My first public address

[Ozzy]

Well guys, I've just got back from giving my first proper public presentation to some students studying at Nottingham Trent University. I was told to expect about 30-40 and about 80 turned up!
I was absolutely bricking it, and my leg wouldn't stop jumping, but no-one noticed. Afterwards a lot of them came up and thanked me saying they enjoyed the presentation (which was about my life as an Entrepreneur, highs and lows, and some advice on things I've learnt on the way).

I really enjoyed it in the end, once I got started it kinda just flowed.

[Jayne]

I don't think i'd have the bottle to do that, you are very brave :D

Jayne

[Coding Monkey]

Nice one, Richard. I was asked to go back to my old school and give a talk on setting up and running a company last year. About 20 turned up, which was pretty good seeing that it was at lunch time. I found it really enjoyable.

[creacom]

Well done Richard. It can be really stressing and Im told that it doesnt get better with time !

During one of my talks when I worked with a hotel chain in France I had one of those moments where I went to take a sip of water during the Q&A session and it missed my mouth and fell onto my top !! :oops:

Luckily they had all turned to look at the person asking me the question and noone noticed.

So the lesson for today is - always drink with a straw !! :wink:

[Admiral Collections]

Hi Richard. I have been asked to give a chat about what I do, I'm scared to death but I know once I start talking I will be fine, hence why my old school has NOT invited me.

Well done, it takes real guts.

Nic :wink:

[easyasit]

I reguarly give talks to the northamptonshire natural history society astronomy section
I give a talk to up to 15, and i know them all. but the blasted nerves kick in.
I find a pint or two before proceeding can help!

Al

[bwglaw]

Well done Ozzy..

BTW - NTU was my old Uni. Was you on Burton Street Campus or Clarendon?

[mumper]

I admire people who can get up in front of a crowd and do that - well done Richard.

Now, unacustomed as I am to public speaking....................... :D

[Rob Holmes]

Nice one - Maybe we should start a thread with public speaking tips?

Rob

[MarkPearson]

Great Stuff Ozzy,

First of many?

Would be very daunting, but doesn't everyone feel like this when they have to stand up and be centre of attention.

[dagr]

Well done - the first one is the worst.

In the past I have done a lot of public speaking and still do it occasionally, but to much smaller groups. For me, it did get easier with time, and after a while I completely stopped thinking about it.

I found it easier to speak to strangers than familiar faces (but that may just be because we would take turns at putting at each other off with well-timed coughs, etc).

There are a few important points to remember when speaking, and although obvious, they are difficult to put into practice at the start.

[Ozzy]

I do plan to give more talks throughout this year, as it is a little personal development objective of mine. Yes it is easier to talk to strangers than to people you know, I found that when I did two practice runs to the staff in the office.

It was in the city centre, in the Waverly building on the corner of Peel Street. Is that what they call the Burton Campus, I can't remember.

[bwglaw]

It was in the city centre, in the Waverly building on the corner of Peel Street. Is that what they call the Burton Campus, I can't remember.

I think that is the very old building. Burton Street is the main entrance. However, I spent most of my time at the Nottingham Law School on Chancery Street, near the large Boots Library.

The Uni is so old all faculties are splashed around the City- that is what I liked about the Uni

[Ozzy]

Yes I met the lecturer at the Boots Library and walked to the Waverly Building. Yes it is the old building.

[bwglaw]

Good on you Ozzy - its the best building to give a talk in the old auditoriums. What was the lecturer's name? Gary Watts, Liz Rogers, Richard Stone, Richard Dunbury, Roger Sexton? They are all law lecturer's though

[lowcostinks]

something i could never do. always have in the back of my head what if this happens and what if someone asks something i cant answer.


you've got balls ;) to do something like that!

[Real World Hypnotherapy]

Well done, public speaking is very hard to do.

I have had quite a lot of experience in public speaking and I am fairly comfortable doing it. My dad is a professional after dinner speaker so I think I get a lot of it from him.

The best thing to do is NOT have a drink before doing it as this will put you off. If you are really well rehearsed and know your stuff then public speaking is not as scary as you think.

I have made quite a few speeches in the past and I rehearsed them day and night. 3 x 5 cards are always a good idea too. One great thing I found is to display a mind map or spider diagram, that way you don’t really loose your place. If you can see everything at once you can then talk about any part of it and link it back later.

Matt

[clairemackaness]

I do public speaking all the time in my day job, sometimes at large seminars with well over 300 people, but if I had to talk about me, my art and my business I think I'd crack under the pressure. It's funny isn't it?

If anyone needs help with speech writing by the way, my dads a professional speech writer and he'd be more than happy to help with writing or rehearsing etc..

[Pebble Communications]

Well done.

Despite what someone else said, it DOES get better with time.

Mind you, I've just bottled out of speaking at a conference of 200-400 people including government bods and VIPS. Just a bit too much for me....and the topic wasn't one I was really hot on. If I'd felt confident about the subject I would have tried it.