aspdaddy - 12:16 pm on Mar 20, 2010 (gmt 0)

Here's what someone taught me years ago when speaking was new to me, it really helped. If you get the fear or lose the plot, say "curtain down" and visualise a big red stage curtain coming down between you and the audience, then take a deep breath and say "curtain up" and carry on. This can be done in the space of a slightly longer than normal pause, which can also draw people in, or help when giving detailed technical info.

Once you get over the fear thing, you still have to know when to shut up.

So true, being too confident and enthusiastic about your subject totally makes you lose track of time and waffle on a bit :)