 Finally! Something I'm GOOD at!
I've performed in public hundreds of times, in front of anywhere from 1 to several thousand people, since before my earliest memories. In the past 10 years, the longest I've gone without giving some sort of public performance is MAYBE a month. The best advice that I can offer you is to not expect the nervousness to go away. It doesn't. I know a lot of entertainers, but I don't know any who don't get butterflies before being stared at by everyone in the room.
If you go in prepared (rehearse, rehearse, REHEARSE!), it will be easier. If you ignore the audience, it will be easier. Don't acknowledge your mistakes (unless you've made a mistake that MUST be corrected), speak at a comfortably fast pace (study comedians---they're the best at this!), and remember that even though everyone is looking at you, a whole lot of them don't have the attention span to actually LISTEN to every word you say (watch the audience at the State of the Union). Above all, the most important thing to do is enjoy yourself  |