Dealing with Stage Fright: The Ultimate Guide (2019 edition)

In this article, I offer y0u some straight talking about stage fright. I’m going to tell you things that you’ve likely never heard before, ones that upset conventional beliefs. Keep an open mind and I think you’ll appreciate the truth in what I say.  That’s the first important step in finding your way beyond your nervousness, changing how you view …

Zayn Malik’s Stage Fright No Show

It was to be a triumphant moment as a solo artist fo former One Direction member Zayn Malik, but stage fright got in the way He had returned to the UK to appear at the Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium along with Ariana Grande and Little Mix. At the last minute, though, nerves got the better of him, and he …

Australian swimmers hit with stage fright at Olympics

Anxiety Robs Australian Swimmers at Olympics

The Olympic Games in Rio should have provided Australian swimmers with lots of opportunities for glory. Going into the Games, there was even talk of them winning up to ten gold medals. The actual take turned out to be just a fraction of that. Backstroke king Mitch Larkin took home one silver medal rather than two gold, freestyle star Cate …

Tell it to the Dogs

Bonnie Auslander, the director of the Kogod Center for Business Communications, shares her technique of having speakers practice in front of dogs to help them cope with their performance anxiety in an article for the New York Times. It’s an entertaining idea but does it offer any real value? Three Conditions Behind Speech Fright As I explain in Understanding Stage …

NYT Article on Smart Apps for Stage Fright

A recent article in the Personal Tech section of the New York Times reviews a number of smartphone apps that supposedly help people deal with their stage fright. While the apps considered are interesting, none really get to the heart of the problem with stage fright and are of limited help. Article link

Speech Fright: Reporter Reinforces Common Misconception

Donna Vickroy writes about her battle with speech fright in a recent online article for the Chicago Tribune. The piece underscores just how intrusive performance anxiety can be when Vickroy is confronted with giving a eulogy at her aunt’s funeral. It also reinforces a common misconception about nervousness being the source of excitement. Back in the B.C. days The most …

The Yips & Ernie Els

The yips finds Ernie Els. Millions have watched The epic meltdown in the day since it has happened. Four-time major champion Ernies Els wound up six putting from under three feet for a nine on the opening par four at the Masters. How could this possibly happen to such a successful veteran golfer? In an interview after his round for …

Stage Fright & Speech Fright: Infographic of Surprising Facts

When it comes to speech fright and stage fright, there’s likely quite a bit you don’t know. I certainly didn’t until I started studying it extensively to create Goodbye Butterflies. Learning more about the anxiety of speaking, performing, and competing in public can serve as an important first step in finding your way beyond this needless menace. To that end, I’ve …