My 13-year-old daughter recently had her first audition…ever. This audition happened to be for the Vermont Youth Orchestra, a wonderful program for school-aged musicians. She is a clarinet player and an introvert. And as I do with many clients when helping them prepare for public speaking or media interviews, I was trying to share some pointers that would help take away some of the anxiety and dread she was feeling and make her performance something to look forward to.

Several of her comments leading up to the audition reminded me of what we hear from many clients before they give an interview or do any other type of public speaking:

Clarinet with a Boehm System.

I’m nervous.

Yes, you will be nervous. Most everyone is (and if they’re not, I’d be nervous for them). Nerves can be a good thing! I had a wonderful public speaking teacher who once said that a little bit of nerves is healthy and keeps you sharp for your performance. So embrace the nerves, just don’t let them get the best of you!

I need to practice.

Yes, you do need to practice. Practice is important whether preparing to play your clarinet or speaking in front of a group of people. Look for opportunities to practice your performance. Stand in front of a mirror. Record yourself and listen to it. Practice your speech on your commute into work. Practice for your friends. The more you practice how you plan to answer questions or what you plan to say, the more comfortable you will be during the actual interview (or performance).

What if I don’t do well?

That’s certainly a possibility. But there will always be a next time. Do the best you can. And if it doesn’t go exactly as planned, learn from it and look forward to your next opportunity. After all, the more interviews, presentations or speeches you do, the better you’ll get.

I’m so glad it’s over!

Everyone knows this feeling. It’s that incredible sense of relief that washes over you when it’s finally over. Then you can begin to think back and dissect your performance. It’s always a good idea to reflect back on what you said and how it went. Try to watch the actual performance or interview if you can. Usually, the way we remember it is much worse than the actual performance. After all, it’s human nature to be our own worst critic.

And how did our budding musician do in her first audition? We’ll find out soon enough—but no matter what, with this experience under her belt, she’ll be ready for next time!

Additional Reading:

5 inviting ways to start a speech