0899 – Underlying Reasons For Mic Fright

2023.06.18 – 0899 – Underlying Reasons For Mic Fright

What the underlying reasons could be

So, just why are some broadcaster-performers exhilarated and energized in front of the mic, while others feel a crushing sense of fear and dread, and sometimes see studio work as something that must be endured rather than enjoyed?

These can be summed up by:[1]

·        Lack of experience – you simply need more ‘on-air miles’ especially if you’re working with new people, especially ‘difficult’ or ‘famous’ people

·        Lack of preparation - there hasn’t been much time to prepare, practise and rehearse. Maybe the live or recording is ‘high profile’ or ‘important’, perhaps technically or creatively challenging, (maybe a big audience, a major brand).

And what of this prep? Perhaps you’ve set rigid and unrealistically high standards for yourself which you (or anyone else) would rarely be able to achieve.

Even though you cannot rehearse for every specific sports match, news story or studio conversation, you can get prepared for them. For instance, watching previous matches and preparing notes on all the players will help, as will really listening to similar news commentaries and noting what is described and how, and swotting up on your adlibbing skills (check out episode 593 for more on this)

[1] With reference to “Television and Radio Announcing”, SW Hyde, publ: Houghton Mifflin (1983)

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