Stage fright is not just about being on stage. It’s something many of us cope with every day, performer or not.
Clammy hands. Heart beating at 120 BPM. Mind racing. A swarm of butterflies colonizing in your stomach. Three… two… one…
The first time I got on stage I nearly blacked out. I was sitting down, meticulously going over the details of my act — playing the perfect version of it over and over in my mind, making sure I hadn’t missed a thing. It was for my middle school talent show. Unsure as to why I even signed up in the first place — it was too late now.
A few minutes before I went on, I stood up from the chair, seemingly too quickly because all of the blood from my head rushed down to my lower extremities and I nearly fainted. You know, like a Victorian woman in a period film. This sensation, being the first time I had ever experienced it (age 12), unsurprisingly added to my neurosis. I had an overwhelming case of what’s known as “butterflies in your stomach”, or “the jitters”, or simply — “stage fright”. Nonetheless, I regained most of my consciousness and went out on stage in front of nearly 200 people and did what I had spent weeks practicing to do (which is a whole other story which I may or may not write about in the future).
◊♦◊
It’s no surprise that public speaking is one of our greatest fears, in close competition with our fear of death. In this moment I could relate. Not only was I experiencing intense nerves but I also thought I was dying! No a good combination. Stage fright wears many masks. You can encounter it on a daily basis in a lot of scenarios, not just before getting out in front of a big crowd. So, whether it’s a big decision you have to make, a serious issue you need to confront, or simply a truth you need to tell, here are some ways to tame your heebie-jeebies both on stage and off.
Go with it. It’s normal. Don’t try and fight the beast. You can always find a way to live with it harmoniously. The production and distribution of adrenaline is a normal physiological response to anxiety. In an attempt for your body to cope, it’s natural to sweat, shake and panic. It’s a part of the instinctual flight or fight response and it works differently for everyone. But knowing this already puts you a step ahead of others who are crippled by the mere notion of being in front of people.
|
Don’t try and fight the beast. You can always find a way to live with it harmoniously.
|
Breathe, Hydrate and Warm-up. It’s what all the pros do! It’s so that your body can have the right conditions to balance out and focus. Why not do the same before delivering a keynote, or talking to your boss at the office? Be attentive to your breath as you take deep breaths through the nose and out through the mouth. A simple breathing technique is to breathe in for a count of four — hold for a count of seven and breathe out through the mouth for a count of eight. It helps to regulate oxygen throughout the body. Drink plenty of water or herbal tea (caffeine might make you more nervous — or worse — crash!) and warm up your voice and body with some simple exercises (you can find basic physical stretches and warm-up techniques on YouTube), but if you’re serious about vocal warm ups I’d recommend booking a session or two with a vocal coach to get some tailor-made exercises.
|
Remind yourself that the crowd is there to see you.
|
Be prepared. Map out key points and review them until you’re comfortable. Not more than that. Over preparing, while occasionally good for catching mistakes, often does more harm than good. Instead, think about the things that might sabotage you beforehand. I know a few performers/presenters that leave everything until the last minute. Don’t. The last thing you need to worry about is picking up your dry cleaning!
Visualize. If you can see the space beforehand, do it. Some people may get nervous about new and unfamiliar environments. It helps if you can visualize yourself performing beforehand. Being comfortable with your space is important to feeling at ease.
As for me? These days there are fewer times I get nervous before a performance, but it happens often when I’m performing new material. Thankfully, most of the times I’m experiencing a sense of euphoria on stage. A sense of “flow” as psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi refers to it. But when I do run into situations where I feel like I’m naked on stage in front of a big crowd I remind myself that the crowd is there to see me. Knowing that has a funny way of keeping your feet on the ground and the blood from draining from your brain.
This article was originally published on vinnydeponto.com.
Photo: Andrew E. Larsen/Flickr
The post How to Manage Everyday Stage Fright appeared first on The Good Men Project.