Public speaking

[BelemNole]

I lead a weekly call and have for several years now. Today is different, I get to talk to a couple 4th grade classes. Should be interesting.

I'm fine on calls or even small groups. It's once the group is over 20 or so that I have trouble.

I took a speech class in college decades ago. My first talk was TERRIBLE. The second one required us to give a talk to make people remember our names. My last name is similar to a cocktail. So I talked a little about my family name while making the cocktail. Then drank it. I had practiced it a bit before the class as well. So I was about 4 drinks in by the time I gave it. The teacher asked "that's not really alcohol is it??" I assured her it wasn't.
She commented on the marked improvement from my first speech. For the rest of the semester I took 2-3 shots before each speech and did well in the class.

 

[soybean]

You must be a Catholic

Worse, Lutheran.

 

[torbee]

Over the years I have spoken in front of 100-2,000 in a business capacity quite often and I think I'm OK at it. But, when I'm in the pulpit at church giving the reading one or twice a year I'm nervous bowl of jelly for some reason.

Because Jesus knows what you look like naked.