MC's delivery wine-rippling

By JULIE MIDDLETON

A law student about to do her first big pretend court case, a dad whose 24-year-old son has just entered Australian professional rugby league and a teacher trainee wondering how you maintain eye contact with a gaggle of students - they are among the winners of Maggie Eyre's book on public presentations, Speak Easy, featured in Career last week.

But I must confess, being unable to reward everyone for their effort is the awful thing about largesse, and after 60 emails I stopped counting.

But in asking readers to outline why they needed help with public speaking, hinting that humour would help their chances, I got even more proof why most of us would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy at a funeral.

Many had just moved into roles where they had staff and had to learn how to motivate them.

One was a justice of the peace who had to take court sessions; another was about to move from a long-time job in boiler-making - "I have no interaction with people whilst at work" - to being a minister of a church.

Some didn't only have to grapple with the fear of public speaking, but a minefield of other issues.

"I am a middle-aged nurse," read one email, "who in my position is required to give a lecture to a group of men. Only the subject matter is directly related to sexual dysfunction. I need help."

Here's another entry, from a man who was "railroaded" to be master of ceremonies at a family reunion:

"The big day arrived - 200 guests awaited me. I had done half-an-hour's preparation the day before, studied the order of proceedings, introducing the various speakers, and had a few witty one-liners jotted down.

"Alas, it all turned to custard. I stood to speak, two hundred pairs of eyes fixed upon me, boring right through me. On my opening sentence, my voice broke. I discovered a range of octaves I didn't know I had - like some hormonal teenager I stammered on.

"I was aware of this distant knocking somewhere in the back of my head, but soon twigged it was my right knee beating out a steady tattoo on the table leg. I could see the ripples in the wine glasses.

"Then came the cold sweats: wet [arm]pits is not a good look.

"God, open up the floor and take me. He didn't. I survived, but vowed from that day on to brush up on my public speaking skills."

Those who had made a pledge to get to grips with their fear have surprised themselves. Here's another entrant:

"Widowed in my mid-50s, I joined a club called ITC or International Training in Communication - once known by the much easier name of Toastmistresses.

"When I first stood up to speak, for about 20 seconds, I sat down feeling physically ill and with stomach cramps. Never before have I suffered stomach cramps - but then never before had I spoken in front of an audience.

"A few years on and at ITC I have just given my first seven-minute speech - no notes, no cards and no hiding behind the lectern!

"And I made them laugh with recounting how over the years I have been pulled up for banging the Biro [pen] on the lectern, playing with the Biro, not moving my hands, having my hands in the prayer position - and even having my hands in the Eve position!"

* The 10 winners of a copy of Speak Easy are: Emily Moore, Epsom; Stephanie McCulloch, Henderson; Peter Wu, Howick; Paul Sun, Mt Eden; Ray Black, Queensland, Australia; Vicki Tafau, Tokoroa; Daryl Crosby, Orewa; Belinda Lockyer, Hamilton; Gary Stevens, Kawerau; Margaret Clark, Titirangi.

* Marie Wilson's Ask the Expert column will appear next week.