You know those people who say they don't care about what anybody else thinks? That humiliation doesn't bother them ever? I hate those people (not that they care.) The reason why I get nervous every time I agree to speak publicly is because I know it's a great opportunity for me to fall on my face. Most of the time it doesn't happen, which is why I agree to do it, but it's happened that it hasn't worked out well and I'd be lying if I said it didn't ruin my day, even my week.

Scott H. Young though argues that some embarrassment is good for you--and I agree at least in the case of my reading where two people showed up--that you can live through it and realize that it's not as big as deal as you might have feared.

He has more on making embarrassment work for you here.