Free Range by Bill Whitehead for May 14, 2022

Fear of “podium odium”.

One of you could go up there, trembling, approach the rostrum, then leave without saying a word. That could count as the keynote address.

Well, so much for that, huh?

Well, don’t count on me making the fourth comment here!

I have taught this course.

There was a certain group where I could open with “Unaccustumed as I am to public speaking…”. And wait for the laughter to die down.

This means there will be no hard act to follow.

My fright usually arrives in stages.

No, it is not the stage that we are afraid of, it is the audience eyes on us that we fear.

That stage don’t look so scary to me.

I wonder if they’re afraid of stage coaches as well.