Alcohol before presentation?

orangesoda

I am wondering if any of you less confident people out there have ever used a drop of the divils nectar before delivering a presentation?
I am considering it for tomorrow, I have a bottle of Russian vodka but the problem is finding the right amount that you won't be drunk, just a bit more calm and relaxed and not shaking.
I am not allowed to use beta blockers so it is the next best thing so it is.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

Do it. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

/sniggers

The Backwards Man

Choose one or the other. Seriously.

donvito99

Yes, I've seen the movies.

Nothing whatsoever will go wrong. Sure, what has ever gone wrong when alcohol is involved!?

Czarcasm

Have an orange soda tonight instead, and a hand shandy in the morning before the presentation.

orangesoda

it is just reading about 15 slides from the powerpoint, no real serious thought will be needed on my part just to add so as long as you can stand and not slur it could work

Vito Corleone

If you do decide to do this - have your drink, wash your teeth, shower, wash your teeth again, wear new clean clothes. It's important that you are confident that all traces of you drinking are gone. This is because you could end up getting self conscious that people know you've drank which will make you more anxious.

Make sure your dosage is correct.

Good luck.

Reedsie

I have done.

But it's best to just go for it. Face your fears so to speak.

SEPT 23 1989

do a few lines of coke as well just to be on the safe side

The Narrator

Heroin is your only man for the oul presentations.
Seriously though, don't do it. You may just end up adding "do they know I'm drunk?" thoughts to your other presentation fears.
Try to relax, speak slowly, clearly and make sure you are properly prepared (rehearse etc.).

Good luck.

shopaholic01

I'd take a couple of valium with the vodka, just to enhance the relaxing effect.

Foolproof!

endacl

Eat a few bananas an hour before show time. Full of potassium. Natures beta blocker.

Big Nasty

Don't be such a fookin fool OP.

Grin and bear.

K.Flyer

If I was attending a presentation I would have far more respect for the presenter that might show that he is a bit nervous than the presenter who might be showing he has had a drink or two too many.

Vito Corleone

I genuinely believe alcohol has therapeutic value as an anxiolytic.

Donne

Don't fecking do it!
The examiners stand a good chance of seeing you're stocious, and that'll stand you in much worse stead that appearing nervous!

Miaireland

K.Flyer wrote: »

If I was attending a presentation I would have far more respect for the presenter that might show that he is a bit nervous than the presenter who might be showing he has had a drink or two too many.

I agree.

Just remember at presentations audience members ask questions at the end. The drink that has calmed you will also slow down your responses to these questions (and normally there is someone who asks a really odd question). This could come across as being unsure of your facts. Not a a good idea in a work/college arena!

orangesoda

surely having to walk out of the room with extreme nerves will stand me in worse sted? when i get nervous it is serious altogether.

orangesoda

it is also worth pointing out that it isn't in my local area so if i was asked a question i would have to run a 'culchy to english' translater in my head when answering as noone would understand me when in full culchy dialect flow

amdublin

A friend of mine told me that her husband says everything should be done on two drinks*
Presentation in work? Two drinks
Driving test? Two drinks
Dancing competition? Two drinks




*a couple of months of me doing everything on two drinks and I meet with her and tell her what a wise man her husband is.
Her, looking at me aghast, "amdublin I said that he says that everything should be done like you have had two drinks. Not actually having two drinks"
Amdublin: oh right, eh excuse me while I make an appointment with my doctor about these liver pains

Ted_YNWA

Miaireland wrote: »

I agree.

Just remember at presentations audience members ask questions at the end. The drink that has calmed you will also slow down your responses to these questions (and normally there is someone who asks a really odd question). This could come across as being unsure of your facts. Not a a good idea in a work/college arena!

Back in my day, we used to give questions to class mates to ask, so we were prepared for the answers.

If you're shaking, take a second to breathe from your tummy

tomwaterford

orangesoda wrote: »

it is also worth pointing out that it isn't in my local area so if i was asked a question i would have to run a 'culchy to english' translater in my head when answering as noone would understand me when in full culchy dialect flow

why are you not allowed use beta-blockers...if your that bad that youd be shaking??

as for me...I thankfully will never be in a position in my job...wouldn't wish it on anyone

or else smoke like a trooper...nothing like a smoke to relax you

C.K Dexter Haven

You could try preparing for your presentation- heard this method can be quite successful:pac:

Donne

Doing stuff like this can be dangerous, because it becomes another dependency. It's easy to do it now but it could become convenient every time your faced with something you have to do publicly.

orangesoda

i am not allowed beta blockers as i have asthma and the doctor said they can make it worse, i would imagine they have a similar effect as alcohol on the nervous system

orangesoda

Donne wrote: »

Doing stuff like this can be dangerous, because it becomes another dependency. It's easy to do it now but it could become convenient every time your faced with something you have to do publicly.

that is the same with proper anxiety meds i would imagine.

I would be throwing the vodka down the sink after, i can't afford to be buying it anyway

dee_mc

I recommended Rescue Remedy to a friend in a similar situation when we were in college - I didn't think it had any real value except a placebo effect. Noticed during her presentation that her speech was slurred and her eyes look a bit wrong. Of course she drank the whole bottle. Thought it was like an energy shot thingy. Sigh.

Lando Griffin

A wise saying down the village to stop any thoughts of people not drink king.
Its easier to be a drunk in a room full of sober people than a sober person in a room full of drunks.

SEPT 23 1989

orangesoda wrote: »

it is also worth pointing out that it isn't in my local area so if i was asked a question i would have to run a 'culchy to english' translater in my head when answering as noone would understand me when in full culchy dialect flow

in fairness if this is in Dublin,a drunk culchie rambling incoherently on a Tuesday morning after a bank holiday weekend would not go down well

Arbiter of Good Taste

Man up OP. Nobody likes doing presentations. But you don't just go and drink the nerves away. What happens the next time you're in an uncomfortable situation? And the next time?

Just be prepared, and practice.

dee_mc

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

in fairness if this is in Dublin,a drunk culchie rambling incoherently on a Tuesday morning after a bank holiday weekend would not go down well

...whereas anywhere outside of Dublin that'd be sound :rolleyes:

Dj Grimreefer

Two words to nail the presentation,

JAZZ HANDS,


whe pointing to the screen jazz hands your way in there

orangesoda

dee_mc wrote: »

I recommended Rescue Remedy to a friend in a similar situation when we were in college - I didn't think it had any real value except a placebo effect. Noticed during her presentation that her speech was slurred and her eyes look a bit wrong. Of course she drank the whole bottle. Thought it was like an energy shot thingy. Sigh.

God save us, I used to chew that auld rescue remedy chewing gum, i went threw it like a pack of wrigleys with not a bit of difference

orangesoda

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

in fairness if this is in Dublin,a drunk culchie rambling incoherently on a Tuesday morning after a bank holiday weekend would not go down well

england so it is

Miaireland

Ted_YNWA wrote: »

Back in my day, we used to give questions to class mates to ask, so we were prepared for the answers.

I wish I had your classmates. Mine felt they would get better grades by showing someone else up.

131spanner

Disco Biscuits are great for making it seem like you give a **** about the power-point you put together the night before, dressed in only your jocks eating the 10 bag of King Crisps I bought at Centra... Wait, what was the question?

KungPao

I have one myself too tomorrow. Last time I had one I took a sneaky Xanax an hour before and it went really well.

May or may not do the same tomorrow.

dee_mc

orangesoda wrote: »

God save us, I used to chew that auld rescue remedy chewing gum, i went threw it like a pack of wrigleys with not a bit of difference

The liquid version is quite strong, but to be fair the same girl couldn't drink a shot without getting woozy so I guess having 20 times the recommended dosage probably effected her worse than most!

BearBanjer

Ask yourself: Do you want to be the guy who's going to take a drink every time he's a bit nervous or do you want to be the guy who's going to suck it up, nervous or not, get on with it, learn from it, get better at it and be proud of what you achieved?

orangesoda

KungPao wrote: »

I have one myself too tomorrow. Last time I had one I took a sneaky Xanax an hour before and it went really well.

May or may not do the same tomorrow.

can you explain how you felt? did it stop the adrenaline flow or what? i have an awful problem with saliva when nervous and have to swallow mid sentence sometimes

Maphisto

OP - I'm with the Don't Brigade

There are loads of reasons:

- you develop a dependancy (so its one slug now but when your 45/50 and the company's downsizing and things are generally $hite - 5 or 6?)
- you might over do it and become concious of it
- you want to be sharp for questions

I hope it goes well for you

SEPT 23 1989

orangesoda wrote: »

england so it is

Drunken paddy routine it is then

Tasden

orangesoda wrote: »

can you explain how you felt? did it stop the adrenaline flow or what? i have an awful problem with saliva when nervous and have to swallow mid sentence sometimes

Just take in a bottle of water with you.

Everyone watching the presentation knows how difficult it is to do. Nobody thinks badly of someone for them being nervous so it really doesn't matter if you come across that way.

Is it for work or college?

Rayne Wooney

Sounds like a good plan, just remember to get one of your classmates to record it so you can put it up here for educational purposes

orangesoda

i am quite drunk now just to add as i am testing the dosage, i am practising the presentation and can talk normally but i have an awful desire to burst out laughing

sunshine and showers

Rescue Remedy might be a better option.

Lingua Franca

A wee sniff of the colombian marching powder will give you the confidence to do your presentation, with the added bonus for everybody involved that you'll be over and done with it in about 45 seconds.

statss

a Xanax would do what you need

Frank Lee Midere

Strawberry Persuasion wrote: »

Ask yourself: Do you want to be the guy who's going to take a drink every time he's a bit nervous or do you want to be the guy who's going to suck it up, nervous or not, get on with it, learn from it, get better at it and be proud of what you achieved?

He just wants to get through tomorrow. Churchill was half cut for all his speeches. Couldn't speak otherwise. A "bracer" was common enough for all speakers back then, drop some brandy before getting on the stage. Not drunk, just to get over the initial flutters.