Why do performers experience stage fright, even when they love being on stage? In this episode, voice coach and breathwork teacher Laura Dumbleton joins Alexa to unpack performance anxiety, fight-or-flight responses, and practical tools to manage nerves before, during and after singing or public speaking. Expect honest stories, functional techniques, confidence strategies, and advice for singers, performers and vocal coaches navigating stage fright. 

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?  

2:39 What is stage fright?  

4:17 Why might a singer experience stage fright?  

5:55 Why has performing not evolved to become less stress-provoking?  

9:40 Symptoms of stage fright to look out for  

12:59 Is it true that ‘some nerves can be helpful?’  

15:25 The Boiling Pot Analogy  

19:20 Stage fright myth busting  

21:39 Strategies for stage fright 

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.155 Part One: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios 

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.156 Part Two: Building Neurodiversity-Inclusive Voice Studios 

Dave Cottrell: @mindsetbydave 

Stress Less: Breath More - Simple Breathing Exercises for Stress Relief 

Sarah Joyce: @sarahjoycesings 

Jessie J - Watch Me Work Through a Panic on Stage  

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.80 Understanding Music Performance Anxiety 

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Laura Dumbleton is a Stage Fright Coach, Voice Coach and Breathwork Teacher with over fourteen years of experience working with singers and voice teachers. She specialises in why technically prepared singers still struggle under pressure, and what can be done about it. She is passionate about getting rid of “just practice more!” as a solution and instead replacing it with actual tools to address the underlying problem. 

Laura works from her studio in Lincolnshire and online with clients worldwide, offering 1:1 coaching, group workshops, and courses covering musical theatre voice, stage fright, and performance confidence. Her Stage Fright workshops bring together the science of performance anxiety, vocal technique, and nervous system regulation, giving singers and teachers practical tools for building genuine confidence that holds up under pressure. Breathwork runs through everything she does, from coherence breathing to conscious connected breathwork, whether as a standalone session or woven into performance coaching. 

She holds a Masters of Research from the University of Edinburgh specialising in performance anxiety in singers, alongside being an IVA Advanced Instructor and qualified Breathwork Facilitator and Teacher with Breathing Space. 

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