The crowd goes wild!

I’m at the side of the stage. People are taking their seats. They’re looking for somewhere to put their bag, coat and coffee. They’re getting their notebooks out and trying to find a pen.?

It’s time to go on stage. It’s time to be the most interesting person in the world. And the coolest, calmest, most collected. And the funniest. People have paid for this. They need to get their money’s worth. What was my opener again? I knew I should’ve written it down.

Okay, just start speaking. Say something. Anything. I know, I’ll introduce myself. Of course, everyone knows my name because it was in the information they read that led them to booking this thing. Oh well, I’ve done it now. And I’m still speaking, so that’s good. Except my voice is shaking and I keep saying “er” and oh no, am I speaking too fast? Breathe. I need to breathe.

Is it me, or is it really bloody hot in here? Why isn’t the air-con on? I need water. Why is my mouth so goddamn dry? I talk on the phone or in meetings or at dinner for longer than this and don’t need a drink. Now everyone will hear me gulp water. Can I mute the microphone for a moment? Sod it, everyone drinks water. It’s totally normal. No one will mind. But now I’ve dropped the bottle lid. Should I pick it up, or just let it roll across the stage? It’s gone. Shit, where was I?

I get an overwhelming urge to ask if everyone’s having a good time but I don’t want to sound like a children’s party entertainer. These people are grown-ups. It’s not like they’re going to answer me. They’re here to listen and learn. They’re not here for panto-style banter. Right, get on with it – almost finished. Or am I? Never has 10 minutes felt so long. And I still have another 10 minutes to fill. Oh blimey.

And just like that, it’s over. Everyone’s clapping. What on earth for? Surely I just waffled through my talk and made absolutely no sense. Hang on, why can’t I remember what I said? What just happened? The whole thing’s a blur.

Does any of this sound familiar??

This isn’t how I imagined performing to a live audience. You see, when I was younger, I really, really, really wanted to be a backing dancer for Janet Jackson. I imagined a scenario so very different from the one I just described.?

I’m at the side of the stage. People are taking their seats. They’re looking for somewhere to put their bag, coat and drink. The arena – stadium, even (it’s important to dream big) – goes dark, lights flash, the beat comes in.?

It’s time to go on stage. It’s time to be the most talented dancer in the world. And the coolest, calmest, most collected. And the fiercest.?

The crowd goes wild!?

Despite the weekly dance classes, I never became a professional dancer. And Janet Jackson has no idea who I am. But I do give talks, present work, and run workshops – I even co-host Copy Capital with fellow Copywriter Andy Maslen.

Andy once recommended a book that really helped me ease my fear of public speaking, so here I am recommending it to you. It’s?Performance Strategies for Musicians?by David Buswell, “A self-help handbook for anyone who performs – musicians, singers, actors, dancers, athletes and business managers and executives.”??

I wasn’t convinced it would help. How can a little book have any impact on a big fear? I didn’t want to waste my money so I bought it on Kindle (something I never do) – it was cheaper than buying the actual book (something I always do). It was good. Really good. So I bought the actual book to read again and again.?

There are loads of resources available to help those with a fear of public speaking. Books, articles, videos, podcasts. If you go to talks yourself, take note of how the speakers present themselves. Look at what they’re wearing, where they’re standing, how they’re interacting with the audience. Listen to what they say and how they say it. Then develop your own style, like Marcus John Henry Brown did. Just look at him smashing it in his performance of The Passing. See that standing ovation? It could be yours one day.?

P.S. Marcus John Henry Brown set up Speakery to help people speak - here we are speaking on his podcast, Speakery Notes

P.P.S. This is a great guide to public speaking - from Creative Lives in Progress