The first time I did an LCA talk I spent the week before having chest pains to the point I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I was nervously scratching my forehead so much I developed weeping sores along my hairline.
By the time I was ready to fly out I was hoping the heart attack would actually happen.
Think about how fucked up that is. Dicing with death seemed prefereable to actually giving my talk. And I’m actually a pretty confident public speaker, as these things go.
So what’s the point? Well, the talk went well, which was nice for me, and I’ve given ones since that went even better. But it gave me a bit more perspective on other people’s talks. It’s not easy. And if it hadn’t gone well, I’d probably have never tried again (but it did, and I have). So be kind to speakers at conferences, especially first timers. Enjoy the things they get right, and, unless they’re being egreriously awful, lazy, or combative, extend them a certain benefit of the doubt.