Michael Stipe Quotes

I hate being up onstage with a microphone.

I'd rather go on stage and talk or do public speaking than sing. Singing is very scary. It's very exposing.

Every time I went on stage I was so terrified I almost threw up.

An 'OMG' of mine would probably be speaking on stage and performing in front of thousands of people!

I've never really been one to get what they call stage fright so much.

It's so scary to go on stage. I used to throw up before I went on stage, every time.

The first night was awful because I was so afraid, and I was never more afraid because it was going out of my character to be outgoing and to be vulnerable and to be out there and onstage. My hands were sweaty and I couldn't swallow, and I drank a bottle of wine to calm my nerves.

To begin with, I don't have any stage fright.

I definitely get stage fright.

I think I was afraid of what I might say when I got onto someone's stage or in front of someone's camera.

I can't remember if I had any stage fright at the first Bowl. But I did the second time.

I don't like going on stage. Stages mean 'nervous' for me.

For me, for every single job, I don't care if it is a reading, I don't care if it is a guest spot on a TV show, or a film. I always get the heebie jeebies.

The only person really at risk at any of my talks is me.

In the Seventies I was so scared I wouldn't go on stage.

I would say the biggest risk I always take is going in front of a live audience. There's nothing more risky to do. You have to really leave yourself open to your own authenticity, and you find that out pretty quick.

Comedy is frightening at first because you're opening yourself up. When it's just you and people hate it, you're like, "Oh God. Do they hate me?"

I'm a guy so I equate vulnerability with fear. What makes me fearful. I feel vulnerable when I release material, my work, to the world, and I have no control over the outcome. Those are very vulnerable moments. I'm getting married on Friday.

Because of what I've chosen to do for my work in the world, almost every time that there's something that I'm afraid to do that I need to do, I have to do it in front of other people. It makes me feel exposed.

It's one thing when you are photographing others, but when you are exposing yourself and your insecurities, that's the biggest risk. That's always scary.

Being onstage is a way of harnessing your vulnerability and using the adrenaline to be creative. It's a very vulnerable place to be - technically, emotionally, and physically - but I love it.

And my wrist froze STAGE FRIGHT

You know what, I'm a big coward and I'm really afraid of live audiences.

But even so, I still get nervous before I go onstage.

I get nervous every time, for every single performance, before getting up on that stage.