When I was in grade school I used to enjoy oral presentations. However as I've gotten older I have (ironically) become more bashful. Even my graduation speeches from several different schools I've attended I was nervous and I just wanted to get them over with.
Yes and no, really...I can write something that sounds fantastic in my head, but when I get in front of people to read it, I get nervous and can't put the right emotion into it, and it just doesn't go the way I planned. :S But, if I'm acting something out, like for a play/skit, I'm not afraid at all. I could be a total doofus in front of millions of people and not give a darn. *shrug* Go figure. :P
I'm more afraid of public speakers, especially one who uses teleprompters. I've had a terrible experience with that one public speaker in particular. And so have millions of other Americans.
I wrote the Eulogy for my Grandma's funeral. Spoke it in front of many faces, I've never seen in my life. I did cheat and kept my head down the whole time! lol ;)
I was, but then I spoke in a room of 500+ on a stage at the podium and with congressmen and high officials there. I was nervous, but I did it. So I think I should be good to go after that.
More times than not, but it depends entirely on the content of what I'm speaking about. If it's something that I'm well informed on, and I think the audience will receive well, then I have total confidence.
I say more times than not because most of what I have to speak about in class is stuff that I don't care about and there are usually people in the audience that know more about the topic than I do.
The last example I can think of where I had confidence in public speaking was in front of over 150 people and it was about music during the Viet Nam War as opposed to all other previous wars. I was super interested and found a lot of information.
The anticipation is always tough, and full of stress. After you actually begin, and get the first sentence out I find a comfortable feeling sets in and I remember that I've been told I'm pretty good at it, and I begin to enjoy the moment.
I've talked publicly to groups of people anywhere from a handful to a huge crowd, and frankly it's the smaller groups I find the toughest, because there is a closer, more personal aspect to it. In a way it feels like they would be more critical of how I'm doing, where the larger groups feel less real and therfore less likely disapproving. And really, it's the fear of disapproval that usually stifles a public speaker.
It was part of my job and I enjoyed it. Still do it from time to time, Just did one on why S&P; downgraded the US. What was and is tough though is thinking on your feet when very challenging questions are asked.
It's not that i'm incapable of talking in front of people bc it's not a crippling fear, but I do get so nervous that I stutter and trip over my words. I'm not a good public speaker.
Not really a yes or no question for me. I'm not very good at public speaking and I have to practice presentations a lot before I give them....I also get nervous and it effect my performance. However, I don't have crippling fear that keeps me from speaking or performing.
Allegedly, that's partly why performers have so many substance-abuse problems.
Liquid courage.
I say more times than not because most of what I have to speak about in class is stuff that I don't care about and there are usually people in the audience that know more about the topic than I do.
The last example I can think of where I had confidence in public speaking was in front of over 150 people and it was about music during the Viet Nam War as opposed to all other previous wars. I was super interested and found a lot of information.
I've talked publicly to groups of people anywhere from a handful to a huge crowd, and frankly it's the smaller groups I find the toughest, because there is a closer, more personal aspect to it. In a way it feels like they would be more critical of how I'm doing, where the larger groups feel less real and therfore less likely disapproving. And really, it's the fear of disapproval that usually stifles a public speaker.