100 people!
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I wouldn't be able to do that... I don't even like people watching me or looking at me at all!-
Mathmaniac
- Silver Member
- Posts: 133
- Joined: 16 years ago
- Location: NJ
Sometimes the best way to get over a fear is to confront it head on. If you ever "have to" speak in front of hundreds or thousands of people (or even 10 or 20), just assume it has to be done by you, and focus on what to say, not on the fact you will be speaking.
"The true joy of life is the journey. Don't become obsessed with calculating the steps to achieve goals. Instead, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less, and enjoy the presence of the people around you."
- Dr. John Grieco, 1941-2004
- Dr. John Grieco, 1941-2004
One tip I read about confronting/avoiding nervousness about public speaking or performing or whatever is to figure out what you do when you're nervous--twitch your knee, bite your fingernails, breathe rapidly, tense up, or whatever--and consciously force your body to not do those things. Strange as it may seem, this not only reduces the symptoms of being nervous but somehow also makes you feel a bit less so, too.
I've never spoken to thousands of people, but I have at times made presentations of various sorts to dozens people and been in music groups performing for reasonably sized audiences. It's never been a big fear of mine, but that doesn't mean I always feel calm and collected, either!
Only a couple of weeks ago I gave a presentation/lecture at in a telephone conference at work, a slightly surreal experience. It's precisely like talking to an empty room; there's no feedback at all during the presentation from the people listening. It's really strange not having any sense of whether a bit of humor fell flat or not, or whether what you said made sense or completely confused people. (The call did go very well for me, thankfully.)
I've never spoken to thousands of people, but I have at times made presentations of various sorts to dozens people and been in music groups performing for reasonably sized audiences. It's never been a big fear of mine, but that doesn't mean I always feel calm and collected, either!
Only a couple of weeks ago I gave a presentation/lecture at in a telephone conference at work, a slightly surreal experience. It's precisely like talking to an empty room; there's no feedback at all during the presentation from the people listening. It's really strange not having any sense of whether a bit of humor fell flat or not, or whether what you said made sense or completely confused people. (The call did go very well for me, thankfully.)
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Mathmaniac
- Silver Member
- Posts: 133
- Joined: 16 years ago
- Location: NJ
Quick update: a little more than a month after we hit the 100 mark, we're at 127 now!
"The true joy of life is the journey. Don't become obsessed with calculating the steps to achieve goals. Instead, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less, and enjoy the presence of the people around you."
- Dr. John Grieco, 1941-2004
- Dr. John Grieco, 1941-2004
