A practical approach to performance anxiety, confidence, and staying steady when pressure rises Lauren Bonvini is a Seattle-based stage fright coach who helps performers, speakers, and creatives work through performance anxiety and build confidence, presence, and self-trust. Performance anxiety can make a familiar moment feel suddenly difficult. A person may know what they want to say, understand their message, and care deeply about communicating it clearly, yet still feel tension rise as soon as attention turns toward them. Speaking in front of others, performing, presenting ideas, or being seen in an important moment can bring up pressure that feels much larger than the situation itself. This is one reason stage fright can feel so frustrating. It often affects people who are thoughtful, prepared, and capable. The issue is not always a lack of skill. More often, it is the way pressure changes how someone experiences their own ability in the moment.…