What Open-Mic Comedy Taught Me About Fear and Courage

I’ve spoken at conferences in front of over 400 people.

But stepping onto a tiny open-mic comedy stage in front of 50?

That hits different.

At a conference, half the audience is there for CPE credits, checking emails while you deliver your polished talk.

At an open-mic night, in a small room, you can feel all of the eyes on you — it’s visceral.

And every single person is there for one thing: to laugh.

They want a brief reprieve from the unrelenting pressures of life.

And if they don’t laugh? You bomb. 💣

And bombing isn’t just awkward — it triggers a deep, primal reaction, like you’ve been cast out of the tribe, with your heart ripped out, and been left for dead!

And that’s exactly why I committed to doing 10 open mic nights. 😅

Did I bomb? Hell yeah. I even got booed once! 😱

But I also got a bunch of laughs!

And I came out of it stronger — and 10% funnier.

Once you’ve bombed in front of a room of 50 people and survived, you realize that most of our fears and anxieties are just evolutionary machinations of our minds — designed to keep us safe but by doing so, keep our lives small — and aren’t an accurate representation of reality.

Pushing outside your comfort zone isn’t just about growth — it’s about realizing that even when you fail at something, you survive.

Worst case? You feel a bit crap for an hour.

Best case? You rewire your brain to take more risks, at work and in life.

As poet Anais Nin declared, life shrinks or expands in proportion to your courage, and the risks you’re willing to take.

So whatever you’ve been putting off because of the overwhelming sense of fear or anxiety it causes…ask yourself, what’s the worst thing that can happen, and what’s the best?

Chances are you’ll be just fine.