Stage Fright
Posted by Robyn Lee in Family on Thursday, April 15, 2010 5:52 PM
I’m involved in a farmer’s club with my Mom and Aunt. I never go to meetings; my mom pays my dues; and the only things I do attend are the roast beef dinner (to eat) and the annual talent contest (because my mom made me go).
My mom is in charge of making sure there are entries for the A-number and talent portion of the contest so she usually asks my cousin Mary (another reluctant member) and me for help.
Over the years Mary and I have sang songs, acted out skits, recited poems, and some years I don’t have to participate because Mary is a very talented violinist and enters the talent competition by herself.
This year my mom wrote a skit about the outdoors. She (conveniently) wasn’t able to be there the night of the competition so Aunt Karen and I did our best to perform in the skit.
We didn’t have any lines (thank goodness) because we were supposed to act like mimes.
We both dressed in black and threw powder on our faces just before we walked out onto the stage.
The goal of the competition was to get audience participation. We pointed to a sign “in search of the great outdoors” and continued to point to a bunch of nature scenes and motioned to the audience: “Is this the great outdoors?”
Even with all of our hand motions and facial expressions we didn’t get a whole lot of audience participation.
At the end of the skit Aunt Karen and I walk through a set of cardboard doors that say “out” and rejoice that we found “the great outdoors” (the “out” door).
Only then did we get a response from the audience: a few laughs and an “oh, brother.” Well, that’s got to count for something.
Not only was I in the A-number portion, but mom also needed me for the talent competition.
They set up the stage for the talent portion and announce my name and my song.
I stand up and nervously walk up to the stage. My legs are shaking and I grumble about the things my mom gets me in to.
I take a deep breath and walk out on the stage. A capella, I sing: Pardon me boys, is that the Chattanooga choo choo? Track 29. Boy you can give me a shine!
Since most of the audience is of the older crowd I received a few smiles and some that sang along. My body was now shaking all over from nervousness. I did my best to control it and make sure it didn’t get into my voice.
Thank goodness the song was short. I booked it off the stage and sighed a breath of relief.
After my song the judges went out to deliberate about the winners. It seemed like they took forever to decide. The announcement of the raffle winners was a good distraction until the judges returned.
As the judges returned, I thought about the winner who would go forward to compete at states.
I held my breath as the judges announced the winning name.
“The winner of the talent competition was easy to decide. Robyn, congratulations!”
Yes, I was the winner of the regional talent competition … did I mention I was the only entry?
I wonder if there will be tougher (or any) competition at states.
Are any of you into theater, music, or public speaking? What do you do to handle nervousness or any uncomfortable situation?
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