learn to talk to a crowd

I have a job where talking in front of a crowd plays an important part of the work. I need to be able to persuade and communicate, and being able to do so in a inspiring and seducing way opens up ALOT of doors. I completely HATE doing it, but doing…ok. I would like to enjoy it, in the same way I enjoy doing rest of my work. I’ve had some close to traumatic experience in talking in front of a group before (complete blackout, dizziness, feeling dumb in that way that I can’t find the words) but once in a while light flashbacks from this comes back. Does anybody have any tips on how to get over this phobia?! Reading? Tricks…?

I hope I can overcome it.
I have missed many precious opportunities.
I don’t want it again!

I did a job for about a year where I had to talk to crowds of 200-300 people every few weeks. At first it was horrifying (or exhilarating?) but it quickly turned into a routine. I’ve had a lot of experience in acting as a kid, and I remembered several old lessons about it…

Basically, the only tough part about this is the first time. After you go in front of people and do what you wanted to do, it’s all over and only a pleasant afterglow remains. In time the nervousness will go to zero, so there won’t be much of an afterglow anymore.

I think this is something everyone should do and enjoy.

I don´t know if you can really learn that. Sometimes you just have to. Well that’s what they are telling. In the beginning it´s really useful if you know there is someone who can jump in and rescue you if you´re in trouble. That’s the way I learned it: Doing it togehter with an expierienced speaker who saved me if necessary.

I’m the prime example of a no-way-a-public speaker =P I get all nervous and forget what I’m supposed to say. Completely blank. And I get red and more aware of that than my notes.

I have done this many times, and without bragging, I have to say that each talk went well, and was surprising to me the response I got afterwards. I used to be terrified of standing in front of a group and speaking, but now I like doing it. I did not take any classes, but the way I got to be comfortable, was to talk about things I really know and understand, and to encourage the audience to take some kind of action. I care about the topic and the audience. I try to laugh and smile, and make the “case” in a light and humorous way. If I can get one twitter of amusement out of the crowd, I have them eating out of my hand in no time. BUT, blank stares rattle me no end.