The key to overcoming public speaking anxiety
By Drew McCreadie
By Drew McCreadie
| THEY say the biggest fear in the world is the fear of public speaking. As someone who does that constantly, I find it hard to understand. Of course, I have experienced the butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling that comes with the excitement of performing, but a fear that makes it impossible to perform has thankfully never overcome me. But for many, this fear is very real. And taking a stab at doing stand-up or improv comedy may be exactly the type of exposure therapy that the doctor ordered – Assuming you have a doctor. Not only does doing comedy give you an opportunity to face your fears, comedy can teach you a number of things that are very valuable when translated for the humdrum banality that is the lives of those who are not performers. For example, comedy can teach you to be comfortable with being out of control. |  |
In comedy, if you only feel comfortable when you are in control then you will never feel comfortable because you can never fully control a situation. Comics must be comfortable with being ‘out of control’. In improv comedy, for example, which involves making up comedy scenes with other performers, each performer has no idea what the other performer is going to say next, and therefore neither performer can fully control the situation. It is this very reality that creates the comic tension that makes improv comedy the most superior form of comedy in the world, and a great place for those with any kind of anxiety about public speaking to face their fears.
Even if one is performing stand-up comedy, where the jokes have been written and rehearsed in advance, it is impossible to control exactly how the audience will respond. It is this latter concern, namely: how the audience will respond to your ‘joke’ that makes performing comedy or public speaking so terrifying for those who are terrified. What if people don’t laugh? What if people don’t like what I say? Well, there will be a horrible and uncomfortable silence, that’s what.
And it is terrifying
But it is not the end of the world: this is the big secret to getting over any kind of stage fright -- which is basically the fear of making a mistake. While there may be real stakes involved, if you are doing a business presentation, for example, those stakes are usually not as high as you think they are – your job is rarely really ‘on the line’. Very few sales deals failed because someone stumbled on their words or made a little mistake. What ruined the deal was how the presenter reacted to a small mistake. Did they shrug it off, and carry on, or did they panic and spiral down into an endless dark pit of apprehensive self-doubt and critical self-loathing? – ‘Cause the former is much better.
Recognising and accepting that there are things beyond your control is the first step to becoming comfortable with that fact, and is the key to public speaking, making presentations, and doing comedy.
If you want to build confidence, then studying a bit of improvised comedy is a great place to start. And it’s fun… but don’t tell your doctor that – Assuming you have a doctor.
Even if one is performing stand-up comedy, where the jokes have been written and rehearsed in advance, it is impossible to control exactly how the audience will respond. It is this latter concern, namely: how the audience will respond to your ‘joke’ that makes performing comedy or public speaking so terrifying for those who are terrified. What if people don’t laugh? What if people don’t like what I say? Well, there will be a horrible and uncomfortable silence, that’s what.
And it is terrifying
But it is not the end of the world: this is the big secret to getting over any kind of stage fright -- which is basically the fear of making a mistake. While there may be real stakes involved, if you are doing a business presentation, for example, those stakes are usually not as high as you think they are – your job is rarely really ‘on the line’. Very few sales deals failed because someone stumbled on their words or made a little mistake. What ruined the deal was how the presenter reacted to a small mistake. Did they shrug it off, and carry on, or did they panic and spiral down into an endless dark pit of apprehensive self-doubt and critical self-loathing? – ‘Cause the former is much better.
Recognising and accepting that there are things beyond your control is the first step to becoming comfortable with that fact, and is the key to public speaking, making presentations, and doing comedy.
If you want to build confidence, then studying a bit of improvised comedy is a great place to start. And it’s fun… but don’t tell your doctor that – Assuming you have a doctor.
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This month at The Comedy Club Bangkok
• In search for Bangkok’s best local English language stand-up comedian to compete in the Magners International Comedy Festival Finals, Fri February 3 at 8.30pm. B250 in advance. B350 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials. • ‘WHOSE LINE?’ Improv Comedy Show. Audience suggestions to fuel the scenes in this hilarious show. Fri February 10 at 8.30pm. B400 in advance. B500 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials. • Stand-up Comedy with GINA YASHERE is coming to The Comedy Club Bangkok. Hot off her sold out Asian tour. Sat February 11 at 8.30pm. B600 in advance. B800 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials. • Stand-up Comedy open mic with international special guests. A Euro special Pete Heininen from Finland and Dutch comic Tim van ‘t Hul on Fri February 24 at 8.30pm. B250 in advance. B350 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials. • The Early Late Show & Epic Gameshow presents a live improvised parody of late night TV and gameshow genres with lots of prizes and laughs. Fri February 24 at 8.30pm. B400 in advance. B500 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials. The Comedy Club Bangkok Sukhumvit 33/1 above The Royal Oak Pub (BTS Phrom Phong) comedyclubbangkok.com |
