Has anyone else else ever "frozen" in front of a microphone?

[Hardrada]

I did once while campaigning and it was strange since all my other times I was able to speak easily. I think the repugs put something in my lemonade.

[Droopy]

1. It must have been the lemonade

From now on just drink bottled water to be safe.

Seriously, I've never been able to talk to a large group of people. I envy those who can get up there and just be themselves while talking to a large group.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Yes, I was slated to speak briefly before my Democratic Club

on an issue that was dear to a friend from out-of-town...and I nearly froze completely. Stammered, blushed, could scarcely get the words out. I'd NEVER been so incoherent before a group before...I have no idea what happened. My ideas went nowhere, and fortunately, my friend completely understood.

Normally I have no problem, esp. in front of groups that are friendly to me.

:blush:

[friesianrider]

3. Yes.

I hate public speaking.

[enigmatic]

4. I did it the first few times I played before an audience..

It was weird, but I never did it when I played alone, just as part of a band. Never figured it out...

[jobycom]

5. Not a mike, but I froze once

I was giving a book report to a college class, and just went blank. I'm usually a good enough public speaker, but this time was terrible. It was so bad, I just laughed, and sat back down. Everyone sympathized.

[iconoclastic cat]

6. Many times.

Once, I totally forgot how to play a tune I had written.

[Hardrada]

7. Great cat!

Looks quite a bit like our Fritzi.

[Lorien]

8. Oh yeah

I was asked by my employer (Disney) to speak at the Disneyana convention here in Orlando years ago. I was to talk about the making of "Aladdin" (a film I had worked on). I had all my notes and visuals, stepped on the stage, looked out into the massive crowd of fat, pastie, pin covered...well...Geeks. All that came into my head was that Shatner bit from SNL; "C'mon people-move out of your parent's basement"!! "You there, have you ever kissed a girl?!" I was transfixed and mute. Finally, I pulled myself together. Never spoke at one of those things again!

[njdemocrat106]

9. I hate public speaking

How I got a B in my college public speaking class I'll never know. We were supposed to deliver speeches "extemperaneous style", with minimal notes on an index card. The only time I spoke clearly was because I delivered most of my speeches "manuscript style", with a whole speech and assorted notes in front of me (and I barely made eye-contact with anybody, which was a big no-no). I flat out got 2 F's on the 2 speeches where I had to pull a topic out of a hat and go right up to the podium and speak. I'll make a confession that with one of those speeches, the topic I pulled out was "who is a famous person you would like to meet", and being before the time I became a hardcore Democrat, I said Dubya. I did mention that I didn't vote for him during the speech, though.