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Mic Fright and Camera Panic

This document contains information about performance anxiety, specifically microphone fright and camera panic. It discusses the physical symptoms of anxiety like sweating and rapid heartbeat. It notes that performance anxiety is common and can be debilitating if not addressed. The document provides tips for overcoming microphone fright, such as rehearsing, visualizing successful performances, and gradually increasing exposure to speaking on microphones. It also discusses causes of and solutions for camera panic on television, including discomfort with one's appearance on screen and fear of failure in front of an audience.

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Nica Arizapa
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3K views5 pages

Mic Fright and Camera Panic

This document contains information about performance anxiety, specifically microphone fright and camera panic. It discusses the physical symptoms of anxiety like sweating and rapid heartbeat. It notes that performance anxiety is common and can be debilitating if not addressed. The document provides tips for overcoming microphone fright, such as rehearsing, visualizing successful performances, and gradually increasing exposure to speaking on microphones. It also discusses causes of and solutions for camera panic on television, including discomfort with one's appearance on screen and fear of failure in front of an audience.

Uploaded by

Nica Arizapa
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Communication

Sta. Mesa, Manila

Radio Performance and Production


“Microphone Fright and Camera Panic and Avoiding It”

Submited By:

Accad, Clarisse

Arizapa, Monica Clarice

Betita, John Louise

Eugenio, Elvene Junn

Submitted To:

Professor Clarita Valdez-Ramos


DO YOU SUFFER FROM MICROPHONE FRIGHT?
Do microphones make you jumpy? Does performing in class make you
tense? Do auditions make you a nervous wreck? If you?re a voice over artist
or hope to become one, a bad case of nerves can be a real liability. It can
strike both beginner and experienced pro in class or worse, before or during
a recording session. Sweaty palms, cotton mouth, shakiness, feelings of
panic, rapid heartbeat and a shaky, weak voice. You might think: I’ve
worked so hard to get booked for this job. I’ve always dreamed of a voice
over career. Why is this happening to me??

Performance anxiety or stage fright is one of the most common and


terrifying fears. The scary symptoms are caused by stress and a sudden
overabundance of the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline in the
bloodstream. The good news is, the adrenaline rush is short-lived and the
excess adrenaline will burn off as you perform. But stage fright, if not dealt
with, can paralyze and inhibit many performers. The careers of Barbara
Streisand, Carly Simon and others were limited by this problem. Johnny
Carson experienced incredible anxiety before every show. But, performance
anxiety doesn’t begin with the scary symptoms of stage fright. It starts
within the hidden reaches of our inner life. Unfortunately, most people are so
out of touch with themselves they don?t even know what their inner life is or
how to begin trying to find it. According to psychoanalyst Dr. Norberto
Keppe, our inner life is the seat of our talent and abilities. Artistic inspiration
flows through us from a source greater than ourselves and that can be scary
indeed. But, what also scares us is seeing how we unconsciously block this
flow and complicate our professional development. 

SOURCE: http://www.greatvoice.com/blog/do-you-suffer-from-mic-fright.php
Getting Over “Mic Fright”

There’s often one thing that causes some otherwise excellent students to


break out in a cold sweat– talking on the radio.  It’s called, “Mic Fright”.

Usually this Mic Fright is rooted in fear of making a mistake, of saying the
wrong thing, of looking like an idiot. (What they don’t know is that most
ALL of us know of times when we ALL have been there, done that!)  Talking
on the radio produces a fair amount of anxiety in new students.

TIPS:

1. Rehearse
2. Visualize
3. Build
4. Talk to someone
5. Anticipate

For the instructors, one of the best ways to begin to get over the fear of
talking on the radio is to rehearse with the student.  Role play.  Give your
student a script.  Then talk them through the script. As you rehearse, have
the student to make their radio broadcasting exploration and consider
taping the script. After rehearsing and visualizing, then work your student
up to full-time radio duties. For instance, have them announce such news
scripts. Then you could coach your student on the proper ways of telling or
announcing for better communication and thereby build them into more
and more of the radio work. This is huge for radio procedures, learn to
anticipate. Teach your student the general patterns of communication and
to anticipate what may be coming next. While you may not get exactly what
you expect, anticipation keeps you ahead and ready for instructions.

Mic Fright can be overcom.  Be patient, give your student time, let them
make a mistake or two.  They’ll learn from it.  They’ll learn that the mic is
nothing to be afraid of and that it is a superb tool and friend to
broadcasters.
CAMERA PANIC
Camera panic was mentioned as the television counterpart to mic
fright. It is a queasiness that occurs just before a performance when the
camera tally light comes on or when the talent is cued that he or she is on
the air. Like mic fright, camera panic can range from mild to wild. For
many performers, it is stronger feeling than mic fright because television
adds the element of being seen as well as being heard. There is a sense of
anonymity in radio that offers some comfort to the performer, whereas
television removes any barrier between the performer and the audience.

Since the visual element is so dominant in television, the biggest


cause of camera panic are a dislike of one’s appearance and a fear of failure.
The first reason for this is that television tends to slightly distort a
performer’s appearance. For example, performers often look heavier than
they really are, and no one likes to electronically gain a few pounds. Second,
movement is also exaggerated on television, so a slight awkward arm jerk
can seem to be blown out of proportion. Third, television takes very stark
pictures – except for adding a few pounds, it shows you exactly as you are.
Like the shock of hearing your recorded voice for the first time, you are
really not used to seeing yourself. Even though you’ve seen pictures of
yourself, various camera angles and screen sizes will show elements of
appearance that are new to you. Again, the key here is that they are new to
you, but not really to people who see you. So the cure for this cause of
camera panic is to understand that you are probably the only one who is
uncomfortable with your appearance.

There are some physical requirements of being a successful


performer, and you may want to consider this before making a career
choice. Further, fear of failure is strong for television performers because
nobody wants to make fools of themselves when everybody can see them.
On television, you must be concerned with not only your actual
performance (for example, reading the script properly) and your general
appearance, but also your posture, your movements, your facial expression,
your attire, and so on – a fluff in any area can play on your anxiety about
failure. Of course, being inexperienced and unprepared will cause camera
panic, just as it will cause mic fright. Beginning performers are often
overwhelmed by television – the lights and cameras in the studio and the
crew members necessary for the production process all add to the
distraction. However, after a few performances in this environment it
becomes easier and easier. By now you should also realize that adequate
preparation is necessary for broadcast talent and will lessen any chance of
camera panic or mic fright that comes from not being ready to go.

Source: Broadcast Announcing worktext: performing for radio, television


and cable by Allan R. Stephenson,
http://books.google.com/books?id=4vDjW9PwG4UC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=avoiding+camera-
panic&source=bl&ots=nTiCdvjcYe&sig=1Bi6DefHrX9azGTRgklMRaaxtaM&hl=en&ei=-
conTbO5NcnQrQfKxfWcDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBYQ6AEwAA#v=onepa
ge&q=avoiding%20camera-panic&f=false

Monica Clarice M. Arizapa

BBrC 2-1d

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