Presenter - I am not.

In all of the years I have worked for OBS, I have managed to avoid teaching any OLCC classes for the volunteers at our events which require it. I somehow fly under the radar.

Dont get me wrong, I am not going to die if I have to do public speaking. I have done it before. I prefer speaking to a room full of people I dont know, rather than a room full of people I do know.

Here is why:

A room full of strangers, may judge you. But who cares, you probably will never see them again. What does their opinion matter anyway. Plus, I know they would hate to be in my shoes, and no matter how bad I could suck.. they wont know that I may be really eloquent others times and this is not my strong suit.

A room full of people I know, TORTURE. Guess what, if you mess up, or look like an idiot... you are more likely to hear about it.

I dont usually care what people may think about me. I know who I am, and I like me. So I am good with that. However, I am representing a business, and with that being said, I want to make sure I do a good job. This is in part, where my nerves come in.

This year I had to teach two back to back classes. Generally whom ever is the board president speaks about the event, and then the OLCC officer does their thing, followed by me. I am essentially following OLCC's lead. I have to make sure I know the laws just as wells as they do, if not better. Because my business depends upon it.

So if I am teaching a class and dont know the ins and out of the law, while I am standing there with my officer.. this could be very bad. In fact, if I really tanked it... they could very well see my management and the business unfit to manage said event... and pull the license. Tho I have never heard of this happening... I am sure somewhere in the legal writings... it would be a possibility.

Anyway, my first class wasnt so bad. I was able to stand in front of the bar, under a tent with my officer.. in a very casual setting. Granted I know half of these people and even a fourth of them I consider friends. It wasnt so bad.

After we were done, the officer stated that I clearly knew more about the law than her and she really didnt see how her being there was any benefit. I found it to be a great compliment, and that eased me up a bit.

The following night we show up for round two. We are in a large festival building, and the people just keep piling in. I mean person after person, in droves. The previous night there was like 75+ people... but here we are 200+ and they are still coming.

I know that with tables and chairs in the way they were set up there.. the building would hold roughly 400-500 people. The tables and charis were filling up. Then the board of director tells us.. "Wow.. this is the largest turn out we have ever had!".... wellllllllllll that is just dandy!

This was before everyone got there...

We are then told we each get 5 minutes. I mean, part of me is happy... but the other part is the fact that I now need to get everything that is important and needs to be said, in that time. This includes showing our new employee/staff shirts, the form they have to fill out.. juggling the mic.. and standing on the dance floor front and center.

I have worked that event for 14 years... lets just say I know a few people there. It was the first time I really felt nerves when getting up to speak. My hands were shaking as I took the mic and tried to conceal it. I droned on doing what I do, and they laughed at my jokes and seemed to really be digging what I said.

Having to speak in front of large groups before... I know that I get into a zone. Honestly it is like a black out.. and have no idea what happened. Somehow I get through it all, and people seemed pleased. I checked with my OLCC officer on how I did, and she said great. I know she would lie to me tho, hahaha!

Either way it was completed, and I just hope I wont have to do it again. In fact I glare at my computer screen, loathing the fact that the owner will probably have me handling the most of them from this point forward.

Great........