Public Speaking

[Kid Presentable]

Big fear. Lots of people's big fear. I've given eulogies and speeches at weddings no problem, but among peers/coworkers without such a sense of occasion I get a little nervous.

Had a presentation today that went pretty well, lots of execs loved it. I tried some different shit, like not worrying about speaking slower, visualising the room ahead of time etc. I think I got lucky.

So. You, and public speaking?

[camo]

My first real presentation worth any merit was a Viva voce given during my fourth year at university. I was pretty calm until 4 minutes prior. Then I started to sweat like crazy...but it went well in the end.

Every time I go away on shoot I try to use the same models and photographers because I dislike having to give them the 'big talk briefing' at the beginning, you know the whole who's running the ship thing. Models and Photographers are a funny bunch (up there own arses).

[na§tee]

i had a bit of a bad stutter at school (actually, looking back, it wasn't so bad but i'd work myself into such a state that it became this absolutely crippling thing.. ugh) and, of course, hated public speaking. i went to a dozens of schools because my dad was in the army, and having to introduce myself was a nightmare. my name was especially difficult to say. so when i say public speaking, i don't mean giving presentations, i mean actually just talking, even if it was just my name, in front of people.

when you had to read out passages of books at school? NIGHTMARE. i would work out what paragraph i would be on and study it over and over again to make sure i'd not fuck up. of course, studying just makes you more nervous, and you're more likely to stumble over your 'bad' words.

as i got older i realised i had to just try to be more chill, so when it got to the age of doing proper presentations, i would always volunteer to go first so i didn't have to sit and sweat it out over my carefully-worded speech.

doing presentations at university was fine. it had a lot to do with my increasing confidence and knowledge of what i was talking about. also there was absolutely no point getting your knickers in a twist about it because it was something that had to be done and not only that, it had to be done well to get a good degree.

in my job now i have to give a few presentations, mostly about film, marketing, communications, audiences blah blah and more than often infront of a cinema full of teens (i'm ms. engaging young people, man) in some regards kids are the most nerve wracking of them all because if you bore them, in a hot, dark cinema, they're just going to sigh, and fall asleep, and chat amongst themselves. i keep it casual and crack a few jokes. i'm all for the sly jokes during presentations! gives you a break and the people listening to you.

[Fern]

Public speaking doesn't really bother me at all. I have to give 5 or 6 big speeches a year. It is the preporation that gets me. If you don't have your shit correct, you look like an asshole. I am pretty good on my feet I must admit

[Kid Presentable]

Yeah being really prepared this time sort of showed me you can really be off-the-cuff to a higher standard, because you always know where you are.

[Gareth]

hate it.
but getting better at it.
was shit scared of mock trials for bar exams but actually it's kinda fun....esp cross examination
but i don't do that kind of work for my job so that skill has been neglected
i've recently had to give presentations to design students...getting started is difficult but once you get going its ok

[Gareth]

in my job now i have to give a few presentations, mostly about film, marketing, communications, audiences blah blah and more than often infront of a cinema full of teens (i'm ms. engaging young people, man) in some regards kids are the most nerve wracking of them all because if you bore them, in a hot, dark cinema, they're just going to sigh, and fall asleep, and chat amongst themselves. i keep it casual and crack a few jokes. i'm all for the sly jokes during presentations! gives you a break and the people listening to you.

yeh i've had to talk to a lecture theatre full of 16 and 17 yr olds...quite daunting

[mikizee]

I hope I will never have to do it.

I'd rather die.

[b i o n i c]

when you had to read out passages of books at school? NIGHTMARE. i would work out what paragraph i would be on and study it over and over again to make sure i'd not fuck up. of course, studying just makes you more nervous, and you're more likely to stumble over your 'bad' words.

haha(y)

i remember hearing my own voice so loudly and myself breathing how it sounds when youre swimming