Fortunately, the awards are just every five years, but my manager has mentioned the compliment issue once or twice.
Do you have stage fright or performance anxiety?
- Thread starter Sibyl
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Fortunately, the awards are just every five years, but my manager has mentioned the compliment issue once or twice.
I have anxiety issues too, when I was a teenager I was afraid to even approach bank tellers.
Now I tend to handle it by only spending time with people I already know like me. Meet one person, meet all his friends, I’m good on friends for about a decade.
I’m fine with things like karaoke just because I like singing so much I can pretend nobody is watching. But having to present something people will judge is still terrifying. Or having to call a stranger who isn’t doing their job to talk to me.
Now I tend to handle it by only spending time with people I already know like me. Meet one person, meet all his friends, I’m good on friends for about a decade.
I’m fine with things like karaoke just because I like singing so much I can pretend nobody is watching. But having to present something people will judge is still terrifying. Or having to call a stranger who isn’t doing their job to talk to me.
When I was growing up in another country, we school kids were always encouraged by teachers to sing, dance, or recite a poem in front of the class whenever we had some downtime. This was a common practice in elementary and high schools everywhere, both private and public. I used to look back and think how silly it all was, but now I realize the whole experience was definitely a confidence booster. Of course, I would still get nervous at choir performances but not to the point of wanting to throw up.
We all hear our own voices differently, and I used to despise recording messages because of the way I sounded. I'm a baritone, and I tend to sound better when I have a cold. I can do impressions of the late Alan Rickman.
Back in the 2000s, my family went crazy with karaoke, and every occasion and holiday we would pass the mike around the living room. That experience probably helped me build tolerance to my own voice.
We all hear our own voices differently, and I used to despise recording messages because of the way I sounded. I'm a baritone, and I tend to sound better when I have a cold. I can do impressions of the late Alan Rickman.
Back in the 2000s, my family went crazy with karaoke, and every occasion and holiday we would pass the mike around the living room. That experience probably helped me build tolerance to my own voice.
I've performed in front of thousands, probably even tens of thousands, of people in my life when I was in my 20s. I was a singer/songwriter and did a little modelling. I was confident as a musician, reluctant as a model though.
Now, in my 40s the mere thought just makes me want to hide my head in the sand.
I used to sing for hours a day every day. Now, hardly at all and I'm so self-conscious that I can barely sing around my wife. And I hate having my picture taken. Always have, always will.
I decided to shake the dust off my old website and switch to doing videos instead of text. Ha! Did a "teaser video" and two weeks later did the first video and promised to have part two up two weeks later and, well, it's month later now and the simple thought of sitting in front of a camera... I simply can't relax and feel at ease.
Hard to believe my entire life has basically been performing in one way or another. When it wasn't music I've worked in sales, customer service and marketing mostly and always "performed" for clients or staff I was training.
Now, in my 40s the mere thought just makes me want to hide my head in the sand.
I used to sing for hours a day every day. Now, hardly at all and I'm so self-conscious that I can barely sing around my wife. And I hate having my picture taken. Always have, always will.
I decided to shake the dust off my old website and switch to doing videos instead of text. Ha! Did a "teaser video" and two weeks later did the first video and promised to have part two up two weeks later and, well, it's month later now and the simple thought of sitting in front of a camera... I simply can't relax and feel at ease.
Hard to believe my entire life has basically been performing in one way or another. When it wasn't music I've worked in sales, customer service and marketing mostly and always "performed" for clients or staff I was training.
I can't think of much worst than having to talk in public. I also don't like my voice much. I decided to try singing in a choir again last year. I had thought of it before. But just didn't. So now I tried. And now I know I have an awful off key voice. I can't do the high notes anymore and don't recall how to read music. I knew a bit from jr. high. It was disappointing. But the people were kind to me. And many have had there voices change as they age. I don't know if I would do it again. But I am glad I tried I think. As far as public speaking I can do a little if I don't have to stand up front. Like from my seat. And only if I really think over and over again in my head what I want to say. I also take several deep breaths. Yeah it is hard when I don't care for my voice. It just lays there and is not interesting. It sounds like someone else on a recording. So I do know how you feel don't know if this helps you? good luck if you have to do any public speaking...
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