Confidence is one of those words that can feel enormous. For young performers, it might show up in an audition room, a self tape slate, a drama class, a school presentation or a LAMDA exam. For parents, it can appear in the moments around the performance - emailing an agent, speaking to a teacher, advocating calmly for a child or managing nerves before an audition. This episode of The Drama Coach podcast looks at confidence through a practical and thoughtful lens. Rather than treating confidence as something you either have or do not have, Lisa explores it as a skill that can be built, practised and strengthened. At the heart of the conversation is a reassuring idea: confidence is not about becoming louder, bolder or different. It is about finding a way to speak with clarity, truth and presence.
Confidence is not a personality type
One of the key themes in the episode is the danger of labelling people too quickly. A child might seem confident on stage but freeze when asked to introduce themselves. A teenager might be expressive with friends but go blank in an interview. An adult might know exactly what they want to say, but feel unable to get the words out when people are watching. Lisa reminds us that this does not mean confidence is missing altogether. It may simply mean the context has changed. The pressure is different. The demands are different. Instead of asking whether someone is confident, it is often more useful to ask what helps them feel safe enough to speak, prepare, connect and recover when things do not go perfectly.
Why public speaking matters for performers
Public speaking is not only standing behind a lectern with a microphone. For performers, it is woven into many everyday moments. It is saying hello in a room, introducing a song, slating for camera, taking direction, answering interview questions, speaking to an agent, asking for help or talking about yourself without apologising. The episode makes a clear connection between acting and communication. Public speaking supports auditions, self tapes, resilience and the business side of being a performer. The goal is not to sound impressive. The goal is to be understood. When a performer focuses on being clear, connected and truthful, the breath can settle, the body can settle and the listener can relax too.
The body arrives before the voice
Before we speak, the body is already communicating. Posture, breath, eye line, pace, tension and stillness all affect how we feel and how we are received. Lisa does not suggest a rigid or polished version of confidence. Instead, she encourages body awareness. A simple starting point is to feel the feet on the floor, notice the ground, soften the knees, release the shoulders, breathe low into the body and look where you are going before speaking. For younger performers, Lisa describes this as “arriving”. Before you act, slate, answer a question or begin a speech, take a moment to arrive.
Voice is not just volume
A strong voice is not simply a loud voice. Shouting is not the same as voice work. A supported voice is connected to breath, clarity, intention and the need to communicate. This is especially helpful for parents and teachers supporting young performers. Instead of only saying “be louder”, Lisa suggests more useful prompts: Who needs to hear this line? Where does the thought land? Can you send that word to the back wall? Can you let the breath support you? Can you finish the sentence? These prompts help the performer understand why they are speaking and who they are speaking to. When the thought is clear, the voice often becomes clearer without forcing.
The confidence tool of the pause
The pause is another powerful theme in the episode. When we feel nervous, we often rush. We rush the slate, the first sentence, the monologue, the answer or the important moment because it feels vulnerable. To the speaker, a pause can feel exposing. To the listener, it often feels confident. It gives the thought somewhere to land and gives the speaker time to breathe. In acting, a pause is not empty. It can be thinking, listening, deciding or changing.
Supporting young performers without adding pressure
For parents, Lisa offers gentle but important guidance. Before an audition or performance, it helps not to make the moment feel too massive. A young performer can carry preparation, focus and excitement, but the pressure of a “life changing” opportunity can become too heavy. Afterwards, it can also help to avoid the instant interrogation. Instead of asking too many questions straight away, try asking whether they want to talk now or later, what they are proud of, or what they learnt. This helps young performers separate their worth from the result.
Practical confidence starts small
- Breathe before you begin.
- Slow the first sentence down.
- Finish your sentences.
- Know your key message.
- Use your own words.
- Practise recovering when something goes wrong.
The episode closes with a grounded reminder that confidence is built in small moments. It is the student who asks a question, the performer who sends the tape, the actor who says their name clearly, the parent who communicates calmly and the young person who keeps going even when their voice shakes. You do not have to become someone else to become more confident. You can start with breath, clarity, one sentence and the willingness to take up a little more space. That is how confidence grows.