Performance Pep Talk

Imposter syndrome (or imposter phenomenon) affects almost all singers, actors, and musicians at some point in their careers. And the tricky part is, it can show up despite your level of talent, preparation, or experience. In fact, sometimes after you've booked the role is when the imposter shows up the most! So how do we feel confident when that voice inside our head is telling us we don't...

If you're a singer, musician, or performer, you know how to practice the material. You've run it a hundred times and feel prepared walking into the audition. And yet the moment the stakes go up, your brain starts micromanaging every breath, every note, every choice, and suddenly you're performing and judging yourself at the same time. In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, Sophie bre...

If you're a singer, musician, or performer, you know how to put in the hours to technically prepare for performance. You've drilled it in the practice room, the lessons, and the coachings. Yet when you walk into the audition room or onstage it feels like none of it shows up. Your voice feels different, your body feels different, and your brain is too busy fixating on the gap to actually pe...

Every performer (singers, actors, musicians) has that memory of a bad performance: the voice crack, the missed entrance, the blank. And as hard as those moments are in real time, what's often worse is what happens after. The mental replay. The overanalyzing. The spiral of if onlys and what ifs that loop long after the curtain comes down. In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, we break down w...

As a performer (singers, actors, musicians) there is always something to improve. Always a note to clean up, a choice to commit to more fully, a skill to develop. But if the goalpost is always moving, how are you ever supposed to feel genuinely confident in your abilities? In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, Sophie tackles one of the most common struggles performers face: building real, susta...

Performers (singers, actors, instrumentalists) often describe their pre-show panic coming out of nowhere. They walk backstage feeling confident, and then suddenly they experience a racing heart, shaking hands, difficulty connecting to their breath, and a mental spiral that feels completely out of control. Pre-performance panic attacks are one of the most frightening experiences a performer can fac...

Performance anxiety doesn't discriminate, showing up despite your level of experience, talent, or preparation. But a lot of the time, the pressure that makes it worse is coming from us. In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, we explore why perceived pressure is often more damaging than the situation itself, why shame never drives confidence, and how to shift into  present-focused performing...

If you would never speak to a friend the way you speak to yourself before a performance, this episode is for you. In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, we dig into why artists and performers tend to have the loudest inner critics, why trying to suppress that voice only makes it worse, and how to open the floor to something far more powerful: self-compassion We will explain why trying to banish...

You wouldn't walk into an important meeting without preparing. So why are so many performers still winging it in those crucial minutes before they walk into the audition room? So much of performance anxiety stems from a lack of control, and establishing a pre-performance routine is one of the ways we can regain control, stop "faking it til you make it," and feel grounded walking into any room. In...

Looking around the audition waiting room and suddenly feeling like everyone else is more talented, more prepared, and more likely to book the job? There's actually a neurological reason it happens. In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, we break down the psychology of comparison, why it's almost impossible to avoid in competitive performance environments, and what you can actually do abo...

"Grow a thick skin" is advice almost every singer, actor, or performer has heard. But what if it's actually unhelpful? In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, we break down what resilience is/isn't and how to build the kind of resilience that actually holds up in this industry. We walk through how to reframe opportunities in a way that sets you up for success before an audition...

Did you know that unfamiliar environments are one of the biggest, and most overlooked, triggers of performance anxiety? In this episode of Performance Pep Talk, we break down the neuroscience of why walking into a new audition room puts your body on high alert, why you can't stop obsessing over the casting panel's body language, and most importantly, what you can do about it in real time....

Do you walk into auditions already bracing for failure? Do you practice endlessly but still never feel  ready ? You might be caught in the perfectionism trap, and you're not alone. In this episode of  Performance Pep Talk , we explore why so many artists, singers, and actors are wired for perfectionism (hint: your training probably encouraged it), and why that mindset (while it may have gotten...

If you've experienced performance anxiety or stage nerves and thought: “Is this normal?” “Why does this feel so hard for me?” “Does everyone else have this figured out except me?” This episode is for you. Whether you’re a singer, actor, public speaker, or someone who has to perform in high-pressure situations, performance anxiety and self-doubt can feel incredibly isolating. But here’s the tru...

What if your performance quality isn’t being held back by anxiety… but by mismanaged energy? In this episode, we’re shifting the conversation from calming nerves to channeling them in a positive way and  activating energy for peak performance . Whether you’re feeling tired, disconnected, or stuck in a low-energy state before a performance, audition, or presentation, this episode will give you prac...

Why does being seen feel so uncomfortable and why does it trigger performance anxiety? In this episode, we break down one of the core drivers of  stage fright and performance anxiety : the fear of visibility. When all eyes are on you, your brain perceives judgment, criticism, and rejection as potential threats, triggering a fight-or-flight response that can impact your ability to perform. You’ll l...

In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the biggest mental blocks performers face when it comes to building confidence: the fear of becoming “cocky.” If you’ve ever worried that being confident might make you seem arrogant, unteachable, or inauthentic, you’re not alone. But this belief often keeps performers stuck in self-doubt and prevents them from fully owning what they bring to the table. In t...

  If you’ve ever stepped on stage or walked into an audition and suddenly heard a voice in your head saying,  “You’re not ready… what if you mess up… everyone is judging you,”  you’ve met the inner critic. For singers, actors, and performers, that voice can get especially loud in high-pressure moments. Even after all the preparation, rehearsal, and training, it can pull your attention toward mista...

When your body goes into fight-or-flight before a performance, logic alone won’t calm your nerves; your nervous system needs a signal of safety. In this episode, we explore why feeling grounded is one of the most powerful ways to manage performance anxiety. You’ll learn how meditation and breathwork help regulate the nervous system, improve focus, and create the mental space needed to perform at y...

If you’re a high-achieving performer who struggles with perfectionism, audition season can feel exhausting. In this episode, we explore why perfectionism often intensifies performance anxiety, fuels post-audition rumination, and increases burnout, especially in environments where so much is outside your control. You’ll learn the difference between healthy striving and true perfectionism, and why o...

Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s action in its presence. In this episode, we reframe confidence and explore how bravery is defined in psychology. You’ll learn why waiting to feel confident can keep you stuck, how avoidance strengthens anxiety, and how taking values-based action builds real resilience. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll perform when I feel ready,” this episode will help you move...

Being nervous before a performance isn't a flaw; it's just your nervous system doing its job a little too well. In this episode, you’ll learn why trying to “get rid of” anxiety often makes it louder, and how working with your nerves can help you feel calmer and more in control. We’ll explore the psychology behind “name it to tame it,” why emotional suppression increases arousal, and how ac...

No more allowing panic, negative thought spirals, and self-doubt to run the show. Performance pep-talk is your go-to pre-performance tool if you’re a performer, actor, singer, or public speaker who wants to feel centered and confident walking onstage. Mental performance coach Sophie Adickes (M.A. Psych, M.M. Vocal performance, ICF ACC) uses her background in psychology and performance to leave you...