MOSES! i gotta do a presentation in front of hundreds!
 

KRAP! i got decent at making presentations/speeches in front of smaller crowds..but i think i will vapor lock in front of an auditorium. i am not good at public speaking..i hate it!

boss man loves my smaller venue stuff..and "volunteered" me to make a presentation! happens at the end of the month.

just curious. moses once mentioned a pill that can calm anxiety and make a presentation bearable. maybe smoke a bowl, and do a shot of mescal?

SOB! this is gonna suck.

"Imagine them all in their underwear"

That has to be the stupidest thing, ever. Especially if there are hot chicks there. And even more so if the chicks are very not-hot!

auditorium full of engineers..i imagine army panties...gag.

klonopin, little yellow, can make one a bit uncoordinated, impair your balance but that seems to go away with more use.

I have done many and have come to enjoy it.

1. Do not just read slides (if you have a presentation)
2. Speak from the heart and summarize what your critical points are.
3. Enjoy that you have something worthy to say that others can learn from.
4. Ignore the one or two that hate you, the other 99% are ok with you..
5. Know your subject extremely well, and the 1-5 points you want to get across...

Dress nice. Shave. get there early and walk the room. Chat with the audience before calms your nerves. Do not give yourself any time to get nervous; just get up and get on with it...

Just keep your eyes closed the whole time.


KT

I've done a couple of conference presentations where the audience was quite large. In one of these large presentations, the majority of the audience was hostile to the presentation that I was delivering. I knew that would be the case ahead of time, so I just smiled and kept on point, even as I was being heckled. Real character building stuff. :D

Generally, I think the large audiences weren't all that much different than presenting to a group of 1-2 dozen people. Just take plenty of time to prepare your presentation, and think about what questions your audience might have and how you might answer them. Keep smiling. :)

first thing you need to do is change your words,
if you tell yourself that your going to do a great job and keep on that path , then your results should mirror this thought path.
Prepare yourself for the presentation in front of a mirror, dont slouch,
you will be spectacular, and volunteered again for your great presentations skills

Largest group I has spoken before is about 1500.
Usually 100-150, a few times a month.

You'll get used to it. :)


KT

1/2 a bottle of Jack should take the edge off. Kidding of course. try looking above the people not at the people them selves, you have to scan the crowd just don't stare at them, if you know your stuff it will be a cake walk. The Q&A will be the hardest part if your not ready with the answers, run through it a bunch of times, not thinking what your going to say but actually give your talk out loud.

I'm totally going.

I have done many (many) presentations to large groups (personal record is to 3,500 people) and I am one of those individuals that really enjoy public speaking (and English is not even my 4th language), a few suggestions based on experience (aside from the other previous recommendations), none of them chemically induced:
- Be very familiar and have practical experience with the subject
- Review the presentation, not just the slides but in presentation mode (some screens may not show)
- Do not read the slides, people can do that. Talk about the slide
- Speak slower (about 10% slower) than you will normally do, if you feel that you are rushing take a deep breath and slow down. Vocalize
- Look at the people, right to left, left to right
- Stand still or walk, do not stay behind the podium or shift your weight from feet to feet
- Do not have anything in your pockets; cigarettes, lighter, loose change, etc.
- Be early, setup and test the equipment, walk the room and talk with people/audience
- Allow time for Q&A session
- Enjoy it!!, there is no difference between small groups and large groups

Many years ago, I was working for a network security firm. One of the salespeople asked me if I would come with him to the United Nations to speak about computer network security. as I did this all of the time, I said "Sure". Now, I was anticipating that I would probably be speaking with maybe 6 to 12 people from their IT group while drawing on a white-board.

We got to the UN building and had a brief meeting with our contact in his office. He led us down the hall and we opened a door where there were about 400 people seated. This was the room:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1263917933.jpg

It took me a second, but I realized that there is no real difference between addressing a group of 10 or 500. I knew my subject matter cold and that is why the group was there. I just moved forward and actually had a great time.

Exactly. I've done a lot of this in the past. Early on I used to take a slug of whisky before each gig. Helped to keep the butterflies away.

After a while this was no longer necessary.

Some key pointers:

-Know your stuff.
-Keep it simple: try to get only a limited number of points across.
-Speak slowly.
-Humor is good.

Remember the old saw: "A good presentation is like a mini-skirt: It should be short enough to be interesting, and long enough to cover the essentials."

Inderal. Small doses. Miracle drug.

speech
 

Put a lemon drop in your cheek and know that public speaking is an intangable asset that very few people possess and that if executed well, over time will turn into a tangable asset.

you should take a look at a book - presentation zen. It really is more about designing presentations but I guarantee the presentation will be much better than any other you have seen. Most in the audience have been bored to death by power point and the book really takes a different approach and you will hold the audiences interest.

My best presentation story is showing up with a 50 page presentation to present to 75 people. Only problem was the person who booked the room neglected to arrange for a projector. I muddled thought it without the projector and actually had some really possitive comments about it.

It's much, much more difficult to speak to 10 people than 1000. You'll be fine. Think of cratches.

Slap, Slap, like that.

Maybe your boss "volunteered" you because you are better than you think.

Prepare your speech and practice. And maybe practice in front of a couple friends who will give you constructive input.

+1 on all of these - especially #5. I have done many of these and actually enjoy it. I rehearse almost exactly how I am going to "talk" each chart over and over so when I get up there it just flows naturally.

I have done it a few times and find a large group much easier than a small one because you really don't make personal contact with the audience like you do with a small group. Know your subject, be confident and no BS, you'll do just fine.

Most stressful events for me have been funeral eulogies, have done two for very good friends and I was on egg shells, emotional stress and just saying the right things, not too serious and not too funny. It's one of those events in life where you truly believe every eye is one you.

I never took any of these events lightly and good preparation is critical for me.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do just fine. It's natural to be nervous but you can be confident as well w/o being cocky.

I've done a fair bit of public speaking, and learned to really have fun with it. My suggestions will mirror many of the above, but I'll focus on one thing others don't seem to stress:

Yes, know your subject matter. I assume you do.

Do not hand out stuff that will distract your audience during your talk.

Do not write a speech. Write an outline. Just follow the outline.

Keep it brief. Unless you are being told to fill a two-hour hole in the agenda, keep your presentation simple and streamlined.

And most importantly, TALK SLOWLY. Not just 10% slower than normal. Between 50% and 100% slower than normal. Give the audience your piercing gaze.......open your mouth, and make fully-enunciated statement and then close your mouth and continue to gaze at the audience. Then......do the same thing again, same statement. And pause again. This helps them listen and remember. It makes your remarks seem important.

As the old saying goes "Tell them what you are going to tell them, then tell them that, then tell them what you told them." Seriously. If your effectiveness is perfect, you will still be able to count on one hand the things they will remember. Really, the limit is about THREE.

And again, remember......PAUSE is your friend. After every important remark......PAUSE. For five or ten seconds.

If he talks 100% slower, he can just skip the whole thing... ;)

Or he could just talk like the "O"man and no one would listen anyway!

Supe is right..
if he doesn't remember to go slow..
he will find his 20 min. spiel is done in 8..
practice..and practice..
layed my watch on the podium..
outline marked in time..
be here 3 minutes in..here at 6 and so on..
relaxs..
you will not remember that your zipper is down..
and you've got mismatched shoes on..

Rika

Aside form some posts there is really sound advice from all. Good Luck! and keeps the uh's and ah's to a minimum!

Vash, if you know the topic well just act like you're having a conversation with the audience. Don't read the slides, don't lecture them...just share what you know with them. Works for me.

I have given presentations to large groups of people a good dozen or so times. (500, 1000, even 2000 people). Pretty much all of what was said above holds true.

You will probably be nervous in the first 10-30 seconds -- recognize this, and work through it. The quicker to get over the barrier, the less likely anyone will notice that you were nervous to begin with!

Definately use an outline, not a word-for-word speech.

Humor is fantastic, but I have a golden rule about humor -- use it sparingly, and if 20% of the audience 'gets it,' then your humor has succeeded - then the remaining 80% of the audience will listen more intently to make sure they don't 'miss out' the next time you say something funny.

Know your material, and know what you do not know. If asked about something that you are unfamiliar with, don't be afraid to say you don't know. Chances are, the person asking the question already knows the answer and may be trying to discredit your whole presentation.

If using powerpoint -- use large fonts. 3-5 major points per slide. These points should not be verbose, and should not give away the main point. Either 'clear the board' with each new slide, or reveal each point one at a time on a given slide. (Clear the board = "On the topic of X, I would ike to address the following points: 1. blah blah blah. 2. Blah blah blah. 3. Blah blah blah...). If you don't "clear the board," then while you are addressing your first point, your audience will be reading the rest of your points, and not paying attention to you.

If making eye contact with your audience worries you, you can simply focus on just behind the last row of people. But make sure your gaze does not stay in a specific spot -- be sure to pan bach and forth. That being said, a good presenter NEEDS to be able to look the audience in the eye in order to read them. Their faces can reveal if your pace is too slow or fast, if your points are clear, if your volume is good...etc.

Have someone in the back of the room hold up a countdown sign - 15 - 10 - 5 - END at the appropriate times. This will help if you need to increase your pace or slow it down. However, beyond a tiny nod to that person recogizing your time left, do not let the rest of the audience in on the fact that someone back there is helping you keep track of your time. (I hate it when presenters state, "The guy in the back of the room just gave me the 5 minute warning - I'd better finish up quickly...)

If someone is trying to side-track your presentation, don't be afraid to say, "Why don't you and I discuss that topic during the next break? I'd like to get into more detail on that, but I simply don't have the time to do so right now." This will help dispell not only that heckler, but others who may attempt to take your presentation off track.

Keep your hands out of your pockets, and out of your face.

Use a laser pointer if applicable. But use it sparingly, or not at all if your have a shaky hand.

Keep a bottle of water close by in case you get dry throat.

Expect technical difficulties and have plans to counter them. For example: Have a copy of your powerpoint in print infront of you in case your laptop dies, and have a copy of your presentation in at least two formats (original power-point and ADF) on a thumb drive.

Most important - have fun up there!

-Zoltan.

Vash, I am no doctor, but a family member who is says that beta blockers taken by many for high blood pressure are known to alleviate many "symptoms" of "stage fright". While researching this a bit on Google while wondering how it would help shooting in pistol matches, I read somewhere that s many as 25% of professional musicians take one prior to big performances to control any shakiness associated with stage fright.

It has been banned in Olympic shooting/archery. I believe it is also banned in many other shooting competition due to how it gives some people an unfair advantage.

This is all you need to know. Superman recommends solid public speaking technique. Tim is talking about low dose Beta blockers that slow the heart rate and "trick" the body into thinking you're calm. It's pharmacologic biofeedback. It works wonders.

You'll be fine. Just be relaxed and yourself. Sure the first few moments are always nerve whracking but, every time and I mean every time I walk out on stage or start to play in front of people, my knees are weak for the first two or three songs. It's natural. Once you get going you will be fine. I've had to stand in front of 20,000 people and 20 people it's always the same. Glad you can't see that far in a dark room. Outdoors you can see a heat bloom over them sometimes. That's pretty cool.

Practice, practice practice. Don't memorize it or it will sound memorized. Remember the arrangement, not every note.


Right Gogar?

I have to brief some Navy big-wigs flying in from Virginia during my reserve drill this weekend. I think what helps me is trying to take my time, and not rushing myself. When your lips get ahead of your mind, you start getting frustrated and it usually shows. Just be confident and don't rush. Good luck, and don't sweat it! :)

my first "real" large group, i just jotted down 10 important things in outline form, in case i needed it. never needed it. by the time i had organized my thoughts on a card, no problem.

now, with todays prepackaged presentations, i just go in and wing it. the hard part is keeping it on topic as it goes astray.

I have to look into this...I have severe anxiety and freeze up when I have to speak, even if there are only 4 people in the room! It's very embarrasing, I sometimes have to literally stop and take a pause because I'm stammering so bad...seems to be getting worse with my age (I'm 40)...

Any other social situation I'm fine, just happens when I'm in a meeting usually with a potential client!

I used to be EXACTLY the same way. Inderal fixed it. I am pretty comfortable now, even without it. I've done a little bit of TV stuff, too and it works wonders. The best part is it's not a sedative or tranquilizer. It has NO effect on your ability to think clearly. It just keeps your pulse and blood pressure low and steady. I highly recommend it.

all good advice here...i do 5 or 6 presentations a year in front of about 400 international sales people...

my simple advice: be openly PASSONATE about what you are presenting, and speak with a semi-LOUD voice..not screaming of course, but one notch above normal...

remember don't take for granted they are listening because you are standing up there...shorter and too the point is always better ;)

i will practice, repeatedly. i know the topic very well. i have been living/working it for the last 4 years.

and inderal..i may email my doc, and bounce it past her.

All I know is that for the few times I had to speak in front of a group, they didn't give a hoot about what I was talking about.

At least that's what I tell myself. :)

Great advice here, the only thing I can add (and it too was recommended) is practice, practice, practice. I usually know what slide is up without even looking...it's all in the timing.

Oh, heed the good advice and speak slowly, move on the stage...but don't pace.

An old college Professor once told me about public speaking, "if you hear yourself talk, your in trouble"! When I was with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division I was literally pushed into talking about pending hazardous waste rules and regulations to huge organizations (Wood Preservers of America, Pulp and Paper Industry, Chemical Manufacturers, etc). Their I was with in huge room full of people. It was a podium with shakey knees, dry mouth, fight or flight and oh God, do not let me Fu#* up! A real Don Knotts!!!

I finally controlled the angst with an opening joke that not only helped me get through the initial few minutes but literally placed me into auto-pilot. In fact, you could'nt shut me up!

The key is. KNOW YOUR SUBJECT and you will do just fine.

Good luck

Bob