Calming nerves before speech?

What can I do to calm my nerves before a speech? My only real problem is jumbling my words and looking like an idiot, getting red faced or shaky. The speech is timed so I cant hurry up and finish or take too long, I have to be steady. It's a big part of my grade.

Will something simple like asprin help with this? No drugs/alcohol.

I used to have a couple of beers before giving presentations at university – it worked surprisingly well bar one time where I accidentally got a little smashed and slurred a load of rubbish for 45 mins.

Nothing, just stay calm. Don't think too much about the speech.

"internal" nerves, as in self-esteem isn't the problem, I just exhibit the physical symptoms of nervousness, red face, shaky voice, hurry'd speech etc... I have to stay in a "groove" to be within the time limit, I dont want to screw up. -Red-Cell-

Try not to worry about screwing up, because when you do screw up you'll start to get mad at yourself, and you'll be thinking about it the whole time. One screw up will turn into another, which will turn into another. Your focus should be on the message.

I just try to calm myself and focus on what I am going to say, maybe do a little practice in my head on how my speech will go.

What can I do to calm my nerves before a speech? My only real problem is jumbling my words and looking like an idiot, getting red faced or shaky. The speech is timed so I cant hurry up and finish or take too long, I have to be steady. It's a big part of my grade.

Will something simple like asprin help with this? No drugs/alcohol.

-Red-Cell-

Try letting out a big fart while on stage. Then nothing you can do would be more embarrassing and you'll be relaxed.

If you don't want to try that, imagine talking to one person instead of a crowd. Also PREPARE PREPARE PREPARE.

Mentally you'll know that you know your stuff. Kind of like learning a song by singing it over and over.

Also, mentally imagine giving the speech in front of a crowd. That way it won't seem so foreign.

Of the things that has helped me calm down, simply doing whatever I can to distract myself beforehand helps the most. I've preached and taught on numerous occasions and what always helps me is concentrating on the music beforehand. If all of my thoughts are on other things, how can an audience intimidate me?

Also when speaking, keep your focus on the material, not the audience. When actually speaking, act as if you are only speaking to one person. Often when I am speaking I am watching a select few people the entire time (though not staring them down, I move my focus throughout the speech/sermon. Do not think too much about this when speaking though). Other people might need to never even look at the audience in the eyes (but still in the general direction).

Also, make certain you practice more than might even be needed, and do not drink caffeinated drinks before you speak. The caffeine will make your nerves even worse.

In summary, know the material and keep your focus on that material. Advice is good, but often thinking about these things while actually speaking will slur your speech.

Like most people have said take a couples sips of some alcohol got me through my comms class and other presentation for business law.

I hate speeches they are the worst. I hope it goes well for you, I really do.

What can I do to calm my nerves before a speech? My only real problem is jumbling my words and looking like an idiot, getting red faced or shaky. The speech is timed so I cant hurry up and finish or take too long, I have to be steady. It's a big part of my grade.

Will something simple like asprin help with this? No drugs/alcohol.

-Red-Cell-

Nut up and and do it. Like seriously. I get nervous when i go up and present infront of the class. Just before you start, take a deep breath andspeak naturaly.

What ever you do don't drink two cans of red bull before you go on stage. I did that once, it looked like I was having a sesiur on stage. Still don't know why I thought this was a good idea. Really though, I've never been able to find a way to get rid of the pre-speech nervousness. Just make sure your comfortable with the subject material, and when your up on stage, it will all come together.

I used to have a couple of beers before giving presentations at university – it worked surprisingly well bar one time where I accidentally got a little smashed and slurred a load of rubbish for 45 mins.

poptart

What do you talk for 45 min? Honesylty i thought 5 minutes was long lulz

What can I do to calm my nerves before a speech? My only real problem is jumbling my words and looking like an idiot, getting red faced or shaky. The speech is timed so I cant hurry up and finish or take too long, I have to be steady. It's a big part of my grade.

Will something simple like asprin help with this? No drugs/alcohol.

-Red-Cell-

tbh hugging a friend always calms my nerves and workds for me

[QUOTE="poptart"]

I used to have a couple of beers before giving presentations at university – it worked surprisingly well bar one time where I accidentally got a little smashed and slurred a load of rubbish for 45 mins.

deathtarget04

What do you talk for 45 min? Honesylty i thought 5 minutes was long lulz

It was about altruism – 30 mins of rambling then a 15 mins open forum which people used to work out what the hell I'd been waffling on about.

Safe to say I didn't pass that particular module.