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Your Guide to Public Speaking
Public speaking can be a scary experience. Feeling a little nervous speaking in front of an audience is normal. If you are feeling totally terrified and petrified with terror, there are many things you can do. The following public speaking suggestions will help you nix the nervousness as you entertain, inform, and motivate your audience.
Be Prepared - Memorize your speech. If you need to have notes with you when public speaking to appear confident, just carry small note cards. Arrange the cards in the order of your speech and only write down bullet points, not paragraphs of text. The cards will keep your speech "on track". Do not read directly from your note cards, just look at them quickly.
Picture Giving a Great Speech - Practice seeing in your mind your speech going well. Picture delivering your speech without fault to an audience hanging on to every word you say.
Get Familiar With the Stage - Visit the location you will be presenting a speech beforehand or arrive early the day of your speech. Make the effort to get familiarize yourself with the stage, sound equipment, backstage areas, and any stairs leading to the stage. Pay careful attention to the amount of public speaking space on the stage so you know how much room you have.
Do an Equipment Check - Make the effort to check your audio-visual equipment. This includes conducting a sound check, learning to operate the microphones, music, projectors, and other public speaking equipment. Also, ensure spare parts are available, such as replacements for burnt out projector bulbs and extra cables. Do not let faulty or broken equipment ruin your speech. Make sure your audio-visual crew knows what they are doing.
Greet Your Audience - If it is possible, take the time to speak with your audience as they arrive. Understanding the nature of your audience will help you feel more comfortable when speaking to them. You may even spark some ideas, stories, or jokes to include in your public speaking speech.
Take a Few Minutes to Relax - Make some time before your speech to get yourself ready. Take some deep breaths and get focused. Do not drink alcohol to relax before speaking. Allow your nervous energy to become positive public speaking enthusiasm for your audience and your message.
If Things Go Wrong, Do Not Apologize - Most of the time your audience will have no idea something in your speech did not go as you wished. That is, they will not comprehend unless you apologize.
Remember That Your Audience Wants You To Do Well - Your audience is looking forward to listening to you speak and they want you to be successful. They want to learn from you and look forward to an entertaining and informative speech.
