Toastmasters, Meetup, AmberWillo, clubs online or in person

Public speaking groups

Impromptu table topics, prepared speeches, evaluations and feedback, local or online: compare formats and costs, then find a group near you.

  • Impromptu Speaking ("Table Topics")
  • Prepared Speeches
  • Evaluations
  • in-person or online

Last reviewed

Top Public Speaking Organizations

Confidently Top pick Best for practice between meetings

Try the 30-second warm-upFree download, iPhone or Android

The warm-up before the meeting: thirty seconds on your phone so the table topic isn't your first word of the day. You get two random words; it grades voice and face out of 10 and counts fillers.

Not a group; no live audience.

Show me
Public speaking groups compared
Group typeFormatCostProgramBest for
Toastmasters clubIn person or online; an Ah-Counter notes filler soundsCheck current dues with the clubPathways: 6 learning paths, more than 300 competenciesRegular practice with set roles
Meetup public speaking groupLocal groups listed under the Public Speaking topicVaries by groupSet by each organizerPractice with people nearby
National Speakers AssociationProfessional association with local chaptersSpeaker associations run about $150 to $1,000 a year (AmberWillo's figure)Business and speaking educationBuilding a speaking business
AmberWilloOnline video rooms; you and fourteen others at mostFree to startFeedback per round: confidence rating, coaching tips, next milestoneBest for anxious speakers who want a group from home
Therapy or support group for social anxietyLocal rooms or video callsVaries; ask the providerHonest feedback on how others see you; not a replacement for treatmentStrong fear, before a clubIf the fear is strong (glossophobia), a support group can come first.

Pick one to light up the matching groups.

If walking into a club room is the hard part, start in AmberWillo's online rooms: same idea, smaller group, from your couch. Provider facts checked October 18, 2026.

Typical Meeting Structure

A public speaking group meeting is a regular session where members take turns speaking and giving feedback. A typical club meeting has three parts:

  1. Impromptu Speaking ("Table Topics")A short, unprepared answer to a surprise question, to build impromptu speaking skills.
  2. Prepared SpeechesPlanned talks; members learn from one another's speeches.
  3. EvaluationsEvaluators give spoken and written feedback; a General Evaluator reviews the whole meeting.

Roles vary by club. Size matters too: AmberWillo's group guide puts an ideal meeting size at five to nine people.

How to join

Find a Club

  1. Open the club finder on the Toastmasters site.
  2. Filter by location, schedule and format.
  3. Message the officers or schedule a visit.

Find a Group

  1. On Meetup, open the Public Speaking topic for your local area.
  2. Check how often it meets and the cost.
  3. Online instead? Join an AmberWillo session from home.

Prefer a teacher? Compare public speaking classes.

Do groups help?

Group practice is a form of exposure. In a 2013 trial of 97 people whose main fear was public speaking, exposure group therapy helped as much as virtual reality exposure, and gains held at 12 months. In a 2008 study, online self-help worked with or without five added live group sessions. The NIMH says support groups give honest feedback on how others see you but don't replace treatment.

AmberWillo's support group guide describes a structured, supportive setting with constructive feedback and a sense of community. Between meetings, follow a plan for how to improve public speaking, and rehearse a table topic answer on Confidently.

Reader questions

Is Toastmasters still a thing?

Yes. Its club finder is live, with clubs meeting in person or online.

How to join Toastmasters?

Use Find a Club on the Toastmasters site, then message a club or book a visit.

How to get better at public speaking as an adult?

Talk in front of people often, with feedback. A weekly group gives you an audience, and a daily 30-second round on Confidently keeps you sharp between meetings.

Why do I struggle so much with public speaking?

You're far from alone. A 2019 review calls fear of public speaking the most commonly feared situation, reported by up to a third of people. Among 1,851 speakers surveyed by AmberWillo, 38% named a blank mind as their main problem.

Sources

  1. Social Anxiety Disorder: What You Need to Know, NIMH.
  2. Virtual reality exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder, Anderson et al., J Consult Clin Psychol (2013).
  3. Treating university students with social phobia and public speaking fears, Tillfors et al. (2008).
  4. Psychological Interventions for the Fear of Public Speaking, Ebrahimi et al. (2019).
  5. About NSA, National Speakers Association.
  6. Public Speaking Support Group, AmberWillo.
  7. Find and Join a Public Speaking Group, AmberWillo.
  8. Public Speaking Groups, AmberWillo.
  9. AmberWillo homepage data: answers from 1,851 speakers.