By Frank “Smokin” Truatt
Stage fright is defined as “feeling anxious when presenting before an audience.” The majority of people prior to going on stage in front of an audience believe that they are eagerly awaiting to hear all you have to share. I have to admit that I’ve always had a bit of stage fright when standing in front of a live audience. When I did mobile disc jockeying years ago, I felt pretty comfortable playing music for large crowds, many times in places I had never been before. You might wonder how that was possible, but the answer is pretty simple. As a disc jockey, I was always behind a table with my equipment and a microphone. I guess I used that as sort of a crutch to get over the fear of stage fright. As long as I have a microphone in front of me, I feel comfortable, but put me in front of a group of people without either a mic or DJ equipment, that’s a different story. Some say that while you’re doing your presentation, imagine that everyone in the audience is in their underwear. I don’t know about you, but that would make me possibly laugh for no apparent reason to the audience members.
The reason that I’m bringing up this whole stage fright thing is because I’ve seen it happen many times at the radio station. All of the elements that can cause stage fright are present. As a matter of fact, when you realize that you’re not speaking to a group of people, but to thousands, it can be quite intimidating. I too was terrified when I began my radio career in college. It took a while to feel comfortable on the microphone, while most of the uncertainty was learning how to use the equipment in the studio so what was going on the air appeared seamless. Today, we always try to make people feel at home when they are in the studio with us, just like they’re sitting around the dinner table having a conversation among friends. For the most part, that works, but radio is a funny thing. You know there are listeners, but you can’t see them, and you can’t see their reactions to what you’re doing on the air. We take that into consideration which is why we have texting into the NewsRoom when the live shows are on (845-328-0886) for comments and questions for those who fear calling in. I was experiencing that nervousness on the air was when we moved the studio facilities in 2007. The equipment was new, and the studio was completely different causing that stage fright feeling for about a week until things started to fall in place. It’s true that the more you do something the better you get at it and the more comfortable you’ll feel, and it’s true about everything in life.
Remember the first time you drove, your first date, you walked into the first home you bought. Walking down the aisle at your wedding, your first child and all their firsts. Yes, life is full of stage fright moments. but it would not be a fulfilling life without them now would it.
