Command
the Room
Beating Your Inner Heckler
With Vanessa ‘Larry’ Mitchell and Damian ‘Doc‘ Murdoch
Command The Room : Beating Your Inner Heckler
A high-impact workshop in confidence, communication and presentation skills that teaches you how to regulate anxiety at a nervous system level, own the room, and speak with clarity under pressure.
Would you like to feel calmer, bolder and more compelling in front of a crowd?
This is where it starts.
Not your standard seminar.
This is a fun, engaging weekend designed to build real skills and create real behavioural and nervous system change - so your confidence holds up in meetings, on stage, and in everyday life.
Fri 29 – Sun 31 May 2026 | Byron Bay Surf Club
Your ticket includes two expert facilitators across the full weekend + Friday dinner + lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea on Saturday and Sunday.
Meet the Facilitators
Vanessa ‘Larry’ Mitchell
Comedian | Educator | Mental Health Facilitator
Vanessa Larry Mitchell is one of Australia’s most commanding performers, known for her next level confidence when she walks onto a stage or up to a microphone and immediately owns the room.
As a previous Mental Health First Aid Facilitator, Vanessa has worked with people from all over the country, turning nerves into confidence, and helping people build the skills and content to command the room.
Vanessa will help you define your audience, build genuine connection, and turn nerves into unmistakable presence.
Damian ‘Doc’ Murdoch
Nervous System Specialist | Performance Coach
Doc didn’t start out confident on stage. Quite the opposite. He lived with an extreme fear of public speaking - panic attacks, a blank mind, a frozen body, and moments where no words would come at all.
He knows exactly what it feels like when your nervous system hijacks you in front of a crowd.
Instead of avoiding it, Doc became obsessed with understanding it.
Today, Doc is an expert in how the nervous system protects, learns and adapts - and how to retrain it when it’s overreacting.
Why This Works
Together, we combine performance mastery + nervous system science, so you’re not just learning what to say, you’re training your body to stay calm enough to actually say it.
When your body detects a threat (public speaking for many of us), it goes into protection mode - heart racing, mind blank, voice shaky.
So we need the body to learn that we’re not in danger, and as Dr Bessel van der Kolk (author The Body Keeps The Score) explains, the body changes through “corrective experiences” - moments where you safely do the very thing you once believed you couldn’t.
That’s exactly how this workshop is designed.
1. You’ll learn what’s happening in your nervous system and how to take charge of it.
2. You’ll build the practical skills to speak clearly and hold attention.
3. You’ll practise - repeatedly - in supported, real-world scenarios that gently stretch your comfort zone.
And in that process, the courage that you’ve shown to turn up transforms into confidence as your nervous system gathers proof. Your nervous system now has the corrective experiences. It believes something different - I can handle this. I’m safe. I’ve got this.
That’s how confidence becomes reliable.
Automatic.
Confidence that holds up under pressure.
‘Confidence doesn’t just magically wash over you one day and THEN you’ll do all the things you want to do. You can’t buy it in a book from Amazon or an online course. You can learn about it, but your nervous system doesn’t accept theory, it needs evidence. It wants proof.’
-Damian Murdoch
Who This Is For (And Isn’t)
1. Everyday humans facing everyday moments
The situations everyone else seems to handle easily…
but your nervous system turns into a full-blown emergency.
Maybe it’s:
- A wedding speech you’ve been dreading for months
- A eulogy you want to deliver well but fear you’ll fall apart doing
- Job interviews that keep you stuck playing small
- Team meetings, Zoom calls, or ‘toolbox talks’ that spike your heart rate
- Thinking, “I’ll just have a few drinks and wing it…”
You’d love to speak up.
But your mind blanks, your heart races, your voice shakes.
You’re tired of feeling embarrassed, stressed, or panicked. You just want to feel steady and capable.
2. Speakers, performers & presenters ready to level up
You already get on stage or in front of rooms.
But you know there’s another gear - to perform, present, teach, coach or create with presence.
You want:
- Confidence that feels steady, not forced
- Practical tools to manage anxiety in high-pressure moments
- To stay calm and sharp under pressure
- The ability to turn nerves into energy and connection
- Trust in your timing, presence and delivery
Good isn’t enough anymore.
You want professional-level confidence and control.
3. Business owners & creators with something to say
You have ideas. Experience. A message that matters.
You know you should be:
- Making videos
- Speaking on podcasts
- Presenting your work
- Showing up online or on stage
But you keep putting it off.
Not because you’re lazy - because being seen feels uncomfortable.
You don’t want to sound awkward, stiff, or “not like yourself.”
You want to communicate naturally, clearly, and confidently, so your voice matches the value of what you do.
If any of these sound like you, you’re in the right place.
No performance background required.
If life asks you to speak, lead, or hold attention - these skills are for you.
This might NOT be for you if…
You’re not willing to step slightly outside your comfort zone
You’re not willing to be vulnerable
You want to keep avoiding fear rather than learn how to face it
You want purely theory with no active participation
What You’ll Get
1. Nervous System Regulation
Understand exactly why anxiety shows up and learn a simple, step-by-step process to take charge of it in the moment.
- No freezing
- No spiralling
- No white-knuckling your way through
When the pressure’s on, you’ll know how to steady your breathing, calm your body and think clearly.
This is about creating safety in your nervous system so you can stay calm under pressure.
2. Stage-Ready Speaking Skills
Confidence doesn’t come from hype it comes from preparation.
You’ll build practical, real-world speaking skills that help you:
- Hold attention
- Speak clearly and with authority
- Structure what you say
- Stay present instead of rushing or blanking
Because confidence grows naturally when competence is there to support it.
3. A Clear, Purposeful Message
Know what you want to say and how to say it.
You’ll shape your ideas into a message that feels:
- Authentic
- Engaging
- Genuinely you
Whether it’s a speech, presentation or performance, you’ll walk away with something you feel proud (and excited) to share.
4. Real-Time Coaching & Feedback
Supportive, practical guidance so you can adjust quickly and see immediate improvement.
Mental strategies and preparation structures that reduce overthinking and build certainty.
Learn how to read a room and stay present, responsive and authentically connected to the people in front of you.
This is where performance stops feeling scary and starts feeling powerful.
5. Rock-Solid Confidence
Confidence built through action, not theory.
Across the weekend, we put you into pressure situations that replicate that moment when the spotlight hits.
You’ll create real evidence for your nervous system that you can handle pressure, so confidence becomes reliable, repeatable and something you can trust.
You’ll quieten the inner heckler.
6. Weekend Inclusions
World-Class Location - Iconic Byron Bay beach
Full Program Delivery - 2 x Expert facilitators
- Friday: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Sunday: 7:00am – 7:00pm
Catered Throughout
- Morning Tea × 2
- Afternoon Tea × 2
- Lunch × 2
- Friday Night Group Dinner
Guided Ice Bath Session - designed to replicate pressure and teach real-time nervous system regulation.
What does this actually look like in real life?
In this video, Doc breaks down how he used these tools to step onto a comedy stage - the most terrifying experience of his life - and stay calm under pressure.
Workshop Program Overview
Held just steps from the sand at Byron Bay’s iconic Main Beach, this immersive 2.5-day experience is designed to help you regulate anxiety, build genuine confidence, and develop the practical speaking skills to command any room.
Day 1 – Foundations & Self-Trust
Start by understanding yourself and your nervous system, and create the safety and clarity needed to grow over the weekend.
- Meet the facilitators and your cohort
- Set intentions and personal goals
- Learn the mindset principles that support lasting confidence
- Identify your strengths, patterns and current challenges
- Build psychological safety and connection within the group
You’ll finish Day 1 grounded, clear, and ready to stretch your comfort zone.
Day 2 – Skills & Confidence in Action
Develop the practical tools and communication skills that make confidence feel natural and repeatable.
- Understand how your nervous system responds to pressure
- Learn simple regulation techniques to steady your body and mind
- Train voice, posture, movement and stage presence
- Craft and structure messages that hold attention
- Practise speaking and stretch beyond your usual limits
You’ll finish Day 2 with real skills and growing belief.
Day 3 – Transformation Day
Apply everything you’ve learned in supported, real-world scenarios that build lasting confidence.
- Strengthen belief patterns and performance mindset
- Refine voice, space and audience connection
- Use mental rehearsal and focus techniques
- Step into stretch challenges that simulate real pressure
The Transformation
Each participant delivers a short presentation or performance in a safe, encouraging environment, creating the kind of corrective experience that teaches your nervous system: “I can do this.”
You’ll leave with evidence - not hope - that you can stay calm, clear and confident when it matters most.
What you'll leave with
Calm you can access on demand - even when the spotlight hits
A clear voice and message you actually feel proud to share
Practical speaking skills that hold attention and command the room
Tools to regulate anxiety anywhere - meetings, weddings, stages, life
Proof you can handle pressure (because you’ve already done it)
And the quiet confidence that says: “I’ve got this.”
Payment Options
Early Bird
$990 Ends 31/3/26
Payment plan
10 x $125 = $1250
Full Price
$1250 after 31/3/26
Your ticket includes two expert facilitators across the full weekend + Friday dinner + lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea on Saturday and Sunday.
Here’s What Our Customers Think!
We're both incredibly proud of the positive impact our workshops, shows and programs have made.
Here’s a look at what satisfied customers are saying
‘Vanessa isn’t only an inspiration to women showing them they can do whatever the f*** they want to do and put their minds to, but to everyone. A true pioneer & powerhouse of a human. I can’t recommend her courses or shows enough.’
- Mickey Wilson (Touring Comedian, Flying Solo workshop attendee)
‘From the moment she stepped on stage, Vanessa commanded the room with her magnetic presence and razor-sharp wit.’
- The Snee Review (Northern Australian Festival of Arts Review of Teardrops on My Dildo: Fully Charged)’
‘What really drew me in was this was being delivered by someone (Doc) who had experienced anxiety and panic attacks. Someone who had come through it on the other side and knew what I was going through, what I was feeling. Not someone who had just studied for a few years and told me I just need to breathe.’
- Ali
'Vanessa is more relaxed and direct on a comedy mic than anyone I have seen’
- The Scotsman (Edinburgh Fringe Review of ‘Teardrops on My Dildo)
‘Vanessa is a hurricane-like force of nature’
- Arts Hub (Melbourne International Comedy Review of Teardrops on My Dildo’)
'Working with Doc has been nothing short of transformational, and I would highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to optimise their mental state, output and overall quality of life.'
- Michael Fox - Outfox Financial
‘Vanessa has next-level confidence’
- Greg Fleet (Comedian, Actor, Writer)
'Vanessa's course delivery is very relaxed and comfortable, and her course has been a massive help in getting my first Solo show out into the wild'
- Brad Shean
‘Damian’s unwavering belief that those traits that you have been led to believe are your worst, he will prove to you that they are in fact your uniqueness, and he will bring them out and together you will polish them until they shine.’
- Katie Gordon - Dietless Living
Frequently Asked Questions
When you have a question, chances are someone else has too. Here are the answers to the most common questions about our workshop.
What are the accomodation options?
There are loads of accommodation options in Byron Bay, ranging from 5 star luxury to backpacker and budget style accommodation. The top pick options, as mentioned on byronbaytourism.com are;
- Luxury – Elements of Byron: A world-class beachfront resort with villas, spa, and fine dining.
- Beachfront Apartment – Beach Suites Byron Bay: Stylish self-contained suites just steps from Main Beach.
- Guesthouse – Byron Palms Guesthouse: Relaxed B&B with tropical gardens and a homely feel.
- Backpacker Hostel – Wake Up! Byron Bay: A lively hostel offering surfboard hire, yoga classes, and beachfront access.
- Camping – First Sun Holiday Park: Unbeatable location right on the beach, offering both campsites and cabins.
Note: If flying in to the Ballina/Byron Bay airport, the training venue is approximately 35km North. If flying into Gold Coast airport, the training venue is approximately 70kms south.
Byron Bay Shuttle provides transfers from $35 for Byron/Ballina or from $48 from Gold Coast Airport one-way. Parking around the training venue is paid and limited, however free parking is available in most of the residential areas, so arriving early to find a free space and wandering into town is recommended.
If you need further information, please reach out to your facilitators and we will be happy to help.
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is for anyone who wants to feel more confident speaking in front of others. That includes professionals, creatives, leaders, business owners, performers, and people who simply want to stop their nerves from running the show in meetings or social situations.
Do I have to be a performer or comedian?
Not at all. You might be working on a speech, presentation, story, poem, comedy idea, or simply practicing speaking up with more confidence. The focus is on communication and confidence, not being ‘entertaining’.
I’m really anxious about public speaking. Is this too scary for me?
You are exactly who this workshop is designed for. Everything is taught step by step in a supportive environment. You will never be pushed to do more than you feel ready for, and you will have tools to manage nerves before you ever step into a spotlight moment.
Is this like therapy?
No. While we talk about anxiety and mindset, this is a skills-based workshop. You will learn practical tools, techniques, and strategies to manage nerves and communicate more confidently.
Will I have to speak in front of the group?
You will have opportunities to practice in a gradual and supported way. By the end of the weekend, participants take part in a guided sharing session where you can present what you have been working on. This is designed to feel encouraging, not high pressure.
What if I don’t know what I want to talk about yet?
That is completely fine. Part of the workshop is helping you discover what you want to say and shaping it into something clear and meaningful. You will be guided from ideas all the way through to a finished piece.
What kinds of “projects” can I work on?
Examples include:
Work presentations
Wedding or special event speeches
Creative pieces like comedy, storytelling, or poetry
Pitches or business talks
Practicing confident communication for meetings or leadership
If you use your voice in the real world, it fits.
How big is the group?
We keep numbers small so everyone gets personal attention and a safe space to practice. Maximum participants: 16
What will I actually learn?
You will learn how to:
Manage physical symptoms of anxiety
Calm your inner critic
Structure and develop what you want to say
Speak with more clarity and presence
Stay grounded when all eyes are on you
Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?
No major preparation is required. If you already have an idea, speech, or project, bring it along. If not, we will help you create something during the workshop.
What if I get emotional or freeze up?
That is a normal human response to nerves. The workshop leaders are experienced in working with anxiety and group facilitation, and the environment is supportive and respectful. You will be guided through techniques to help you stay regulated and recover if you feel overwhelmed.
What makes this different from a public speaking course?
This workshop focuses not just on what to say, but on what is happening inside your mind and body when you say it. We work on confidence, mindset, and anxiety alongside practical communication skills.
Who are the facilitators?
The workshop is led by Vanessa Larry Mitchell and Damian Murdoch, experienced facilitators with backgrounds in comedy / performance / training / education / coaching, who specialise in helping people build confidence and command a room.
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothes you can move and breathe in
Swimmers for the ice baths or a dip in the ocean!
A notebook or device for writing
Anything you need to feel comfortable
Any draft speeches, creative projects or ideas if you have them
Is the final session recorded or public?
No. The final sharing session is just for workshop participants in a supportive environment. It is not a public show.
What if I’m not “good” at speaking?
Perfect. This is a learning space, not a talent contest. Progress is the goal, not perfection.
What will I leave with?
Participants leave with practical anxiety-management tools, a stronger sense of confidence, and a piece of communication they have developed and practiced in a supportive space.
Is this session accessible?
Where possible, we try to book accessible venues so that everyone can participate however there are times where we find this difficult. Please contact the facilitators to ask specifically about the location you are interested in attending.
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