Goodbye Butterflies: The 5-Day Stage Fright Solution by Dr. David Lee Fish

Author and doctor David Lee Fish presents an innovative method to overcome performance anxiety in Goodbye Butterflies: The 5-Day Stage Fright Solution.

A student of Zen, Fish promotes the concept of mindfulness, now an accepted process among some psychologists. The basic theory of mindfulness is living in the present moment, which seems anathema to anyone suffering from stage fright, who wants to do anything but live in the present moment.

Stage fright, Fish asserts, is a combination of one’s perceptions about the audience, plus concerns about the judgment that results from one’s performance and the implied threat to one’s future success. Fish’s 5-Day method involves setting goals and assessing core values, which are keys to managing stress.

A performer who teaches musicians in a college setting, Fish writes from personal experience and has organized his material well, with numerous charts, lists, and exercises for the reader. He presents his 5-day method clearly: each chapter represents a new day where simple mindfulness exercises should be undertaken, along with downloadable Cue Cards, which are thoughtfully filled out to prepare for most any stage fright scenario.

What makes Goodbye Butterflies particularly effective is its emphasis on performance, not just nerves, so most any performer can glean something from Dr. Fish’s methods, as he provides techniques to help increase focus overall, not just to overcome anxiety. All in all, the emphasis on established self-help methods towards stage fright provides a solid framework for improving performance, whether it’s in the arts, sports, public speaking, or even personal interaction.