Watch this when
How I beat stage fright | Joe Kowan
He couldn't stop the stage fright, so he wrote a song about it.
Who it's for
Kowan describes the fight-or-flight symptoms of stage fright (sweating, shaking, blurred vision) and how they derailed him at open mics, then shows his solution: he wrote a song about his stage fright and opens with it, turning the symptoms into the act.
Feelings it meets
What it is
In this TED talk from TED@State Street Boston (2013, about 8 minutes), musician Joe Kowan describes how stage fright hit him at his first solo open-mic performance: adrenaline, racing heart, dry mouth, numb fingers and a shaking voice. Performing every week did not stop the nerves, so he wrote a song about his stage fright that openly names the symptoms and invites the audience into the experience.
Where to find it
Free on YouTube.
Before you start
Age: Not rated (suggested 13+)
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act 3, Scene 1
