Even the most confident performers can suffer from stage fright. Stage fright is normal for everyone from Broadway actors to professional presenters. If you have stage fright, then you may start to feel nervous, shaky, or even completely transfixed at the thought of performing in front of an audience. But don't worry - you can get over your stage fright by training your body and mind to relax and try a few tricks. If you want to know how to get over stage fright, just follow these steps. Before you read on, make sure you know that this can be helped by having someone present with you. Or it could be helpful for you to invite many of your close friends in the audience.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Overcoming Stage Fright on Performance Day
Step 1. Calm your body
To combat stage fright, there are several things you can do to calm your body before going on stage. Releasing tension from your body can help calm your voice and calm your mind. Practice your dialogue. If you make a mistake on stage, don't panic! Make it seem like it's part of the role. Here are some things you can do to calm your body before you hit the road.
- Humming softly to strengthen your voice.
- Eat a banana before you perform. This will reduce the feeling of emptying or nausea in your stomach, but will not make you feel good enough.
- Chew gum. Chewing gum slightly relieves the tension in your jaw. Just don't chew gum for too long or on an empty stomach because it might irritate your digestive system a little.
- Do stretches. Stretching your arms, legs, back, and shoulders is another way to reduce tension in your body.
Step 2. Meditate
On the morning before your performance, or even an hour before, take 15-20 minutes of your day to meditate. Find a relatively quiet place where you can sit comfortably on the ground. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing as you calm every part of your body.
- Rest your hands in your lap and fold your legs.
- Try to get to the point where you think about nothing more than relaxing your body parts one by one - especially not remembering how you look.
Step 3. Avoid caffeine
Unless you're a regular caffeine addict, don't take extra caffeine on the day of the show. You may think that it will make you appear with more energy, but it will actually make you feel more nervous and restless.
Step 4. Set a "stop time" for your anxiety
On the day of your performance, tell yourself that you can allow yourself to be nervous for a certain amount of time, but after a certain hour - for example, 3 am - all the anxiety should go away. Setting this goal and making a promise to yourself alone will make it much more likely to happen.
Step 5. Exercise a little
Exercise releases tension and boosts your endorphins. Set aside at least thirty minutes of exercise on your performance day, or at least spend thirty minutes of walking. This will prepare your body for a great appearance.
Step 6. Laugh as much as you can
Watch comedy in the morning, play your favorite YouTube video, or just spend the afternoon with your funniest friend. Laughter will relax you and take your mind off your nervousness.
Step 7. Get there early
Show up for your performance earlier than anyone else in the audience. You'll feel much more in control if the room fills up after you arrive instead of showing up to a full place. Arriving early will also calm your nerves and will make you feel less anxious and more at peace.
Step 8. Speak to members of the audience
Some people like to sit in the audience and start chatting with people to become more comfortable. This will make you realize that the audience is just an ordinary person like you, and will help you manage your expectations. You can also just sit briefly in the audience as the seats fill up without telling anyone who you are - this will only work if you're not in costume, of course.
Step 9. Imagine your favorite person in the audience
Instead of imagining everyone in the audience wearing only their underwear - as that can feel a little weird - imagine that every seat in the audience is filled with clones of your favorite person. People who love you and will listen and approve of anything you say or do. The person will laugh at the right time, encourage you, and applaud loudly at the end of the performance.
Step 10. Drink orange juice
Drinking orange juice half an hour before your performance can lower your blood pressure and ease your anxiety.
Step 11. Sing the lyrics of your favorite song or poem
Getting into comfortable tunes will make you feel more at peace and in control. If you feel comfortable singing the lyrics to your favorite song or poem, you will feel more comfortable about carrying out your role with ease and grace.
Method 2 of 4: Overcoming Stage Fright for a Speech or Presentation
Step 1. Make it interesting
You may think that it's unnecessary to explain because of course, but maybe part of the reason you're having stage fright is because you're worried that everyone will think you're boring. Well, you may be worried about being boring because your material is boring. Even if you're speaking or delivering dry material, think of ways to make it more receptive and engaging. Your worries will be less if you know that your material is interesting.
If it fits, create a few opportunities to laugh. Include some jokes that will ease the tension and relax the listener
Step 2. Consider your audience
As you create and rehearse your presentation, consider the audience's needs, knowledge, and expectations. If you're speaking to a younger audience, adjust your content, voice and speech as needed. If the audience is older and louder, be more practical and logical. You will lessen your nervousness if you know that you are really capable of conveying it to those who are listening to you.
Step 3. Don't tell people you're nervous
Don't go on stage and make little jokes about being nervous. Everyone already assumes that you are confident just by standing in front of it. Announcing that you're nervous can make you feel better, but the audience will lose faith in you instead of paying attention.
Step 4. Record yourself
Record a video of yourself delivering your presentation. Keep talking while you're recording until you can look at the recording and think, "Wow, that's a great presentation!" If you're not happy with the way you look on record, then you're not happy with the way you appear in person. Keep doing this until you get it right. When you're on stage, just remember how great you look in the video, and tell yourself that you can do better.
Step 5. Get moving, but don't fidget
You can defuse the energy of nervousness and reach your audience by pacing around the stage. If you move energetically and move for emphasis, you will overcome your stage fright just by moving. But don't fidget by moving your hands, playing with your hair, or fiddling with the microphone or notes of a speech or presentation.
Fidgeting will only build tension and will make your audience see that you are uncomfortable
Step 6. Go slow
Most public speakers show their stage fright by speaking too fast. You may speak fast because you are nervous and want the speech or presentation to be over quickly, but this will actually make it harder for you to articulate your ideas or to reach your audience. Most people who speak too fast don't even realize they're doing it, so remember to pause after each new thought, and give your audience time to react to important statements.
- Slowing down will also make you less likely to stutter or misspoke.
- Think about the length of your presentation before doing it. Get used to the speed you need to complete your presentation in a timely manner. Always carry a watch with you and glance at it from time to time to make sure you fit.
Step 7. Ask people how you are doing
If you really want to treat your stage fright, you should ask your audience how you are performing by asking for feedback afterwards, handing out surveys, or asking fellow audience members for their honest opinion. Knowing what you do well will build your confidence, and knowing how you can improve will help you feel more confident the next time you take the stage.
Method 3 of 4: General Strategies for Overcoming Stage Fright
Step 1. Pretend to be Confident
Even if your hands feel numb and your heart races, just act like the coolest person in the world. Walk with your head held high and a big smile on your face, and don't tell anyone how nervous you are. Keep this position when you're on stage and you'll really start to feel confident.
- Look straight ahead, not at the floor.
- Don't bend over.
Step 2. Create a Ritual
Come up with a fail-safe ritual for your performance day. This could be a three-mile jog the morning of your performance, the same "last meal" before your performance, or even singing a certain song in the shower or putting on your lucky socks. Do whatever you have to do to steer yourself toward success.
“Amulets” were a big part of the ritual. It could be an important piece of jewelry to you, or a silly stuffed animal cheering you on in your dressing room
Step 3. Think Positively
Focus on all the great results from your presentation or performance instead of everything that could go wrong. Fight every negative thought with five positive ones. Keep an index card with motivational phrases in your pocket, or do whatever you need to do to focus on all the benefits that appearance will bring instead of succumbing to all the fears and anxieties you might be feeling.
Step 4. Get advice from pro players
If you have a friend who is an accomplished performer, whether it's from acting on stage or giving presentations, ask them for advice. You might learn some new tricks and be entertained by the fact that almost everyone gets stage fright, no matter how confident they are on stage.
Method 4 of 4: Overcoming Stage Fright for theatrical Performance
Step 1. Visualize success
Before you go on stage, just imagine yourself succeeding. Imagine the excitement, imagine the smiles on the audience's faces, and hear the voice of a casting partner or director telling you what an amazing performance you put in. The more you focus on visualizing the best outcome instead of worrying about the worst case scenario, the more likely that will happen. Imagine yourself being amazing on stage from the audience's point of view.
- Start early. Start visualizing success from the first second you are assigned a role. Get used to imagine how successful the work you will do.
- As you get closer to your play date, you can work harder at visualizing success by imagining what a successful job you'll be doing every night before you go to bed and every morning when you wake up.
Step 2. Practice as much as possible
Do this until you memorize it. Remember the dialogue of the person speaking before you, so that you recognize the cues for you to speak. Practice in front of family, friends, and stuffed animals and even in front of empty chairs, so that you get used to performing in front of people.
- Part of the fear of performing comes from thinking that you'll forget your lines and won't know what to do. The best way to prepare against forgetting is to recognize the dialogue as best you can.
- Practicing in front of other people helps familiarize yourself with the fact that you won't be reading your own lines. Sure, you might know the lines perfectly when you're alone in your room, but things are different when you're facing an audience.
Step 3. Live the character
If you really want to get over stage fright, try to really live up to your character's actions, thoughts, and concerns. The more in tune you are with the character you play, the more likely you are to forget about your own worries. Imagine that you really are that person and not a nervous actor trying to portray that person.
Step 4. Pay attention to your own appearance
Build confidence in yourself by reading your lines in the mirror. You can even record your own performances to see how amazing you are, and to spot things that need improvement. If you keep recording or watching yourself until you know you've really got the hang of it, then you're much more likely to succeed on stage.
- Being able to see yourself performing will also help you overcome your fears of the unknown. If you know exactly what you look like, you'll feel more comfortable on stage.
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Pay attention to your body language, and see how you move your hands when you speak.
Note: this may not apply to everyone. This trick might make some people feel more inferior and aware of every movement of their body. If watching yourself starts to make you more nervous, then avoid this tactic
Step 5. Learn to improvise
Improvisation is a skill that all good actors must master. Improv will help you prepare for less than perfect situations on stage. Many actors and singers are so worried about forgetting or messing up their lines that they often don't think that the rest of the cast is just as likely to make mistakes; knowing how to improvise will help you feel comfortable with acting casual and ready to face whatever obstacles come your way.
- Improvisation will also help you realize that you cannot control every aspect of your appearance. It's not about perfection - it's about being able to react to any situation.
- Don't act surprised or confused if something unexpected happens. Remember that viewers don't have a copy of the script and that they will only be able to tell if something is wrong if you make it clear.
Step 6. Move your body
Staying physically active before and during the performance will help relieve tension and keep the audience's attention. Of course, you should only move when your character is supposed to move, but maximize your movement and body expression so that your body becomes more relaxed by being active.
Step 7. Calm your thoughts
Once you're on stage, just focus on your words, your body, and your facial expressions. Don't waste more time thinking and asking yourself annoying questions. Just start enjoying the performance and enjoy the moment, whether you're singing, dancing, or reading dialogue. If you've learned to keep your head down and fully immerse yourself in your performance, the audience will know.
Tips
- If you mess up your steps while dancing, no one will know unless you stop. Go ahead and they'll think it's part of the dance. Same with the script, the audience doesn't know that, so don't worry if you miss a line, and have to improvise, just keep going.
- If you forget a word, don't stop, move on. Try to use other words that are not in the script. If your scene partner makes a mistake, don't react. Ignore mistakes, or, if they're too big to let go, improvise on them. The ability to improvise is the mark of a true actor.
- If you're nervous about eye-contact with the audience, stare at a wall or light while acting.
- Some of the greatest players still get stage fright. Don't think you are alone. Just keep going, and soon you'll be so engrossed you'll forget you're on stage.
- Remember, the audience will not eat you! So relax and have fun. Acting is serious, but you can still enjoy it.
- Pretend you're just practicing at home or somewhere with your friends.
- Practice first in front of family and friends then, eventually you'll be on stage and have everyone cheering and clapping!
- Sometimes it's okay to be a little nervous. If you are so paranoid you will make mistakes, then you will be more rigid. It is people who are overconfident who make the most mistakes.
- Remember, fear and excitement are the same thing. It's your attitude toward it that determines whether you're afraid or excited about it.
- Practice with small groups and move on to larger groups.
- Try imagining the audience looking even more ridiculous than you (if you can). Imagining the audience wearing weird clothes can help you feel good. Or, try to avoid the audience by looking at the back wall and never taking your eyes off that wall until you are comfortable or ready to leave the stage.
- Sometimes convincing yourself that you will perform better than others can help boost your confidence. Have a 'pre-show ritual' but be careful not to get cocky, it won't help your look.
- Usually, when you perform, there are big spotlights, so the light blinds you and you can't see much of the audience. Try focusing on the light (without dazzling yourself) if you're too scared. But don't stare blankly and don't stare at him all the time. Plus, if it's in a special place, they'll usually dim the crowd lights so there's a big blank spot in the crowd spot.
- If your first performance goes well, you may reduce stage fright (if any) to join the show.
- If you misbehave, who cares! You'll laugh about it later.
- It's okay if you choose to perform with your family first then go on stage because it helps!
- If you're singing in front of an audience of friends and family though, and you forget or miss a word or line then just keep going because the only time people will see you make a mistake is if you stop.
- Pretend you're alone, no one's watching, that's what to do, circle of attention.
Warning
- Make sure you go to the bathroom before going on stage!
- Don't eat too much before going on stage later you might feel really nauseous. It will also drain your energy. Food is after appearance only.
- Unless you are costumed as a character, make sure to wear clothes that you feel comfortable and relaxed. You don't want to be insecure about how you look when you're on stage. Also, make sure to wear something that is not too flashy, and fits your appearance. You don't want to get caught up in mischief while performing! Wear something that you feel makes you look good and that you are proud to wear. This will make you more confident about your appearance.
- Prepare as much as possible. Practice is key, and the more you practice, the more confident you will feel. Moreover, the quality of your routine, speech, or appearance will also improve.
- Remember your cue! One of the most common mistakes inexperienced actors make is knowing their lines, but not when they start performing. You can produce a very awkward silence if your cues are not memorized.
