I want you to have much more fun and ease.
I love to empower people
empower
I have coached a wide variety of folks - scientists, entrepreneurs, executives, activists, lawyers, doctors, students, brides, grooms, artists, a mountain climber, and even a top dog trainer. A number of my clients have appeared on Dr. Oz, The Today Show, and a few can be seen regularly on America's Test Kitchen.
I wrote Your Guide to Public Speaking - Build Your Confidence, Find Your Voice, Inspire Your Audience so I could share all I've learned so far as a coach and performer. You can grab a copy where books are sold - including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
I got my start on the East Coast, where I founded Boston Public Speaking. I love coaching and leading workshops on both coasts.
My very talented husband, Art, and I run this together and have a blast. I've also taught acting at the Film/TV Department at Boston University's College of Communication, New York Film Academy, and The Huntington Theatre Company. I received my MFA at the Actors Studio Drama School and I've acted in films, plays, and commercials.
I'm a proud member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce. I also like to donate my time to organizations that empower women and children.
In addition to founding Boston Public Speaking and San Diego Public Speaking, I'm also a co-founder and teacher at San Diego Acting Classes.
I have a background in performance
Gradually, I became more extroverted and began to enjoy performing. I loved the experience of making others laugh, the rush of performance and I found the craft of acting fascinating.
However, while in grad school for acting, I started struggling with performance anxiety. I kept thinking that if I received more and more acting training, my confidence would go up and my nerves would calm down. Alas...
Post grad school, I was performing in plays, commercials and films. During the run of one particular new play, things became very uncomfortable for me. At first glance, everything was great! The show opened - I had a comedic part that was a fantastic fit for me, wonderful audience response and terrific reviews.
Yet, every day before the show, I was overcome with stomach pain. Taking antacids didn't ease my distress. I decided that I must have ongoing food poisoning. Yet, my husband was eating the exact same things as me and was perfectly well. Hmmm...
yes! I was very shy as a child. Avoiding drawing attention to myself, I lost myself in my books and art projects.
WHAT?! This terrible feeling of butterflies punching me in the stomach was robbing me of my joy.
I also realized that the process of managing performance anxiety was its own skill set, separate from the acting training I had received.
Determined to face this STRESS head-on, I read all I could and experimented with various strategies, many of which were immensely helpful.
I am excited to share what I have learned with you, so you won't hate butterflies and will not allow fear to limit you.
So, I get it. I've been there!
After suffering in agony for much of the run of the play, I finally had to admit to myself, that despite the fact that I had years of training and performing under my belt, I had STAGE FRIGHT.
have I ever struggled with nerves?
Story time:
