Do you get stage freight?

[sommap]

Are you able to get up in front of a group and talk, etc.  For some reason, it doesn't bother me.  I can remember way back to when I took a speech class in college.  Someone told me to look out at the audience and imagine they were either in their underwear or naked.    That should break down a lot of the fright about standing before an audience.  I was in a couple of plays in high school, but never aspired to do anything like that professionally.  For one thing, I don't think I was very good. 

[trucktina]

I definitely do get stage fright! I tried to cure myself of it by performing in an open mic show. It didn't work! 

[ktheodos]

yeah, I still do a bit, but I learn how to block it out!

[jneff0603]

I definitely get nervous talking in front of people: sweaty palms, wobbly knees....and picturing people in their undies never did work!

[dreamyxo]

I have no problem speaking in front of a large group of strangers if I am presenting something but growing up I was very shy (still am to some point).  Sometimes in social settings one on one with certain people or in a group if I have to talk to them it's hard for me to make conversation.   

[jcribb16]

  Before I sing in front of people, I experience the upset stomach, sweaty palms, and trembling.  Once I've started and get into the song, I start calming down. Then, for the rest of the day, I just don't feel as up to par as I normally do. I don't like that feeling but I can't seem to shake what I experience before getting up there to sing.

I do a little better with speaking in front of others. I honestly believe being a teacher has helped in that area.  Also, when I was a young girl (in my early to mid teens) my mom was a member of a Toast Masters group (required by her job.)  I always had to go with her. After a while, they started asking me questions and then invited me to do different types of speeches.  They were timed, with the red, yellow, and green lights to alert you.  I think doing that helped to prepare me (I didn't realize it then) for speaking in front of people later in life.

I also tried the "underwear/naked" scenario but it just didn't help me with the singing. One time, I was so nervous before singing (at a church), tried thinking it, and it made me want to laugh out loud - I stopped singing and felt like I was going to faint, trying not to giggle.  The pastor, not knowing what was happening in my 'brain,' was so kind and took a minute to talk to the congregation about using talents for the Lord, even when nervous.  It gave me time to get myself better together.  He then asked me to start again.  After that, I try not to think of that scenario!!! 

[kqa]

That has never been a problem for me.  I was very shy when I was growing up and had no confidence, but I could always say something funny, which worked to my advantage when I was speaking in front of a group.  I've lost the shyness as an adult, and I'm about as confident as possible.

[yaayme]

Nope, never been on a stage, LOL....but I did hate getting up in front of the class in school to do reports.

[jordandog]

Also, when I was a young girl (in my early to mid teens) my mom was a member of a Toast Masters group (required by her job.)

That caught my eye, jcribb! I was also a member of Toastmasters for a many years after a professor I had encouraged me to do it. I was absolutely terrified at first, but was with such a great group of people (most much older than myself) that I started to love it and looked forward to it every month. Our group met on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays and I hated missing it when I had to. It was just 'strange' to see you mention it because I doubt that many young people now even know about the history and rich tradition behind it. I know, without a doubt, that all my wonderful mentors helped me more than they could ever know. My personal demon when speaking is the inevitable blushing I cannot stop when I first start - I have blushed all my life.
The thing that helped me the most was being told, "YOU know what you are talking about, THEY are there to learn, so YOU have the upperhand."

[jcribb16]

  You are absolutely right, jordandog!  I very rarely hear the name mentioned anymore.  My mom worked at State Farm, and yes, they met twice a month.  When I finally did my first speech, I was so nervous, but they were so encouraging, kind, and helpful. Most of the ones there were adults.

 I remember my first speech.  It was how important I felt that overpasses should be built over railroad tracks in major busy areas so that emergency vehicles weren't held up from getting to people or getting the people to the hospitals.  I felt that by doing the overpasses, lives might better be saved or prolonged.

Years later, in my first English 101 course in college, one of my first essays was written on that very speech.

It's nice to know of someone who remembers Toastmasters and can talk about it!  I think those kinds of groups would be a very big help for young people today!  

[sdecaro558]

I've never really had a stage fright problem.  I've acted, I've given speeches, I've sung (not seriously, more as a joke kind of thing since I really can't)...  None of it bothers me.

[amyrouse]

I have terrible stage fright!  I've sang in choirs, sang solos, karaoke, talent competitions and I get so nervous beforehand I could faint, and I get the shakes.  I was on the mock trial team in college, and even though I was one of the team "stars", I would get so nervous that I would forget my opening statement, and they switched me to closings permanently (if I had to make it up instead of memorize it, it seemed to make me less nervous). 

I also spent quite a bit of time doing conferences with the honors program at my college, and we traveled a great deal, from Salt Lake City to Atlanta, and I always got the shakes beforehand.  Now, if I'm out singing karaoke with friends, they usually have to get a couple of drinks in me before I'll get up to sing. 

Its the same with playing SingStar or if someone gives me any sort of recognition even when I don't have to speak.  I put together a collage dvd for my husband's great grandmother's birthday in December, and when I was thanked in front of everyone, and the crowd of extended family looked at me I thought I was going to faint!  Its no surprise, then, that I didn't want a big wedding.  I was nervous enough with our two sisters there.

[thetotalfool]

I don't have a problem with it at all.  I make sure I'm prepared, and don't think any differently about it than doing whatever it is in front of my cat.

[vb543]

I Hate Public Speaking!!!! 

[daggalicious]

Yeah it sucks but you have to learn to overcome it sometimes...