Which Stage Fright Ghost Is Haunting You? (Quiz & Tips for How To Send It Packing)

There's a familiar chill in the air. The leaves are turning brilliant shades of orange and yellow, the days are getting shorter as the sun bids us an earlier farewell each day, and a certain popular coffee chain has ushered in the annual return of all things pumpkin spice. That's right-- fall is here, and you know what that means. Spooky season has arrived!

Performers in the world of theatre are famously superstitious. But you don't have to believe in the supernatural to know that there are ghosts lurking in the wings of every theater. Not the kind draped in sheets with eyes cut out, no, these ghosts prefer to stay unseen. But, you'll hear their voices: "What if you mess up" "You're not good enough." "They're all watching you."

Let's meet a few of the familiar phantoms that haunt theatre performers-- and learn a few ways to keep their antics at bay.

The Spotlight Spectre

This bone-chilling phantom is probably what we associate most with classic stage fright. You’re fine as long as eyes aren’t on you. You could perform that difficult dance combo in your sleep or sing that incredible aria in your car-- but the idea of being seen doing those things? That’s enough to send you spiraling!

If your nerves only show up once the audience does, you might be haunted by the Spotlight Spectre. When you rehearse on your own, he stays silent. But when all eyes are on you, he starts to whisper:

“What will they think? They’re going to laugh. They won’t like you.”

This guy doesn't really mean to hurt you, though. Actually, he's trying to protect you-- but what he doesn't realize is the big scary thing he thinks you need saving from is actually not a danger at all. This fella is just confused!

How to banish it:

Redirect his nervous energy. When he says:

“They’re going to laugh,” 

You can tell him:

“Yes, and they're supposed to! I’m delivering the line perfectly.”

 When he asks, “What will they think?” respond: “They’re probably thinking about the story, not me.” And when he whispers, “They won’t like you,” remind him: “Maybe they won’t like my character, but they don’t know me-- so how could they dislike me?” Once he sees there’s no real danger onstage, he’ll quietly find somewhere else to haunt.

The Perfectionist Poltergeist

Seasoned performers are especially vulnerable to this frightening haunt-- the Perfectionist Poltergeist. She’s sneaky, and she doesn’t always announce her arrival. But when she shows up, she takes the liberty of setting your expectations of yourself impossibly high. You work tirelessly to perfect every line. You drill that tricky dance number until it’s pure muscle memory. You’re ready. Everything is perfect.

And then — disaster strikes.

One misstep becomes a catastrophe. A shaky note feels like the end of the world. Suddenly, she’s there, whispering in your ear:

“I’m not good enough. I should work harder. I’m not allowed to mess up.”

But the Perfectionist Poltergeist doesn’t mean you harm. Think of her more as a coach who’s gone a bit too far-- one who wants you to succeed so badly that she forgets success isn’t the same as perfection. She's actually quite useful when you encounter a challenge. However, left unchecked, this spirit will work you into the ground, burn you out, and leave you wondering where it all went wrong.

How to banish it:

The Perfectionist Poltergeist often appears when you’re deep in your element-- working hard, improving, pushing yourself. That’s what makes her so tricky to spot at first. The faster you recognize her presence, the easier she is to dispel. Her greatest weakness? Forgetfulness. She forgets that mistakes are part of progress, and that breaks help you recharge and come back stronger. She forgets that live theatre is special because of its imperfections, not despite them.

When she starts whispering:

“I’m not good enough. I should work harder. "

Answer her with:

"My best is more than enough. I deserve rest, and rest will help me continue to grow."

When she tells you "I'm not allowed to mess up," challenge her with: "Why? Mistakes help me learn and get better." Once she remembers that progress and perfection aren’t the same thing, she’ll fade quietly into the wings.

The What-If Wraith

You’re always calculating all the things that could go wrong. Your directors and peers praise your preparedness-- you always have an extra pencil, just in case someone else forgets theirs. You’re the one who double-checks props, backs up your sheet music, and memorizes everyone’s cues and their understudies’.

At first, the What-If Wraith seems harmless-- even helpful. But don’t be fooled by his polite, well-organized demeanor. Suddenly, that careful planning starts to spiral. A voice whispers:

“What if no one shows up and the house is empty? What if I forget all my lines? What if I don’t make that quick-change in time?”

While similar to the Perfectionist Poltergeist, this phantom differs in one crucial way. The Perfestionist Poltergeist attacks your inner-world, but the What-If Wriath makes the outside world seem terrifying.

When the What-If Wraith strikes, you freeze. You're trapped in an endless loop of possible disasters. The What-If Wraith feeds on uncertainty-- and onstage, uncertainty is everywhere.

How to banish it:

The What-If Wraith thrives when it convinces you that control = safety. But in truth, theatre is never fully controllable, and that's not only okay-- it's what makes live theatre all the more enriching! That being said, the What-If Wraith responds well to plans-of-action. This way, that misguided phantom gets to feel helpful, withour sendin you into a "what-if" spiral.

When you feel that wraith start to whisper, try grounding yourself in the present moment. When he says:

“What if I forget all my lines?"

You can tell him:

"What can I do right now? Study, rehearse, or improvise if needed.”

When he says "What if no one shows up?" You can respond, "Then let's invite a few more of our friends! Besides, if no one comes, we'll still have a good show, and it's the audience's loss-- not mine." When he whispers, "What if I don't make that quick-change in time?" You can tell him "Maybe I can ask some of my friends backstage to help, or I can see if the actors onstage before me could slow their dialogue down to give me more time." Giving the What-If Wrath some actionable steps can help quell its fretting.

Focus on connection instead of prediction. Preparedness is good, but courage in the face of uncertainty will serve you better in a moment of panic. Kindly send him offstage, and promise him you'll get to all his worries later, if they're still there at all.

So... Who You Gonna Call?

We might not have a team of Ghostbusters ready to tackle the spirits that haunt us as performers. But, the good news is, in most cases we don't really need a team of paranormal combatants to handle these ghosts. In fact, we can befriend them. The next time you encounter these misguided haunts, you can:

• Thank the Spotlight Spectre for reminding you the audience is watching, then reassure him it’s okay.

• Smile at the Perfectionist Poltergeist when she wants to push you, but remind her mistakes are tools for growth and rest is necessary.

• Acknowledge the What-If Wraith for keeping you prepared, then tell him he’s done enough and can relax now.

Now take a deep breath, step into the spotlight, and get ready to shine! After all, even ghosts know that the show must go on!

Still not sure which frightful spirit is haunting you? Take our quiz below to find out.

Disclaimer: BOO! 👻 Purely playful haunts here. Our Stage Fright Ghosts aren't certified life coaches, and neither are we. We're just a handful of people who have been there before, and these tips helped us. If stage fright or other worries strike too hard, skip the ghost tips here and talk to a trusted friend instead!