I’m writing these tips for coping with stage fright because they recently helped me deal with my nerves in a school production. Stage fright is one of the most ironic and frustrating forms of anxiety that a person can have. If you have dreams of performing in front of people but seems to freeze whenever the big moment arrives, then it can start to have a really detrimental effect on your state of mental well being. Stage fright isn’t something we are born with; it is something we develop either out of a fear of embarrassment or maybe a traumatic memory from a past public experience. No matter how small or big scale your own stage fright might be, there is no point in not trying to combat it. Here are some of the best tips for coping with stage fright.
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Remember the Audience is on Your Side
What you have to try to remember when you are panicking is that you are not going up against a shooting squad. You are going up in front of a crowd of people who are there to support you and see you succeed! They want to see you having a great time; it’s not a test that you are going to pass or fail. You don’t have anything to prove, you have already been given the spot in the performance based on your talent! So remembering that the crowd is on your side is one of my best tips for coping with stage fright.
Perspective
Try to keep a little perspective when it comes to the level of your performance. It might not feel like it, but it really isn’t a matter of life and death! Performing is important to you at that moment, but it isn’t going to define you for the rest of your life. Try to remember that whatever you are doing right now is going to last no more than an hour or so, and you will probably get to redo it again at some point if there are things you want to change or improve!
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Deal with Nerves Early
Don’t wait until minutes before the stage to try to deal with your nerves. The earlier you admit your fears, the earlier you can start to try to ease them. Accept that you are doing to feel bad right before walking on stage, but do things during the day to make you feel as calm as possible. Talk things through with friends and family, treat yourself to a nice lunch, listen to your favourite songs or songs that relax you. Anything to take a little bit of the tension away. The worst thing you can do is pretend that you are totally fine then blow up minutes before call time.
Tackle the Physical Side Effects
Try to trick your body into thinking that it isn’t nervous at all by tackling the physical side effects of stage fright. Move around as much as possible so that you don’t get jelly legs, and make sure that you are well fed and well hydrated so that there are no risks of getting dizzy.
Power Stance
Make sure to root your feet in the ground when you are on stage because a good power stance can make a world of difference! When you feel steady on your feet, the stage doesn’t feel like such a scary place to be. Exude confidence from your head to your toes, and the mental strength will follow!
