Even elite performers experience stage fright—just ask Shohei Ohtani. Before stepping up to bat at Tokyo Dome, he admitted feeling nervous under the intense, silent focus of 42,000 fans. This pressure isn’t unique to athletes—musicians, actors, and dancers face the same overwhelming scrutiny on stage. Even jazz musicians at Tokyo’s Blue Note have been spooked by Japan’s ultra-focused, silent audiences. So how do top performers handle it? Learn proven techniques to manage nerves, shift focus, and turn pressure into peak performance—just like Ohtani. 🎭🎶⚾ #StageFright #PerformanceAnxiety #ThrivingUnderPressure
Lamaze for stage fright. Wait, what?
If you’re an American parent, there’s a good chance you and/or your spouse relied on the Lamaze technique during childbirth. A medical intervention developed by French obstetrician Dr. Fernand Lamaze in the 1940s, it helps a mother cope with the physical pain of bringing a baby into the world. It may also be effective in managing the anxiety of performing … Read More
Stage Fright & ‘American Idol’ Sonika Vaid
One of the standout performers in the final season of “American Idol,” Sonika Vaid, is no stranger to stage fright. Now that she’s made it into the final stages of the competition, the Martha’s Vineyard native is starting to receive quite a bit of media attention. It includes a profile interview found on the NBC news website. In the piece, … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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
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 … Read More