QUESTION: Are you equally nervous speaking to just one person? Or is it the large group?
If it is the large group, as I suspect . . . simply speak to just one person 'in your head'. Take your time. Smile. And breathe.

What's that advice they give?  Imagine everyone in your audience naked! 

I like Roger D. Mucci's suggestion! 

Being prepared on your material certainly helps.  Nerves tend to go away when you get into it.

Angela,
I think for your particular case Roger D. Mucci and Jack Lewitz have good suggestions.

 Good morning Angela & Stephen Hardiman / HouseTie.com . It can get quite nerve-racking. I have learned to go to a safe place in my mind and for the first several minutes look over the top of everybody's head. After the adrenaline rush, all is well.

Good morning. It is pretty common, be open with your audience, know that you know your stuff and have fun.

Pick out someone, make them your bestie and then talk to them.  Look around the room, but come back to your comfort spot until you're feeling that comfort.  

We all have those days.

This could sound stupid, but try some Yoga and Meditation, find a quiet place, play a calm music, close your eyes, peace/black out your mind, focus your breath. 

Take a deep breath and you will be fine! Good luck to you!

I think it might help to know that your audience is there to listen and learn from you - they want to hear and see you.  They need your knowledge and you want to share it with them - you can help and guide them - it doesn't get any better than that Angela & Stephen Hardiman / HouseTie.com.  I know you are more than prepared and professional!  And having a sense of humor and a smile shows through!  You will be awesome and they will love you!

Speaking in front of a group is daunting for most of us however starting out stating that might be the best opening I have found.  Focus on three key people in the audience that look friendly and you will find its easier than trying to focus on the entire crowd.  Joe Pryor has very good insight as well. Knowing the material is key and remember they want to hear what you have to say and you know how to deliver your message.  Once you get into delivering the message you will do fine.  Those of us who give presentations know it's often more stressful before we get to the podium than when we are there.  You'll do great.

Many things have been said, and they're good, esp. the humour.  My suggestions:

1.  Try cammomile tea.  It is a stimulant, but in fact will act to calm you (try it ahead of time to see the effect).  It doesn't need to be strong.  Weak works too.

2.  Since you know your material, and have prepared your opening, go in with a focus on what your commitment is for them to take away.  If your eye stays there, it won't have time to see what they think of you.

3.  What they think of you will be a direct result of what you seem to think of you (she's too nervous/comfortable with her subject/ ...etc).  If you aren't thinking of you (see #2) they will be thinking about your points.  Just what you want, I imagine.

4.  Most of all, they want you to be real and to win/succeed in your efforts.  Humans are funny that way.  We think we might have a chance of succeeding when we see someone else doing it.  So be real (and funny, if you are willing), and get to work with them, because you are built for success and have obviously done all the preparation.  (Your business idea sounds amazing and I'll bet it takes off like crazy......so...are you afraid of success perhaps, like an awful lot of others?  Respect yourself, and let you win.)  My bet: you'll knock their socks off.

5.  Be sure you have lots of supplies for them to sign up, or whatever action you will have them take.  Have them take concrete action before you leave, and I don't mean an email address.  Schedule a group call or whatever you have to invent if you don't have something now.  Use the momentum you generate, or you'll always be starting from zero.  Cheers!

ANGELA ! You are the BEST at what you do, just be yourself. Attention ALL AGENTS ! YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOUSETIE.COM !!!!!

Vodka.  

Open your session with a funy line.

Angela & Stephen Hardiman / HouseTie.com be prepared, know your material and just get the initial nerve to get out front and all will flow well.  You wouldn't be speaking in front of this many agents if you were not needed and respected.  Have fun with it, they are waiting to hear what you have to say.

Just relax and breathe. I like what Joe said about picking out 3 or 4 people, say 2 on the left and right front, and 2 in the back or middle. Think about your product and use humor and interaction. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Angela, this is a very unconventional suggestion, but I have found it helpful for myself to actually meet and greet conferees as they enter the room.  I ask them what they hope to get out of the conference or specifically learn from my upcoming presentation with them.  After meeting as many individuals as I can,  I try and look for them in the crowd as I already had established a connection with them.  I have only spoken around three times a crowd this size or larger,  but it sure helped break the ice for me and the conferees seemed to truly appreciate the pre-presentation interaction.  

I think Roger's idea is a good one. Knowing your material well also helps. Keep in mind they are there to listen to YOU, and you have good stuff to share.

Say King Kong , Ding Dong , Bing Bong outloud  to yourself coming from your throat to steady your voice . Practice exactly what you intend to share in your first 2-3 minutes SEVERAL TIMES ! Keep eye contact and smile ! What's your Topic ?

If you get nervous I suggest you admit it to the public as this will put them and you at ease... I had a past life as a social worker and had a student who had  stage fright and had to take a speech class and  this seemed to work for her. Many people are nervous and just admitting it to yourself and others brings the fear out in the open and actually helps eleviate the fear because we use so much energy trying to hide our fears.

I do think Roger has a point, start out with something that will put you at ease.  Good luck! 

Humor can be quite calming.  For you.  And your audience.  Good luck or should I say break a leg?   

I love Roger's answer.

Have a little quiet time and pray about it. 

Wow! Sounds like Roger has a great way to break the ice! Good luck!

Start off by talking about something you know about...It can be yourself or issues in our Profession.  Then ge to the meat of things

Practice in front of a mirror or get someone to listen to you. Type it out and read it over and over. When you do it forget about the audience. You will be ok.

Just speak to the people in the front row and remember they are there to learn from you

LOL!  Great style.  I used to have no problem, then caffeine came along.  I start off a little slow but get into it now.  My tip is to avoid caffeine for a day or so before hand.  Let it work itself out of your system.  That should help reduce the nerves.

I like Roger D. Mucci"s answer. I have to do this in a few weeks and then again a month later. I've done this before, but I'm by no means an expert.

I don't focus on any single person in the audience, but I do look around the room. I have confidence in what I'm saying and I practice it a lot. If you are speaking to members of your local board, then remember these are your peers. You are on the same level. Call me if you want to talk. 

You'll be fine, Angela! I don't have any tips, just know you can do it. When I traveled by plane with toddlers, I used to tell myself I'd rather speak in front of a thousand people. 

    Get to the room or venue early.  Walk around, sit in a chair, stand on the platform in front of the podium or microphone.  If possible, do a "sound check" and rehearse the first part of your speech ("talk to the room").

     Meet people (audience members) before your time to speak.  Greet at the front door if necessary.  When you speak, pick out a few "friendly faces" and look them in the eye as you talk (it is easier if you feel like you are talking to one or two people, than to a crowd).  Be sure to look up and around each area of the room from time to time, so that everyone feels that you are talking to them.

     Relax and be yourself.  You will do great!

Opening with vulnerability is golden.

I'm nervous. Do I sound like I'm hyperventilation or more like the RainMan?  Let me hear you SHOUT IT OUT. What, that's the best you can do?  I can't hear you. Now you're rock'n.

Having the butterflies, that great tension...is extremely important. It is a reminder to you that there are people in those seats who have real needs. Your nervousness is your internal check to remind you of that the privilege to speak comes with a greater responsibility. When you are on stage, have the courage to listen to the still and quiet voice, follow your intuition, if you need to go off script and walk towards the needs, have the courage to do so.

In my opinion, touch just one at the time of their need is of much greater perupose that 199 not getting all 37 points of social marketing, or whatever the topic.

Those who have no such butterflies do not have the privilege to walk towards the need.

Never wish this part of you to vanish.

Angela & Stephen Hardiman / HouseTie.com Practice before the speech, and relax .

Ask a couple of agents in your office if they will be your "audience" and practise in front of them.  

Focus on the message, not on the audience.

Good luck and I hope all gain from your message!

Haha I agree opening with honesty will get a laugh and put everyone, including yourself, at ease!  That said, I am most nervous when I don't know my material.  If you have to speak for a half hour, make sure you know enough to speak for an hour and a half - the better you know your material, the easier it is to share.

I understand how you feel Angela.  I would pick three or four different spots around the room and look in the direction of the spots instead of looking directly at any one person until you want to make eye contact with an audience member.  I hope you do well, and I am sure that you will.

Angela & Stephen Hardiman / HouseTie.com Some good advice here by Joe Pryor .

Two things, first humorously, don't let people tell you to pretend they all all naked, bad idea. Second, start breathing exercises 5 minutes beofre goin on. This means breathing in through the nose whil your stomach expands, and then breathing out through the mouth and making a low noise. Keep doing this where it is a little longer each time. If you feel dizzy that means you have oxygen deprivation to the brain, so maybe start practicing now. Then find three people in the middle, left center and right, to make ey contact with, preferably halfway back. Move your head during your presentation to each to take in the whole room. Finally, if you start feeling too much anxiety, then take a brief pause, in pact have pauses built into your speech for effect and like the breathing exercises will help you quiet the mind.