So here’s my four best tips to anyone who shares Michael Bay’s fear of the open stage: 1. Pump your fists open and closed if your heart starts racing before getting onstage. I would get so nervous before speeches I thought the mic would pickup the sound of my heart pounding out of my chest. But after one talk, I stayed on to watch the following speaker who was a self-defense expert. She explained that in fight-or-flight moments we freeze because the heart pumps blood to our extremities, which provides less blood to the brain. By pumping your fists, it helps reset the normal rhythm, effectively returning blood to the brain and slowing down our racing heart. (who knows if this is scientifically true, but she said it and even if just a placebo effect it’s worked for me and others) 2. Start with story. The easiest way to fill time on stage is by telling a story you’ve told before, in particular one you’ve personally lived. By beginning with your own experience, you’ll open with a narrative that requires little thought (less chance of freezing up trying to recall a fact or reference) and allows you to establish a more trusting relationship with the audience. 3. Only speak about a topic you know backwards and forwards. I guarantee Michael Bay could have easily gone off the teleprompter to explain how he edits a film, but he was onstage to speak about the new curved Panasonic TV, which both he and the audience know he’s probably clueless about. The fear of being wrong is part of what makes us so afraid of speaking, so make sure the topic of your talk is a subject or experience you are confident in, and your nerves will be soothed on stage as a result. 4. Know your closing line before you open. The worst speeches are the ones that can’t find their way into an ending. Make sure you come up with a kickass closing line before you get on stage, something you know will leave the audience feeling good that drives your point home. Knowing you have that bit of turbo boost in your back pocket will give you peace of mind throughout your entire talk, and most importantly you won’t fumble your way into a series of rambling final sentences. Plus, confidence in the close will overcome mediocrity in the middle.