This
past week in class we performed for the first time.
As discussed in class, nerves or lack thereof as an instructor, and
nerves as a performer are inherently different.
I had always known that many celebrities suffer from performance anxiety
as I have always had this challenge. Growing
up as a student in gifted and talented programs I always had to get in front of
my peers. I sang and performed in school
since I was 12, and although I survive, I have had numerous sleepless nights
trying to perfect my performances. I
only wish that we had programs like storytelling and National Forensic Leagues
to aid in my anxiety because the more experience you have the less nervous you
get. Once I begin talking I am usually
fine, it is the volunteering or walking up on stage that sometimes gets
me. At VOX, this week Mig really wanted
me to perform, but I wanted to wait until I had seen the layout/structure of
the competition. Weird, I know. I certainly agree with Jerry, I’d rather be
in the casket!
In
class we talked about the 6 Ps, I found them extremely helpful and shared them
with my speech class. As for my own performance, I practiced extensively in
front of my classes (both Public Speaking and Interpersonal Communication, who
got the pleasure of critiquing ME), and my family. I bet they can all sing the canoe song. Then I practiced in a tape recorded to not
only check my timing (which was more like 8 minutes) also to work out any
kinks. Revise, revise, revise…I
visualized my kayaking experience and success at telling the story. And even tried stretching and walking across
the street before my presentation. I
took a deep long breath prior to beginning and away I went! Once I got started I was good, except for a
little cotton mouth. I think the hardest P was the paradigm shift, as I still
knew that I was performing, not simply sharing one of my unusual tales to my
class or family. I wanted to make sure I
didn’t leave out details, which I did; nevertheless, I did survive. Funny, although I get nervous, I love storytelling, performing and the idea of learning through personal stories. As long as I am not “thinking” about proving myself, nor being perfect, and concentrating on the paradigm shift, I will conquer!
With A Happy Heart,
Cynde
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