Friday, February 10: See updated post.
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I am pumped up, let me tell you!
I’m a credentialed blogger at the Conservative Political Action Conference for the second year running. I didn’t announce it before today because I’ve spent the past week nervously preparing for a “Crash Course on Blogging” seminar co-presented at the conference this afternoon with fellow consultant Ken Yarmosh, our second. (See Money, Blogs, DC, and Money) It somehow made me feel less nervous to keep it to myself. If you understand why, good, because I don’t. 
Anyway, I’m pumped up because I’ve finally found a way to beat the jitters while speaking in front of a room full of people that works for me: preparation, practice, passion and…out-of-body attitude. I usually do the first, skip the second, don’t show enough of the third, and discovered the fourth only today. This time I prepared what I wanted to say, practiced the speech several times a day for several days until the information was in my head, and focused on my passion for blogging. I performed much better.
But…as I replayed the performance in my head, I discovered a fourth factor, one I wasn’t aware of on the surface: concentrating less on the fact I’m in front of a room full of people and more on what I wanted to convey to the audience. Whenever I suddenly remembered that I was standing in front of a room full of people, the jitters briefly returned. I pushed them back, stepped outside myself again, allowed the passion to come through, and the confidence returned. Yes!
(I was asked to speak at the Blogs4Life conference the night before the event and was only the tiniest bit nervous and quite relaxed at the podium. Interesting.)
I wasn’t too thrilled with my presentation last December, but this time I had out-of-body attitude. 
I didn’t blog from CPAC today, but tomorrow I’ll let you in on the action and post pictures. Check out the CPAC posts (with pictures) from last year. It was fun.
THIS was the highlight of the conference, though. 
CPAC blogger Rocco DiPippo at The Autonomist has the list of CPAC bloggers. I stopped by Bloggers Row today and saw Sean Hackbarth, Ace of Spades, Mary Katharine Ham, and Pat Hynes again. Met for the first time Jeff Harrell (finally!), Tom Bridge, Cam Edwards, and others I can recall at the moment. (Sorry!)
I’m deliriously tired from thinking about the presentation, offline life, and other stuff. Crashing. Thanks for listening.
Well, Congratulations on the continuing education. I had wondered why there was not a post in your blog today, glad to know you had a blast and I look forward to hearing about it and seeing the pix…
And we ALL want to know what “Glenn Reynolds has to say…”
Comment by TexasFred — 02.09.06 @ 9:43 pm
Lashawn:
Enjoyed your candid reflections preparing for the presentation. Many of us have been there. But you better get good at it, as your voice is heard more and more you will be speaking more and more.
Your values and sense of reality are so refreshing.
Comment by Alan Ross — 02.09.06 @ 10:16 pm
As someone who would rather have multiple root canals than speak in front of a live audience, I can only imagine the joy you are feeling having beat the jitters today, LaShawn! Congratulations! I am rejoicing with you!
Ann
Comment by Ann — 02.09.06 @ 11:09 pm
Congratulations, you’ve climbed another mountain. When speaking before large crowds, I always find it helpful to pick out a friendly face about halfway back in the crowd. I talk to that person and hope they don’t fall asleep on me! LOL
I totally agreed with your last post, but the comments were closed when I got to it!
Comment by Bonnie Calhoun — 02.10.06 @ 12:06 am
Now that you’re prepared, La Shawn, just have fun with it! You’ll do fine, I’m sure.
Mark
It’s over! Did it yesterday.
- Admin
Comment by Mark Daniels — 02.10.06 @ 12:18 am
Have you considered expouding on your recipe for beating the jitters? I’m thinking this would make for a very helpful article for those less experienced in public speaking. I would definitely be interested. (Details, details!)
Comment by Carol — 02.10.06 @ 7:43 am
I love reading about people’s out of body experiences.
Seriously La Shawn, congrats on being able to speak in public. I get all red in the face when I have to leave a message on an answering machine! Tis why I’m a photographer and blogger, and not a televangelist. (now there’s some people who have no problem getting up in front of people and looking silly!)
Comment by Jewels — 02.10.06 @ 8:11 am
Way cool LaShawn. I hope C-Span covers this event. The speakers line up is very impressive. I would love to hear the discussions on immigration reform.
I have done some limited speaking and teaching and preparation is very important, but confidence in yourself is key which directly relates to knowledge of your topic. You will shine.
Dianne
Comment by dianne — 02.10.06 @ 10:13 am
You brought your A-game yesterday, La Shawn. Our hardwork paid off and the feedback forms showed that people got a hold of our excitement and really gained from attending the session.
Well done!
Comment by Ken Yarmosh — 02.10.06 @ 1:42 pm
Music Blogging for Content and Gender
I’ve never formed an opinion about a blog based on the sex of the author. To be quite honest, there are several music-related blogs I read daily that could be written by a man or a woman and I wouldn’t have any idea one way or another.
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