What To Do About Stage Fright

Overview

This episode explores the nuances of stage fright and performance anxiety, offering practical tools and reframes to transform fear into a source of energy and connection. Drawing from personal experiences and professional insights, the hosts discuss how to work with the nervous system, embrace imperfection, and find joy in the vulnerability of being seen.

Notable Quotes

- Fear is just excitement without the breath. – Tara Howley, on reframing anxiety.

- We don’t call this company the art of perfection. It’s the art of accomplishment. – Tara Howley, on embracing imperfection.

- Stage fright is a fuel cell—it gives you the energy to get your message through. – Tara Howley, on the hidden gift of performance anxiety.

🎭 Understanding Stage Fright

- Tara Howley describes stage fright as a physiological and psychological response that can feel overwhelming, often leading to a freeze state.

- Both hosts share personal experiences with performance anxiety, highlighting its debilitating effects and the journey to overcome it.

- Janine Parziale reflects on the universal fear of being seen, referencing a Seinfeld joke: You’d rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy.

💡 Reframing Fear as Excitement

- Fear and excitement share similar physiological pathways. By breathing deeply and repeating I’m excited, you can shift your mindset.

- Physical movement, like pumping your hands or flicking your wrists, helps discharge nervous energy and re-engage the body.

- Tara emphasizes the importance of embracing the energy of fear rather than resisting it, likening it to an alchemical process of turning **** into gold.

🧘 Body-Based Techniques for Anxiety

- Techniques include deep breathing, shaking out the body, and grounding exercises like eating potassium-rich foods or taking cold showers.

- Movement, such as flapping your hands like bird wings, can help release tension and bring you back into your body.

- Tara shares how small actions, like moving hands under a table during a Zoom call, can prevent freezing in high-pressure moments.

🪞 Embracing Mistakes and Shame

- Stage fright often stems from self-consciousness and shame. Tara suggests redirecting focus to your mission or supportive individuals in the audience.

- Mistakes are reframed as opportunities for connection and improvisation. Janine recalls how Tara’s openness about forgetting lines during a concussion made her more relatable.

- Celebrating both successes and failures fosters a learner’s mindset, reducing the pressure to be perfect.

⚡ The Gift of Stage Fright

- Stage fright can be a source of energy and presence. Tara recounts an actor who came to rely on pre-show nerves as fuel for performance.

- Imperfections, like forgetting lines, create moments of authenticity and connection with the audience.

- The hosts encourage listeners to prepare thoroughly, embrace the unknown, and trust that even dumpster fire moments can lead to magic.