Introductory Speech | My Stage Fright Monster

I have a monster living in my head, rent-free. A stage fright monster, to be exact. I’ve always had a stage fright monster—and not just a small one, it’s kind of big.

All my life, being a self-professed introvert, I hated public speaking. Just the thought of delivering a simple presentation in front of a class was enough to strike fear in my heart. Heart racing, palms sweating, limbs shaking... Turns out, I wasn’t having a heart attack—it was just stage fright.

Everything changed four years ago during my gap year when I decided to pursue every stage fright sufferer’s worst nightmare—busking. And I’ve never looked back since. On blind faith alone, I spent all my life savings on a plug-in guitar, microphone and amplifier, passed an audition, and was issued a busking license under the National Arts Council Busking Scheme.

As an aspiring vocalist and musician, I spent many nights singing for my supper along the streets of Somerset. There was something comforting about the transient nature of passersby that gave me the leeway to make mistakes without having to face the embarrassment that usually came afterwards—I’d probably never cross paths with these strangers again anyway, and vice versa. With every passing night, my stage fright monster fell into a deep slumber—slowly, and then all at once.

Before I knew it, the exposure from performing to a public audience took me from the streets to stages big and small at Botanic Gardens, Singapore Art Museum and Club Street.

These days, after having put music on hold for awhile, my stage fright monster still wakes up and rears its ugly head from time to time but nothing like it was before. It’s touch and go—I have good days and bad days. On good days, I forget it’s even there. On bad days, though, when I reach to unmute my mic to share my thoughts during online lessons, I still feel a familiar wave of dread and panic wash over me.

I believe my stage fright monster will always be there living in my head, rent-free—it never really will go away. I’ve just learnt to tame it and make sure I steal the show instead.