OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT

The No.1 fear that most people have is speaking in public –it’s not second nature to get up in front of a crowd and perform. This blog will give you some strategies and tips to overcome it.
 
Often when you are presenting something of importance either to you or your listeners, performance anxiety (‘Stage fright’) may kick in. Really the essence of stage fright is thinking about all the things that could go wrong when you get on stage.
 
Tell tale signs of stage fright.
Signs of stage fright might include trembling, dry throat, sudden tiredness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, shortness of breath, lack of vocal control, exaggerated fear, anxiety attacks, lack of co-ordination, a feeling of faintness, emotional flatness and an inability to see or hear correctly. Most performers have experienced one or more of these symptoms at one time or other. You may have heard that it’s good to be nervous because it keeps you on your toes – however having freat stage presence and coping with nervousness is quite tricky for people who have severe stage fright.
 
Coping with stage fright
So often performance anxiety is the result of a negative mindset, so it’s here that well start to address the issue. In this way you can try and do something about the nervous reaction in your body.
 
1. What is the root cause of the fear?
Have a think about what’s causing you to be so afraid – this will give you the best chance at overcoming it.

• are you concerned about your appearance
• do you feel overweight
• does your voice need some work
• are you fearful you won’t to a good job
• is there a past experience that is a trigger for you

Have a chat to someone and think of ways to overcome it, don’t just ignore the problem - face it head on.
 
2. Use Your Imagination
By visualizing your performance, and imagine you are super confident. Take a stocktake of yourself – you’re well dressed, calm, singing well and the audience is lapping it up. Most importantly you are enjoying yourself.
 
3. Positive self-talk
This is a great way to eliminate deep seated negative mind sets. Look in the mirror and give yourself some positive affirmation. A good self-image is healthy, tell yourself ‘you can do this, you are going to do a great job tonight, you are confident and more than able to do this.’
 
4. Be yourself
Authenticity is a rarity these days, and your audience will love it when you are honest and they feel like their getting a real person. There’s no pressure to be something you are not.
 
5. Flip the fear on its head
Instead of thinking of what your audience might think or respond – focus on what you can give them to take home. Take the focus off yourself and give people something memorable that they will treasure.
 
Here’s some quick fire sure tips for your next performance:

1. Concentrate on what your message
2. Be prepared
3. Dress for success
4. Exercise – you’ll feel great
5. Gentle stretching – use up the adrenalin and keep calm
6. Breath – long deep breaths to release tension
7. No caffeine – you don’t need anything else raising your pulse.
8. Practice on less stressful performances
9. Learn from other performers

 
Don’t forget you can do it – trust yourself!

Jason Simmonds
Creative Director
Melbourne Contemporary Choir