Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson for May 22, 2023

Now he can’t un see it.

I see a lot of therapy in Petey’s future.

There’s probably a few oboe enthusiasts sans underwear.

And that’s why this is bad advice…

Poor darling! One more childhood trauma to add to the long list …

Okay, now have an out of body experience.

Okay, now have each of your out of body selves imagine your audience in their underwear. . .

Never understood how this was going to help. Anyway.

Peter’s spidey sense is tingling?

I’ve never understood why people say that. Imagine literally anything else. Maybe the audience are all dogs.

How about imagining their seats are empty and no one is watching you?

They can be pretty stupid sometimes.

Well done mom..

Now I can’t either!!!

Next he’ll imagine himself on the stage in his underwear, like in last night’s dream…

If you don’t like being watched while you perform, don’t perform in public. Play in an empty room for the pure joy of the music. Dive in and swim, kid!

Yeah, that never worked for me either. Petey needs brain bleach STAT!

Far better, when you’re practicing, to imaging thousands of noisy people watching, heckling and being rambuctious. You can survive anything then.

Seems that tactic is not for everyone.

Now you’ve Done It, Mom! Your sensitive Firstborn is traumatized—and that wasn’t even the full “imagine them naked” trope!

Be strong, Petey, My Hero!