Overcome Stage Fright

Good Stategies to Overcome Stage Fright

Is it possible to overcome stage fright or at least find a way to deal with it? Could someone with stage fright still manage to become a great performer? Of course! There are few great performing artists who have not had to deal with unsettling nerves at some point and time. In fact, all of the super talents on stage today still experience jittery moments as they get ready to come face to face with their audiences. It is the degree of fright and how it is handled that are the most important factors to consider. 

The first name that comes to mind as an example of someone who deals with high level stage fright is Barbra Streisand. This world class diva and superstar willingly confesses to her battles with this condition, but you do not see this holding her back from sharing her magnificent talent with the world. It is quite possible that Ms. Streisand would not be the phenomenal star that she is without having had to face those stage fright jitters and finding a way to overcome stage fright.

It is quite common for musicians and other live performers to get so nervous and frightened prior to a performance that they throw up or pass out. Once they are on stage and performing that first song the nerves just melt away and everything is fine after that. Some of them resort to pills and alcohol to help them get their emotions under control. There are much better ways to overcome stage fright though. One thing that you need to always keep in mind is that the anticipation in your mind is worse than the actual event. Just go on stage, kick butt and take names. You know you ‘re good, so show your fans exactly how good you really are.

When someone experiences stage fright they may have to deal with a number of different symptoms including:

·        A racing heartbeat

·        Rapid breathing

·        Dizziness

·        Dry mouth

·        Shaky legs

·        Quivering knees

·        Chattering teeth

·        Overwhelming fear

·        Uncontrollable sweating

·        Nausea

·        Numbing / temporary paralysis

What is happening is that the emotions are running out of control and your body has readied itself for "fight or flight". If you can find a way to take control of the panic you have unwittingly unleashed you can transform stage fright into an ally that you can use to maximize your performing power. The adrenaline is pumping, your reflexes are razor sharp and the increased body responses are adding an extra sparkle that you can channel in a positive direction. If you look in a mirror you might just notice that your eyes are clear and focused and there is a certain intense energy that radiates from your body.  No one else needs to know that this is "nervous energy". They will just believe that you have that "star" quality.

Since stage fright is going to be part of a performer's life to some degree you just need to discover how to harness the energy and make it work FOR You instead of AGAINST You. Accept the feelings that are occurring and learn to control them instead of trying to eliminate them altogether. Remember to think positively, after all stage fright has yet to claim a victim. Somehow everyone gets through these nervous moments, but how they do it and overcome stage fright is what separates the stars from the "wanna be's".

Surprisingly it is not the actual performance or even the audience that seems to be the problem. It is what you are imagining will happen that creates the nightmare in your mind. Your brain can not tell the difference between what you are thinking and what is actually occurring. So when you feed it all of those negative thoughts about how disastrous the performance will be your brain believes you are really experiencing those bad moments. This is a vicious cycle that can hamper your live performance if you do not put the brakes on the negative energy that you are creating.

Here are some good suggestions that can help you overcome stage fright in its tracks and regain control of your thoughts and emotions. You may have to try a few of these ideas out before you find the ones that work best to overcome stage fright for your particular situation.

 »        Try deep breathing from the diaphragm to help calm your nerves and relax your body.

»        Take a few moments to concentrate on your own positive attributes. Tell
yourself how good you really are. Own your talent and creativity instead of trying to rent it for a bargain basement rate.

»        Think about how energized and pleased the audience is going to be when they hear you. Visualize their cheers and applause in your mind.

»        Concentrate on some really happy memories in your life, particularly some that have occurred while you have performed.

»        Any time you feel those negative thoughts or emotions trying to creep back into your mind put the brakes on them immediately.

»        Practice makes perfect and you should be practicing your performance ahead of the scheduled date, not trying to cram everything into one quick practice a half hour before going on stage.

»        Give yourself a dry run performance in front of your pets or a group of stuffed animals. This is a favorite trick used by some Hollywood greats.

»        Practice your act in front of a group of young children. Kids are brutally honest and if you can perform in front of these critics an audience of teens or adults is a guaranteed "slam dunk" deal.

»        Reading poetry and listening to music can be very helpful when it comes to relaxation strategies.

»        While meditation before a performance helps some people many others go for a walk, or run through a quick exercise work-out to relax and burn off some of the excess adrenaline.

»        Double check any notes, A/V set ups or musical equipment that you are
going to be using. This gives you something constructive to focus on and allow you to take your mind off your nerves.

»        Drink some water, chew some gum and make sure that you run through any normal musical warm ups.

If you can remember that stage fright is not a terminal illness it may help you when you take the stage to overcome stage fright. Your nerves are not nearly as evident to others as you may imagine. Even if you have a mishap during a performance you can direct how it will be perceived by the audience. If the mistake is very small then chances are good that no one will even notice it. Should the mishap be fairly apparent just make light of the situation and start over. Look, if you show the audience that you are human they will love you even more than when you seemed to be that perfect performance god, and besides, a little honest humility never did any harm to anyone. You can overcome stage fright!

To learn more about stage fright we recommend:
Louder and Funnier: A Practical Guide for Overcoming Stagefright

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