--- title: "Solve Stage Fright: Smile For the Camera" id: "23573" type: "post" slug: "solve-stage-fright-smile-for-the-camera" published_at: "2014-06-10T16:18:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T18:24:35+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/06/10/solve-stage-fright-smile-for-the-camera/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/06/10/solve-stage-fright-smile-for-the-camera.md" excerpt: "A small, but useful, trick to help you get over stage fright. Also: what’s behind the boost in security spending for special events." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Aspiring Leader" - "AssociationsNow" - "event planning" - "IT security" - "Meetings" - "Mid-Level Professional" - "public speaking" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Solve Stage Fright: Smile For the Camera *“If you’re scared of speaking in public, speak in public.”* It’s a challenge to get in front of a crowd when you’ve rarely done it. But it can be done. Impossible Ventures’ Joel Runyon, in a lengthy post about learning when to let go when you can’t be perfect, suggests a strategy for getting over stage fright: [Pull out a video camera and start talking (opens in a new tab)](http://impossiblehq.com/perfectionists-dilemma) . “If you watch a video of yourself speaking, you see every little tick and micro-screw-up you make,” he writes. “You might even remember what you were thinking about when you said each sentence and cringe while watching it.” But the secret is that if you then share that video with someone else, you might learn something surprising. “They’ll probably pay attention, but they’re probably not going to go through with a fine tooth comb and analyze every single noun you use,” he continues. So, short version: Don’t sweat the “ers” and “ums” so much. Focus on doing the best you can, even if perfection feels out of reach. *(ht [Lifehacker (opens in a new tab)](http://lifehacker.com/overcome-your-fear-of-public-speaking-by-making-a-video-1587124664) )* ### Talking Security > Special [#event (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/event?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > planners invest more in security: [http://t.co/CP8ofXdmjC (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/CP8ofXdmjC) > Should other [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > consider it as well? > > — Cvent (@cvent) [June 9, 2014 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/cvent/status/476077606560071681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > Don’t forget to consider [#eventsafety (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventsafety?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > when planning your events this Summer [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > . This may help you. [http://t.co/pZ1uvuesIO (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/pZ1uvuesIO) > > — Mark Breen (@mark_breen) [June 9, 2014 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/mark_breen/status/476093131021361152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **You never know** when something’s going to go wrong, so you’d better plan for it. Last week th[e Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported (opens in a new tab)](http://triblive.com/business/headlines/6062309-74/security-services-events#axzz34FgmNAIA) that special event planners have been spending more on security in recent years—think low-probability, high-risk events, like the Boston Marathon bombing or the fatal car crash at this year’s SXSW conference. One firm, IHS Global Insight, says revenue from the global security services industry is expected to grow to $170 billion by 2017—a major jump from the $110 billion spent in 2012. “There is greater demand for security across the board, and I think it’s partly driven by … greater risk out there and also there’s increased liability. And the liability factor, that’s a pretty major factor,” National Association of Security Companies Executive Director Steve Amity told the *Tribune-Review*. For event planners as a whole, thinking about your security needs might be a good idea. Fortunately, [Cuckoo Events is on top of that (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cuckoo.ie/blog/safety-at-events/13-safety-considerations.html) with a useful infographic. *(ht @[cvent (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/cvent/) , @[mark_breen (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/mark_breen/) )* ### Other good reads **Want to hear smart minds** talk about social media? [Check out the recent conversation (opens in a new tab)](http://associationmavens.com/2014/06/09/amy-sample-ward/) Aptify’s Bryan Kelly had with NTEN CEO Amy Sample Ward. It’s part of Kelly’s Association Mavens series. **If you** **travel along the Northeast corridor** a lot, you might be pleased to know that [Amtrak is working to upgrade its WiFi (opens in a new tab)](http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/06/amtrak-northeast-customers-all-aboard-the-metaphorical-broadband-train/) . **According to Velvet Chainsaw’s Jeff Hurt,** a few specific types of people can help [juice the experience at your event (opens in a new tab)](http://velvetchainsaw.com/2014/06/06/the-six-types-of-audiences-your-conference-needs-to-succeed/) . **Looking for a new take** on lead generation for your organization? The new group email app Front [could be worth looking into (opens in a new tab)](https://frontapp.com/) . (Digital Vision/Thinkstock) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Aspiring Leader](https://associationsnow.com/tag/aspiring-leader/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#IT security](https://associationsnow.com/tag/it-security/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/) [#public speaking](https://associationsnow.com/tag/public-speaking/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoThe Adaptive Leader: Integrating Values and Strategy to Thrive Under New LeadershipDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/the-adaptive-leader-integrating-values-and-strategy-to-thrive-under-new-leadership/) - [VideoMichelle Poler Previews Her Keynote for ASAE’s The Exchange!April 30, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/30/michelle-poler-previews-her-keynote-for-asaes-the-exchange/) - [ArticleBack to Basics: Why Relationship Building Is the New Innovation for Future-Proofing Association MeetingsSeptember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/15/back-to-basics-why-relationship-building-is-the-new-innovation-for-future-proofing-association-meetings/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F06%2F10%2Fsolve-stage-fright-smile-for-the-camera%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !