bite the bullet and just do it. That's how a lot of people get over their fears. I certainly would like to be around someone who is educated with scorpions/spiders for my first handling experience.

Some people are just terrified of snakes...and when they see me holding one of mine and see how calm and easy it is to handle, it starts to play on their fears, and it typically only takes 10 minutes, if that, to turn from fear to curiosity.