Great comedians say standup skills are like muscles. They’ll atrophy if you don’t use them. If an athlete wants to win the gold medal in swimming, they get in the pool every day. Want to win “the gold” at standup? Get in the pool.

Welp, I hadn’t been in the proverbial pool since 2019. This was my biggest in person crowd since pre-covid – roughly 125 folks in the room. At the last minute I got hit with a bit of stage fright that came in the form of dry mouth. I couldn’t help but smile while thinking my lips are so dry, I could do an amazing Fire Marshall Bill impression right now.

Here’s the thing I’ve learned about stage fright. Everyone gets it. If not always, at the very least from time to time.

And if anyone ever tells you they never get stage fright, they’re lying. Put that person in the right context, where the stakes are high enough, and they will get stage fright.

We get stage fright because we want to do well and be accepted. We get stage fright because we care.

My first ever stand-up gig was at the beloved Comedy Works. All new comics are given 2-minutes max. After that, if you don’t exit the stage, they cut the spotlight and mic on you.

It doesn’t matter if you are Chris Rock-level killing the room. If you go over your time, you will be abruptly cut off and embarrassed on stage.