By Frank “Smokin” Truatt
Stage fright is defined as “feeling anxious when presenting before an audience.” Most people are anxious when they are anticipating being on a stage in front of a group of people. I have to admit that I’ve always had a bit of stage fright in front of a live audience. When I was a mobile D.J. years ago, I actually 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. I feel comfortable on stage today even with just a microphone 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 feel quite a bit more uncomfortable for sure! 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 probably 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 that what was going on the air appeared seamless. Today, we always try to make people feel at home when they are in the studio, 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. The last time I experienced 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 is 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, your first home, 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!
