How to Overcome Stage Fright

Stage fright can turn the fun experience of performing in front of others into a nightmare of dread. Luckily, there are several things you can do to get over your irrational fears and get on with the show. This page will give you some tips on How to Overcome Stage Fright.

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Overcome stage fright with some tricks of the trade.

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Stage fright can turn the fun experience of performing in front of others into a nightmare of dread. Luckily, there are several things you can do to get over your irrational fears and get on with the show. This page will give you some tips on How to Overcome Stage Fright.
Introduction
- You've probably felt it before—your palms are sweaty, your hands are shaking, and you have a mild feeling of nausea. Whether you're about to rock the crowd with your band or speak in front of a large audience, stage fright has a way of getting the better of even the most experienced performer. So how do you overcome the crippling effects of your own jittery nerves? This page will help you figure out how to get over it.
Before You Hit the Stage
1. Be prepared. Make sure you're well rehearsed before your performance. You will only be more nervous if you don't feel completely ready to go. You might even try performing for a couple friends beforehand as a sort of dress rehearsal.
2. Eat right. Don't chow down on any greasy fast food beforehand. It might upset your stomach even without the anxiety of having to go on stage.
3. Warm up. Whether you sing, speak, or play an instrument, you should warm up before you perform. This will ensure you are comfortable and at 100% from the first note of the show (or the first word of your speech).
  - Stretching beforehand will help keep you lose, especially if you're playing an instrument.
  - Vocal warm-ups aren't just for singers; you can stretch out those vocal chords to get ready for speaking, too.
  - If there is no green room or backstage area at the venue, warm up at home before you leave.
4. Listen to music. Listening to music that will pump you up can help get you energized, confident, and in the zone. Conversely, listening to soothing music might be best to calm your nerves down.
5. Meditate. With meditation, it's all about the breathing. Learn some basic meditation techniques or other relaxation breathing exercises. This can help you focus while relieving tension.
6. Think positive. There's no reason to worry about mistakes. The more you think about messing up, the more likely you are to do it. Picture yourself succeeding and executing your performance flawlessly.
7. Exercise. Getting some exercise in beforehand can help you expend some of that nervous energy in a constructive way. Do some backstage push-ups or jumping jacks.
8. Do something silly. You're going to have to leave your inhibitions behind, so you can't worry about looking dumb. The best way to combat this insecurity is to do something that makes you feel silly or embarrassed backstage like making funny faces or dancing around. This can help you get over the feeling and realize that even making a fool of yourself isn't that bad.
9. Have a group pow-wow. If you're in a band or performing with a group of people, get together right before the show starts to help everyone get focused and on the same page.
10. Realize it's no biggie. Never forget that when it comes down to it, it's no big deal! You're there to have fun, and you will do your best. Even if it doesn't turn out to be your finest moment, it's not the end of the world.
11. Leave it all backstage. It's game time—are you ready? Take a deep breath. This is when you have to leave all your baggage behind and just go out there and do it!
Once You're On Stage
- There's no turning back, now... Hopefully you're relaxed enough at this point that everything goes smoothly.
1. Make eye contact. If it's appropriate to your performance, you should make a point to make eye contact with the audience.
  - For musicians and public speakers, eye contact is essential. For athletes and dancers, not so much.
  - Eye contact may seem distracting at first, but the more you do it, the more you'll get used to it. It is much better than staring at your feet or a script the whole time.
  - If you're in a dark club, try looking at the wall on the far end of the room. This way, you're looking up at the crowd, but you won't get distracted since you can't see any audience member's face from that distance. This only really works if there are people standing in the back, of course.
2. Relax even more. You may tense up again when you first get out there. Acknowledge it and let yourself relax again. Loosen up and move around a little. The crowd wants to see you succeed as much as you do, and they want to see that you're enjoying yourself.
3. Be conscious of your body language. Avoid nervous body language such as fidgeting and sticking your hands in your pockets. Being more animated will help you loosen up.
Resources for How to Overcome Stage Fright
- Amazon.com: Stage Fright Books
- Anxiety Coach: Overcoming Stagefright
- YouTube: Dealing With Stage Fright Part 1 (Time: 9:23) | Part 2 (Time: 8:13)
- Michael Johnson: Dealing with Stage Fright
- Suite101.com: Overcoming Stage Fright (April 15, 2007)
- wikiHow: How to Overcome Stage Fright
- eHow.com: How to Overcome Stage Fright | How to Prevent Performance Anxiety
- The Sound of Your Voice: Dealing with Stage Fright
- Mandolin Magazine: Stage Fright
- M Station: Stage Fright