Next weekend I have to talk through a mike.  the talk will last of and on about half an hour   I have never done anything like this before.  I have written out what I have to say and I can speak quite confidently reading it in my home, but I am worried that I will make a fool of myself. any tips?

I must admit it can be scary, but we usually worry ourselves for nothing. :-)

Everyone is different and will most probably have different techniques.

There is nothing worse than a speaker who just reads, make sure you put tone and pitch into your voice, and do not rush. :-) Above all else be proud and sure of what you have written and that will spill out to your audience, it doesn't matter if you stutter or loose sight of your words a little, believe in what you are saying and it will shine through.

For the immedite nervousnes of walking into a room, I find myself making immediate eye contact a little unnearving as it can sway me from my speech and I am concentrating on people instead of what I'm saying, so when entering a room, smile and do a sweep but don't rest on anyone, if there is a clock or picture in the room keep that in your eyeline either so that if nervous the people are incidental.

Once you get started your confidence will build, just remember do not rush and do not think about the people too much, just on reading your speech and listening to your own voice sounding clear and with emotion. :-)

You'll be fine.

REMEMBER TO BREATH. and concentrate on speaking what seems slightly too slow, otherwise there is a tendancy to get faster and faster and you end up gabbling. Good Luck
Chris

When I did a communications course at college we had to talk for about 10 minutes. It was nerve racking (I'm not particularly confident) Our tutor told us to try to add a bit of humour in to the talk. Not a lot, just enough to put you and your audience at ease. It certainly helped me. Good luck.

If you get a chance, check the set up first.  Depending when you are up, you may have an opportunity to do a quick practise first.  Get a friend or colleague to check your volume from the back of the room and take the time to adjust the height and position of the mic - if it's a stand type.  If you are using a clip on one it helps to have a collar or lapel, or pocket to clip it onto.  You don't want a completely flat top with nowhere to fix!! 

Inexperienced speakers may develop dry mouth which starts to sound like a click when you talk.  Make sure you have drink to hand and keep your mic far enough away so that it doesn't pick up this noise or any uneven breathing - also a sign of nerves.

If you have a handheld mic, curb your impulse to gesticulate or you'll find that you fade in and out whilst you look like you are directing traffic...

Bear in mind that whatever you think you'll look like - you will.  It's self fulfilling.  Imagine that you are confident and in control and you will be.  Good luck

Just to wish you good luck :) I would be soooo nervous :)

Read  out loud and record it. Play it back and listen. Then re read it and record again. When you listen the second time you will hear a huge difference. Practice lots and hi lite key words or phrases. That way it will not sound "parrot fashion" and you will be able to look at your audience a little. I usually pick one or two people to look at briefly.
Good Luck

Thank you all so much, I will try all your tips!!

one thing my teacher from Leadership class taught us, is that if we are doing a speech or presentation, mark where you take a breath.  Actually mark it!

For example
Normal:  Hi, my name is Kory.  I am a member to the forum Champdogs, where I learn a lot of neat things, and chat with a lot of different people.

Marked:  Hi / my name is Kory. / I am a member to the forum Champdogs / where I learn a lot of neat things, / and chat with a lot of different people. /

Every time there is a slash, you dont have to breath, just pause for a second.  Then you can slow your speaking down, instead of what most nervous people do - speed up.

that is a huge help, /thank you so much!/

if all else fails ...do what it says on the advert for deodorant(its either that or for Chewing gum ...cant remember) and imagine them all naked lol ;)

Focus on the back of the room. That way you can project your voice better and doesnt seem so scary when you are looking over the heads of people rather than looking at the directly. After a few minutes you may feel more confident and can make eye contact but if you cant dont worry. Its better to look at the back of the room rahter than look down at your paper and mumble