Comments on: How to Overcome Stage Fright

on 11/5/2007 Pay attnetion to the posting from e-friend on 11/22/05 saying "pretend you're not there". I think he/she meant to say "pretend they're not there". Every trained actor knows what is called the "fourth wall". That is the audience side of the stage. You can create that to be what you wnat it to be in your mind (be it an actual wall or what you need to envision relating to your performance to make it come alive for the audience) and eliminating the audience for your but not their appreciation of the results of your concentration.
This shoulf pretty much work for any artistic perfomance but when you get to public speaking when you are relating directly to the audience, you need some other bolster. Never had a problem with acting on stage. Quite different speaking directly to a crowd.

on 11/2/2007 It's the performance, not you they are watching. A tip I used when doing any kind of performance or speech is to remember that it is the performance or the information the audience is evaluating, not you. People tend to get nervous because they feel everything is all on them and not what they are presenting. Put the preasure where it needs to be and don't be too self-conscious.

on 11/2/2007 Another powerful tool to use for stage fright is Emotional Freedom Technique or better known as EFT. Also, some people prepare/perform differently depending on their personality: 1. Creative, feeling, and artistic types need to tap into their intuition and feelings to perform well.
2. Routine, organized, and structured people need to make sure they have all the details...and double check them to ward off stage fright. Also, don't change things at the last minute.
3. Logical, analytical and big picture types need to have in their mind the conceptual framework of their performance. If they are not congruent with their performance, then they may choose not to perform.
4. The natural performers, energetic, bold and courageous will need to practice their art to perfection so they will earn the biggest accolades. They can fake it till they make it if extroverted...introverted-not!

on 11/2/2007 I'm a singer and I don't have stage fright as I'm taking the approach "let me show you what I got, chicks" :) But there's a different problem, during the solo I don't know what to do. I can't dance at all, so, what to do? Just stand there and pray it will be over soon? I have two things so far in my repertoire. The first one is going to drink a few sips of beer, which is conveniently placed 3 meters from me (gives me time to walk there and back). The other thing I do is let the guitars come forward while I'm at the back next to the drummer, hitting the chimes with my fist a few times (Bruce Dickinson style). So that's it.

on 3/10/2006 As long as your good at whatever you're doing there's nothing to be afraid of because the audience will love you. Before you go on stage, do whatever it is you're going to do in front of someone your comfortable with and they can grade you. If your good enough, then there shouldn't be anything to be afraid of. This tip even works for me because I'm good at singing and all I think about before I sing in front of someone is that I'm good enough so no one will laugh. Trust me, if it works for me it will definitely work for you.

on 3/23/2006 When you go up on stage, think about all of the others that have to go up there and do what they do in front of thousands of people, so image that it could be worse.

on 2/22/2006 Deep breathing exercises are great to help this - feel the breathes run deep down to the bottom of your spine.
This produces a calming effect. Did you ever realize that when we sleep, we maintain deep breathing? This is the ultimate relaxation!

I have found the more you perform, the more the nerves decrease. The less you perform, the worse they are -so I recommend as much performance exposure as possible - even for small crowds, like family - or even performances in groups.

I also believe that Olympic skaters do their best when their confidence reflects an attitude of, "just watch and you'll be amazed at what I can do." If their art if truly to sweep the judges off their feet, their performance will be the best it can be and they can ace their jumps. Whether a judge, or an audience of people, they will love what they take in from the performer when it's great! It's not about how you feel about your performance, it's all about the audience and what they can receive from you. If they are satisfied, this attitude of self-confidence is welcomed. I always recommend this to my students and in the same breath remind them that before they go on stage and the moment they step off, they must maintain a selfless attitude in the rest of their lives and humility for their talent.

on 2/21/2006 I sing and play guitar and the best thing I find for stage fright for me is practice. Practice each song till it comes without thinking. When you know you've put the practice in and your ready, the nerves won't be so bad, because you're confident in your ability and in yourself.

on 2/1/2006 Granted that stage fright is common and all performers have it to some degree. Mild stage fright can be helpful, motivating you to your best performance. But if you are looking for advice on the Internet, it's a good bet that you've got more than garden variety "everyone gets it" stage fright. Paralytic stage fright is a different matter, but can be overcome with hard work. Having faith in your gift and skills is first, but then find a friendly venue. Performing for friends is vastly different than standing for jury exams! Try church, a music school with all levels and ages, maybe have a singing party at home.

Stage fright, even of the clenching stomach and cold sweat variety, shouldn't be allowed to rob you of your joy in music!

on 1/18/2006 If you have stage fright, just think of it this way; all humans are a thought of your (or someone else's) self consciousness and we are a mirror image of what they want us to be. And in the end we will all be separated from the person we choose to be.

on 1/16/2006 I have tried many things to overcome performance nerves. I am a musician, and so far the knowledge that stage fright is something we do to ourselves, and that the performer has all the power, is enough of a powerful thought to settle me down into really
excellent playing.

on 11/22/2005 Do jumping jacks or push ups or sit ups or run in place, anything to get your physical self going. You'll probably have to move onstage, so you might as well start before you go.

on 12/13/2005 Stage fright and nerves are things everyone gets, and they are not something you should try to get over. They're not something you have until you become a professional, or anything like that. The thing with nerves is that they can destroy a performance - or they can make it better. Please don't spend your time thinking about how to not get nervous, but instead think of how you will use nervousness to your advantage. One big mistake I used to make is to look at my music right before going onstage, just to reassure myself one last time. Please, whatever you do, do not look at your music (or lines) or run it through in your mind while you're waiting to walk onstage. If you haven't prepared well, this won't help anyway - and if you have, this will just create doubt. The same goes for the way you practice the day of your performance. Don't spend hours working on stuff like you would normally, over-practicing the day you perform is a very bad habit. By this time nothing you do will change how well you perform. Make sure you keep your focus, and stay completely in the moment. Do not think about what's coming next in the song, or your lines in a play. Just be right with whatever is happening now. And remember that if you embrace your nerves, instead of fearing them, they will help you perform better - you will have more energy and excitement, and your focus will be better, because you know how easily it is lost.

Please do not subscribe to the idea that stage fright is something to be overcome! This is completely incorrect, and will be detrimental to your performance!

on 11/30/2005 Propranolol (Inderal) 10mg to 40mg is a great help - begin with 10mg and move up as needed. Be sure to check with your doctor that you have no health issues that prevent your taking this medication and, critically, that this will not interact negatively with any other medication that you may be taking. Note long-term usage is reported to cause depression, though on the whole this seems an extremely safe drug. (http://www.remedyfind.com/rm-4078-Inderal.asp)

on 11/22/2005 Just do it! If u have a passion to be at a talent show or something just do it. People might be jelous of you but alot of people are gonna like you. Think of your best friends wanting you to do good. Its not like the people are gonna bit you if u do bad. Just do it and if anyone says somthing about you I think I did good ok? then roll ur eyes and walk away