I am giving a speech tomorrow and I am nervous. Help?

Question

What are some ways to calm myself down? Any other advise? I have it all memorized by the way. I am just really nervous and I don't want to be up there shaking and messing up from nerves.

Answer 1

no matter what, you will be nervous. that being said, nobody knos what you know, so even if you mess up, they probably won't even know, so relax, write the words "SLOW DOWN" somewhere on your paper, and be careful not to say "uh" or "umm" or "like" or if you're hispanic "este" or "pos" It'll be over before you know. GOOD LUCK, knock 'em dead kid

Answer 2

I recently gave a graduation speech exactly two months ago today and boy was it fun! Honestly, I never got the chance the rehearse my speech. I only read it once in front of the committee, was approved to speak and then worked on perfecting the speech up until the night before the graduation. I didn't rehearse and my speech was a full 3 pages long double spaced. When I went up there, my speech turned out to be 10 minutes long and in between every principle I spoke, everyone clapped. It was the most amazing, thrilling time of my life and I enjoyed it. My friends and family were all there cheering me on and everyone at the end gave me a standing ovation!
You want to know how I did that without being nervous or jittery? I just acted like myself. I went up there, took a deep breath, and said to myself that it would all be over with in just a few minutes. Now mind you, I had my papers in front of me - you know your speech by heart which is good. So if you want to calm down and say your speech tomorrow, just go up there in front of the stage when it's your turn, breathe, relax and think about funny stuff. When you talk, maybe try to start off with a little joke that will lighten up the mood and make the audience laugh with you. You will calm down naturally - you just need to give it time and realize that you are doing something wonderful - you are giving people your insight. Everyone will love you. Trust me. I know....they will totally love your speech.
1. Have a good night sleep tonight
2. Dont think about the speech too much and have a good breakfast
3. If you find yourself being nervous, try to make a cute joke to lighten up the mood during the speech
4. Breathe in and out a few times (deep breaths) and drink water
5. Look out into the audience and find someone you admire (either your significant other or your friend or family member who will be in attendance) and have eye contact with that person. This is only if you are scared of looking at everyone in the audience.
6. Be yourself and remember, the speech will be over with. Just do the best you can and everyone will love you.

I used to be a speech tutor and these techniques helped. It's natural to be nervous but if you find yourself more nervous then you should be, follow the above techniques. You will be able to set the pace for the rest of the event to follow. Trust me!

Good luck tomorrow and I hope you kick ***! If I could, i'd email you my speech video and show you how I did when I spoke. It might encourage you further.

Answer 3

Rehearsal over and over again.

Bring water, mouths get dry.

Try a practice audience. Be open to suggestions.

Have your notes or cards near you, even if you've memorized. The subconscious knowledge that you have a back-up reference is calming.

Do not eat for a few hours before you get up there.

Get plenty of sleep the two nights before hand. It impacts both nerves and concentration.

Sing your speech a practice to a tune you know.

Give yourself an entire day's break after several days of rehearsal. Being able to go back to it and to remember after 24 hours of not touching it builds confidence.

Physical exercise relinquishes anxiety.

Debate your subject matter in an open format with somebody who believes opposingly. Your wherewithal to defend a point builds confidence and mental inroads to better conveying your points.

Recite your stuff while holding two dictionaries up, one in each arm. The physical strain you go through practicing in this way makes your actual empty-handed speech FEEL less taxing.

Answer 4

My advice to you is to pick certain people throughout the speech and act as if they are the only person in the room. Also concentrating on an object or several objects as opposed to the people in the room helps too. Try to aviod using the words "um" and like, as they make you appear nervous and not credible. Get up there and have fun. If you make a mistake, it is NOT the end of the world. Many of us have had to go through the same thing in school and in our careers, and we all survived it, as will you. Good luck, and I hope it all turns out well. Remember to breathe and have fun!!!

Answer 5

The only thing I can tell you is take a deep breath and just do it. Once you start and you know your info, it's easy. It just comes out. But whatever you do, when your talking in front of ppl, Don't say "um" , and either keep your hands at your side or on you notes. NO fidgeting. That just makes you appear nervous, and the more confident you are in the speech, the more ppl w/ be interested. The more you notice ppl paying attention, the more confidence you'll gather once in motion. BEST OF LUCK!!! You'll do fine. I used to take a public speaking class...trust me, I know.

Answer 6

Just believe in yourself. The only thing we should fear is fear itself. Think less about yourself and more about your audience and some of the fear will leave, as you perceive yourself not as isolated but as part of the group you are addressing - a group that want to hear what you have to say. Don't guess at what your audience's reaction mean. It detracts from your effectiveness to worry aobut those who don't seem to be listening, since they may be listening the hardest, anyway. Use fear to your advantage, charisma and adrenaline are closely linked, not worry about being a gifted speaker. Remember the facts, you are supposed to know more about your subject than the audience, you are there because you are more capable of covering the subject than most people. Believe it and you will do it.

Also think of the example of the frightened boy walking past a cemetery on a dark night. As long as he walked casually and whistled gaily he was fine. When he decided to walk faster, he could not resist the temptation to run; and when he ran, terror took over. It's the same in public speaking. Don't take that first fast step. Don't give in, don't show fear, and don't talk about your fear and weaknesses, or your unpreparedness, you will be letting the cat out of the bag and telling your audience not to listen since you will not have done your home work.

These 3 exercises work as mental aids for speakers to feel better physically;

1. Concentrate on deep nasal breathing using your diaphram. Breathe through your nose so you don't make your mouth dry.
2. working from your feet, tense different parts of your body and then relax them. You will lose much of that clamminess and nervousness.
3. Roll your head in a circle from shoulder to shoulder, as if you were a limp rag doll. This relaxes your throat and vocal cords.

Most of all, practice, practice, practice. Practice until you are 100% confident. Practice infront of a mirror, into a tape recorder, for a group of friends, and at different times. The best practice is public speaking itself. The more you do it, the better you become, dont avoid it. Public speaking is an art that only improves with time. The best way to boost your confidence before a speech or presentation is to think positively. Saturate your mind with positive thoughts. Repeat to yourself any positive catch phrase that appeals: e.g. 'I am poised, prepared, persuasive, positive, and powerful. I also feel composed, confident, convincing, commanding and compelling'

Last but not least, dressing properly boosts your confidence. Dress for the occassion and people will believe in you. But avoid overdoing it, avoid very floral clothing, this may distract the attention of your audience and works to your disadvantage.

Source(s):
Books by Dorothy Leeds and Don Gabor are useful sources

Answer 7

I always pick certain people to talk to...people I really like. Pick one in each corner or side of the room. It will look like you are paying attention to everyone in the audience. I basically forget anyone's watching when I perform. I just start and it's their job to keep up. I'm a rapping comedian. I never lose the audience! I also look at people near the elbow. It looks like I'm looking, but I don't see their faces! Tke your notes with you and highlight anything that you might tangle up. Specific phrases you might place in the wrong place in the speech.

Answer 8

Just remember that they would be just as nervous. Don't worry they care more about what you say than how you look saying it. Just remember to not talk so fast, and look at different people in the room for 1 to 2 seconds before moving on to the next person.

Answer 9

Using the 'ol, "picture ppl in their underwear" really does help. If you have someone you know there in the audience for support, look their way as much as you can for a little added comfort. If not, bring a pic of someone you love or a pet..something to divert your eyes to that will help ease your tension if you start to get nervous. Good Luck : )

Answer 10

Just add a little humour to your speech, this will get the audience on yor side, everyone likes a little fun. Good luck.