# "I'm nervous" before a speech/presentation. Yea/Nay? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 13, 2022, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743 "2022-04-13T00:02:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2022, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/61 "2022-04-13T18:09:45Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I voted yes because I am nervous. I didn’t understand what’s asked is whether the speaker should tell the audience this, which I think they shouldn’t. The poll is about telling the audience, according to a follow-up post: from **MeanOldLady** : > I want to know everyone’s vote on people announcing nervousness before speaking ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2022, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/62 "2022-04-13T18:10:34Z")
Yes, I know, but my case, upon reflection, is a mess: I am a professional interpreter. I repeat what other people say, only in a different laguage. I must have given thousands of speeches in front of the most various audiences. They were never my speech, but I did. I am quite good at that, if I may say so (of course I may: I just did). I am never nervous at work. On the other hand, I have very seldom given a speech/presentation of mine. The last time was years ago. I was a bit nervous, but never said so. Now, after all my years of experience as an interpreter, I don’t know if I would still be nervous or not. Probably yes, I would, a little. And I guess (but am not sure) I would not say so. So what am I to vote? Therefore, I took my vote back. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/63 "2022-04-13T18:46:05Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > 1. You might come across as disingenuous if you immediately pivot into an awesome presentation. Correct. > [@](#): > > “Whew, I’m nervous!” might not be a great opening line, but “Whew, now I’m **nervous** - that’s a tough presentation to follow!” or “I’ve gotta say, I’m a little nervous - y’all have a **reputation** ” might be appropriate depending on the venue and circumstances. Correct. > [@digs](#): > > Ummm, so you’re cheating to get one up on whatisname? 🙂 No, I just wanted to see if other people were wrong too. 🙂 > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > So maybe thanks to this thread I’ll stop admitting it up front and just go for it like I know what I’m doing. Atta girl. ---
**Author:** ![ArtBeforeScience](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@ArtBeforeScience](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArtBeforeScience)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/64 "2022-04-13T21:24:10Z")
> [@digs](#): > > “I am the Great And Powerful Oswald Ossenpfeffer, PhD, here to bestow nuggets of wisdom from my superior brain.” I’m going to use that as my next opening line. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2022, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/65 "2022-04-13T21:51:03Z")
Dr. Ossenpfeffer, is that you? . . . But, wait, weren’t you torn limb from limb by a crowd of indigenous natives in darkest Ouagadougou, angered that a colonial imperialist would dare commit the supreme sacrilege of reading every… single… word… off their powerpoint slides in the Holy Temple of the Eye of The Rainbow Rhinoceros? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2022, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/66 "2022-04-13T21:59:07Z")
But seriously, folks… The thread has reminded me of a time in 7th grade when my English teacher brought me up in front of the class and said “We’re going to try some improvisation. Diggory, I’m going to give you ten minutes to lecture us on procrastination. Go!” My brain froze up. So did my body. For possibly the whole ten minutes, though I’m sure it was less than that before the teacher said “Well, that didn’t work. Instead, we’ll take turns reading aloud from the Merchant of Venice.” Now, after thirty years of teaching, I’ll bet I could do it. And make witty puns and pop culture references while doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/67 "2022-04-14T00:07:12Z")
> [@digs](#): > > For possibly the whole ten minutes, though I’m sure it was less than that before the teacher said “Well, that didn’t work…" You: “I’m getting to it!” ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/68 "2022-04-14T01:29:37Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I can be disarming when picking a jury. You want to jurors to open up, but they’re in an unfamilar environment, being asked a lot of personal questions in public. It helps to acknowledge the weirdness of the situation, and share that “I get nervous doing this too, and I don’t have to answer questions.” It breaks the ice. This can work if you are a speaker who already has some level of authority or respect with the audience (in this case, because you are the lawyer and they are unfamiliar with the process). If you would normally be an intimidating presence, then admitting that you are nervous makes you seem nicer and more relatable. But if you are speaking to people with the need to win them over, or earn their respect or admiration, then I think beginning with a confession about nerves is a mistake. In that context, it can make you come across as weak. Incidentally, I think that these feelings are all about perception. Do I get butterflies in my stomach, or sweaty palms, before I have to speak to a crowd? Sure, but it’s because I’ve got adrenaline flowing; I’m excited. Nervous implies scared. But I’m not afraid, and I know that the adrenaline will fade once I get in the flow of things. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/69 "2022-04-14T01:52:53Z")
No and no. (Both the intended question and the one I thought it was.) I don’t get stage fright for some reason. I’d much rather speak to 1,000 people than go to a cocktail party. And I’m a reasonably known quantity, so if I said something about being nervous the audience would be surprised. The only exception is if I could turn it into a joke where the punchline is not being nervous. But I’m unlikely to give any more talks, though I did give an invited one after I retired. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743/70 "2022-04-14T23:11:43Z")
I went through the Dale Carnegie Course and a few years of Toastmasters. Not to mention years of therapy. Nervousness before a speech/presentation is natural, and if you’re not nervous, you’ll probably give a flat speech. Telling the audience you’re nervous? It probably doesn’t matter much to them. They’re all glad it’s not them up there. Something to remember, though, is that the physical symptoms of fear and excitement are nearly identical. So, if you feel like maybe you’re afraid of the speech, assume you’re excited. This is “In My Humble Opinion,” after all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-nervous-before-a-speech-presentation-yea-nay/962743.md?page=3)