Stage Fright Spray

Step right up, step right up folks!

Right here I have the greatest thing going in the world of performing arts.  It will give you the confidence to orate without raising your heart rate!   You can walk the dais without being fazed.    Stand before your peers with no fears!    What is this incredible invention?

It comes in seasonal scents and a variety of colored bottles to suit the customer.  The container fits perfectly in a purse or backpack.   Directions are simple and refills are available from the manufacturer so that you can be "green".

Stage Fright Spray was a creation in the most flippant and unassuming way.   Talking with a young friend many months ago, he stated that he had stage fright.   Knowing full well that he had successfully stood before a crowd of over 100 recently, I questioned him about that experience.   His logical answer :  "That wasn't on a stage.  I stood on the floor."    Okay, got me there.    At that point, I made a mental note to use caution when using idioms like "stage fright" in front of children.    In an offhand way, I replied that he just needed a bottle of my Stage Fright Spray, and he would be fine. 

Fast forward to spelling bee time at the local school.   Being the scholar that he is, this same young friend qualified to participate in the school wide spelling bee, and guess what?   Yep, he was going to have to stand on a STAGE.    Two days before the contest, I get a text from his mom.   He wants to know if he can get some of my Stage Fright Spray.   Of course!

Using the Avery online label design software, I quickly made the label from stage clipart and some fun fonts.   On the front it says "Stage Fright Spray"   and "Guaranteed to keep the belly butterflies away!"     The directions on the back say  "Three good sprays on each shoe and the stage cannot frighten you"  with a note at the bottom:  "Testing has shown that one deep breath and smiling after spraying will improve results by as much as 50%."  (I love my friends' kids, especially when I can be cheesy with them.)

I put the label on a travel spray bottle and filled it with water.  Since the bottle was blue and it was winter time, I opted for adding just a drop or two of mint extract from the kitchen cabinet.  After tightening the top and giving it a  good shake, it was good to go.   He was quite excited about getting the spray, but I knew the real test would be a couple of days later when it was go time.    I was nervous.   Would he really get on stage?  Or would he figure this out?  I mean, he is competing in a spelling bee after all; he is one sharp cookie.

I am happy to report that he did indeed get on that stage and make it through several rounds.   He even used the spray again later on a family trip so that he could go on stage at a comedy theater.   

So now I am thinking about the spring and summer version.  It will probably be a citrus smell; lemon is such a sunny scent.  And then I wonder if I will be making him a high school graduation version many, many years from now.

Everybody needs their own little bottle of Phillipians 4:13 every once in a while.