>>< lol > !!!! Personally, I get so nervous every time I speak, I would never choose to present a topic that I didn't feel confident about.
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>I realize that I'm in the minority, but am I the only one that can get in front of a crowd and have no reservations about speaking, even if I'm not fully prepared? Maybe experience has a lot to do with it (I used to preach 20 minutes every Sunday morning, ready or not), but can't this be learned? I figure it's like playing in a band: it's not how well you play the material, it's how well you recover when you make a mistake.

Getting in front of the crowd is easy. Keeping them interested in what you're saying is the hard part (bg)...

Seriously, being a vocal performer and ex-broadcaster, speaking in front of a large group who's interested in what I have to say is almost second nature. Sure, you get nervous -- everybody does. And I'm just like others in that the less confident I feel about the topic, the more nervous I get. But it doesn't keep me from speaking (some have said they wish it would :) ).

In my vocal performing, I make *LOTS* of mistakes. I just try to hide them well so (hopefully) not too many people notice (g). And, frankly, that's the way it usually works. A select few will try to rip you apart, but most are very understanding -- partially because they know how tough it would be for THEM to do what you're doing.