Public speaking

We're just a few days away from Con-Nichiwa and my first time hosting a panel at a convention. I'm super excited and since it's really on my mind right now, I thought I'd share a few more tidbits about myself and being up in front of people.

Now, this may come as a surprise, but I don't really consider myself an extrovert. I like to think that an extroverts like being out amongst people, interacting and conversing. I... I don't like that. I dread having to make a phone call to someone I don' t know. Forget having to return an item or argue something to a sales clerk. I'll deal with the mistake. And yet, I can't help wanting to perform.

I was a drama kid through all my primary education. I don't remember every playing dumb parts like "The Leaf" or "A Tree." I had real parts in real plays. Lincoln, Marc Antony. Real plays like Arsenic and Old Lace. I loved it! I remember being in grade school, probably around third grade or so, and I was asked to do the morning announcements. Now, it was probably bravado for the other kids that were in the room with me, but I told them "I have to pretend there's an audience of people watching or I can't do the announcements." Third grade Matias was kind of a turd.

This attitude, combined with my love of wrestling, led to an explosive moment in my life that probably was the main catalyst in my actually becoming a wrestler. I performing in the high school talent show. Thrice. I became a legend, something that everyone was expecting each time. I became, Dude Love. Now, a quick internet search will tell you Dude Love was a wrestler persona adopted by Mick Foley first, as a high schooler, then again as a wrestler in WWF/E, but I gave the character new life. I danced. I brought people on stage and taught them to do the Charleston. I fought off "villains." I have an amazing time and became the hit of the school. And still, I didn't consider myself an extrovert.

This is starting to get a little long winded, but that was the basics of it. Of course later I became El Zitro and held the KAW title, cutting scathing, unintelligible promos in front of crowds across campus and beyond. I hosted an entertainment news segment for my university news station, and even hopped on the desk as anchor more than a few times. Now, once again, I'm finding an audience. I need to perform. I need to tell a story. That's what my writing is all about. This just has a more immediate feedback.

Remember, you can check me out at Con-Nichiwa THIS FRIDAY at the Tucson Convention Center.

Don't Forget to be Awesome!