If it's in a classroom, I like to walk around and stand behind random students at their desk. Teachers always did this to me and made me nervous as hell.

Seriously though, everyone that has to do this is nervous. Its funny to watch people that would normally act all bad ass during class and make fun of people fall apart the minute they have to speak in front of the class. I wouldn't be worried about the audience. If their students, they'll be bored as shit and won't even listen. If they're teachers, they'll be bored as shit but have to listen. Know your audience and give them a show.

Posted: Apr 29 2011 09:22 am

Semi-relevant, but during one talent show, the winner did a stand-up act. He was nervous as hell, to the point it seemed to be part of his act. When I talked to him after the show, he confessed he really was nervous. Though I don't think the same advice applies to serious/persuasive oratory.

Posted: Apr 29 2011 09:22 am

It's sort of like a conference room in a library.
I enjoyed all the joke answers made me chuckle a bit. but I appreciate all the advice!

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

It is probably done and over, but I wish you some good luck.

Posted: Apr 29 2011 10:11 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

It is probably done and over, but I wish you some good luck.

You got it in just in time lol... I think I did good, I didn't flub up too much and I was able to answer a crap-ton of questions coherently enough to sound smart. Time (and grades) will tell how I did

Posted: Apr 30 2011 04:01 am

Grab the first peon who doesn't give you their total attention and remove their eyeballs with your ballpoint pen, then loudly announce that you have more to say. You should only have to do it three or four times.

Posted: Apr 30 2011 04:03 am

You know what helps me? I watch a lot of Hitler speech videos beforehand. That get's me pumped up for some public speaking.

Posted: May 01 2011 11:51 am

Just keep taking deep breaths between your sentences and you should be fine. Oh, and don't wear any underwear, trust me on that one. You'll thank me later.