I've organised a conference and I've got to go and I'm out of my comfort zone, as Simon Cowell would say.... help me

[FloridaKbear]

I have to travel to the venue (50 miles away) meet and greet delegates from overseas as well as London, set up the laptops and the presentations and generally hover and be around in case they need me.

Am bricking it!! I'm the girl that can organise everything and everyone but from behind the scenes but actually going to the event is a whole new matter and I'm scared.

I will need new suit (obv) and girl shoes (obv) and a new haircut (obv) - all for one day ha ha but whoever needed an excuse?

Boost my confidence people and tell me it will be fine and I will cope admirably and everyone will say "that Kbear is just marvellous" and stuff like that.

How exciting. I am very

All that meeting people.

You will be super, I'm sure. Having got this far, the one day will be a DODDLE!

Have fun

I am excited but nervous too. I have issues with feeling intimidated by highly educated people (and there will be heaps of them) but it is a good stepping stone for me to move on to bigger events in my new role and I need to do it for confidence but oooh, it's scarey!!

I should just be myself I know but I wish I wasn't such a saf London girl sometimes and spoke a big posher.

Oh but I am from the Midlands. I have flat vowels, doncha know?! (So ex boyfriend's mum told me. Turned out she's from just down the road but had it hammered out of her!! Cow!)

Lots of people going will be v nervous or v cynical or v 'whatever' (that's conferences, right?) but they will be glad to see a smile when they get there.

Oh, you can definitely do it. It's just a case of, well, doing it. You just have to ramble on vaguely and be friendly. For a start, everyone will think you are amazing for having organised it. Secondly, if you are the organiser, you will be seen as Very Important so people will feel honoured that you actually speak to them, so it doesn't actually matter what you say. (I discovered this when I became a lecturer - that it was far more important that I made the effort to speak to students, than whether I actually said anything worth saying, or indeed, anything that made sense. Just smile a lot.) Thirdly, at some level no-one cares what you do - they come to the conference to meet each other, so once you have got them all there in the same room you have done your job no matter what else happens.
Fourthly, generally with these things you have done the work behind the scenes in advance, so the day itself is not really that scarey - you just have to turn up.
(or is that the same as my third point? You see, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that I have answered your post and been encouraging. And similarly with a conference - therefore you can do it. ) (That may not make sense, sorry, am pissed, but did go to very good conference today.)

SueW you are my new confidence guru.

Califrau, appreciate your cutting and pasting!

Kathy - thanks, your ramblings have helped enormously.

Now I just need elocution lessons!!

yeah baby, keep em coming!!

KBear I have two words for you

comfortable shoes

your feet will be killing you by the end of the day.

I am sure that after the first 10 questions people ask you, which you will know the answers to because you have organised it all, you will be fine.

I only have comfortable shoes (do you know how old I am???? . I was thinking of going crazy in some sharp suit and killer heels. Maybe not!!

thanks for your messages, I expect Califrau to have spent her day cutting and pasting and fill up this thread nicely for me... but I have to go to bed now to worry...!!!

If it will make you feel better, go for the killer heels - but take a pair of more comfortable shoes as well just in case

Califrau - you're a dab hand at that aren't you!

You can organise everything and everyone. you'll enjoy it. Wear heels but comfy ones. Take them off at the end and everyone will smile and indulge you for your hard work (I've seen Prince Charles's Private Secretary do the same - they'll think it's endearing) No problem whatsoever with a regional accent, believe me. Take a deep breath, than speak slowly and calmly and you'll come across as authoratitive. Whatever vowel sounds come out.

enjoy it.