How to Overcome Stage Fright
Posted on May 5th, 2009 by Elaine
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As you go on stage to recite your line, your knees freeze, you sweat heavily and you feel faint: this is stage fright. Stage fright can be frightening, especially when you least expect it. If this problem bothers you every time you need to go on stage, don’t fret. Here are some ways you can get over it.
What You’ll Need:
- Mirror
- Costume
- Props
- Music
- Water
Before The Performance
Practice
Practice your performance thoroughly, even before you go onstage. Know everything by heart. A well-practiced performer always performs better. If you’re confident that you’ve memorized your speaking lines, you know your cue to enter and you know how to work around the stage, there’s nothing to be afraid of, and you’ll feel more at ease.
Try Speaking In Front Of A Fake Audience
Usually, it’s the audience that makes a person feel nervous when going on stage. You become afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of hundreds of people, and you worry they’ll laugh at you. Here’s what you should remember: never let the audience affect your performance. No matter how they jeer or try to put you down, what matters is you deliver your speech, song number, or act, in the best way you can.
If you still feel jittery about standing in front of people, you can practice in front of a “fake” audience. Perform in front of your friends or family. Let them critic your performance. You can also recite lines in front of a mirror. Watch your mannerisms and see how you look.
Ready Your Props/Costume/Music
Performances usually require costumes, props and music. Aside from knowing what you’re going to say, you’ll also need to prepare what you’re going to use. Get everything ready the day before the performance. Lay out your costume and check your props. If you’re using music,. Make sure the CD plays on the theater or auditorium’s player.
While Backstage
Warm-Up
Instead of horsing around the backstage before your performance, use the time given to you to warm up. Practice your lines again. This helps you stay comfortable, from the first note to the last. If you’re dancing or playing an instrument, stretch. Warm your vocal chords so you can speak well.
Take Long, Deep Breaths
When you start to feel anxious and nervous, here’s what to do: sit down, breathe in slowly, and hold your breath for a few seconds, then carefully let it out. Repeat this several times. To keep your voice warm, try humming to yourself softly.
Lubricate Your Throat
If you don’t speak for a long period of time at the backstage, chances are you’ll get a frog-like croaky voice the first time you go onstage because of your dry throat. Don’t let this happen by sipping lukewarm water every now and then, before the show. This will keep your throat lubricated. Don’t drink too much though, or you might feel like you need to pee in the middle of the show!
During The Show
Avoid Eye Contact
It’s the audience the distracts and causes nervousness among any performer. To prevent this from happening to you, here’s one simple trick: don’t meet any person’s eyes. You can look at the spot on top of their heads or their foreheads, but not at their eyes. Better yet, look at a wall at the far end of the room.
For some performers, such as public speakers and musicians, eye contact is necessary. To avoid you from getting flustered, try meeting their eyes, but only for a second or two, so they won’t distract you.
Have Fun
If you’re not having fun, you’ll look stupid and awkward. Give your 100% during every performance. Keep in mind that you’re doing this not only for the audience, but also for yourself. With that thought, you’ll be sure to deliver an extraordinary performance.
It’s very easy to fall prey to stage fright, but if you’ve prepared yourself enough, this won’t be a problem. Just keep these tips in mind, and deliver a good performance while oozing with confidence!
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