ANNOUNCER BEAT FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

Byline: KAREN THACKER

Public speaking was more terrifying than death for a young Bruce Hailstone.

A humiliating speaking experience in junior high and a C in a college speech class didn't boost his confidence, either.

It's hardly the background you would expect from the host of the weekly radio show ``Let's Talk Real Estate,'' which airs at 11 a.m. Sundays on KKHJ-AM (930), or of the announcer of the Quartz Hill Almond Blossom Festival Parade.

When Hailstone made the transition from engineering to real estate about 13 years ago, he found himself in front of a 125-member audience ``stammering and stumbling.''

``I was scared to death,'' he said. ``When I sat down, I couldn't even hold a pencil I was so scared.''

But after being introduced to the local Eyeopeners Toastmasters Club, he overcame his fears and was named Antelope Valley Toastmaster of the Year for 1994-95.

The Antelope Valley native said he has discovered the joys of public speaking and the opportunities it brings.

One afternoon, after speaking at a Quartz Hill Chamber of Commerce luncheon, some had the idea that he should be the announcer at the annual parade. He agreed, but didn't know what he'd gotten into until the day of the parade.

``You're dealing with all kinds of people and animals, and they want to trade places,'' he said. ``The (parade) applications usually provide very little information.

``The first year with pages being stuffed in front of me . . . it was comical,'' he said.

This year, Hailstone plans to use a Quartz Hill Chamber of Commerce directory and a parade guide full of historical facts regarding the area to fill time as the entrants pass.

The biggest challenge comes when you realize that ``what's in front of you (to read) isn't what's rolling down the street - it's a queen of some sort,'' Hailstone said. Improvisation becomes crucial and one now has to make the situation seem like it was not a mistake.

``You don't know what you're getting at in that spot (as announcer) . . . I now sit and watch the Rose Parade and am awestruck,'' he said.

But he adds that the job is wonderful. ``I love seeing the people we do business with, the people that we work and play with basically shining in their moment as they go by . . . to see the faces with the voices that you often talk to,'' he said.

Princesses, queens, volunteers and friends go by. ``It's a chance to see these people at their best - their moment of gleam,'' Hailstone said.

And after 2-1/2 hours of talking about the parade, Hailstone doesn't even feel hoarse.

In fact, the once-shy public speaker now admits ``it's very seldom that I'm caught without something to say.''

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Photo: (color) A speech to the Quartz Hill Chamber of Commerce landed Bruce Hailstone a job as Almond Blossom Festival Parade announcer.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News