There are lots of ways to combat stage fright.
Stage fright is a common problem for actors, singers and entertainers. You do not have to be a professional actor to suffer from stage fright. Giving a presentation at work or college can cause similar feelings. Although some nerves are helpful because they supply the adrenaline needed to perform at your best, extreme nervousness causes problems. People with stage fright can suffer a variety of symptoms, such as sweating palms, feeling hot, a churning stomach and stuttering. However, with a few simple steps, it is possible to keep your stage fright under control.
Instructions
1. Rehearse your act, presentation or song thoroughly. Feelings of stage fright worsen when you feel underprepared. Feeling prepared gives you more confidence in your abilities. It also allows you to anticipate any possible problems and how you will deal with them, leaving you feeling in more control.
2. Believe in yourself. It sounds simple, but a little self-belief goes a long way. Remind yourself of previous performances that have been successful, and envision yourself doing the same again. Think positively, and you will perform well. Thinking negatively becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and results in a poor performance.
3. Take deep breaths. When you feel stage fright, your breathing becomes shallow and quick. Take slow, deep breaths to regain control of your performance and focus.
4. Find a way to help you relax. Some actors find soothing aromatherapy scents such as lavender help them feel calm. Alternatively, spend a few minutes practicing yoga to help you focus and concentrate on your performance. Different things work for different performers. Try new methods of relaxation and stick to what works for you the best.
5. Imagine the audience naked. A lot of performers believe this makes the audience less intimidating. If you feel this might be too distracting but find it difficult to look at the audience, look at the tops of their heads or the back of a large theater instead. This way you still appear to be engaging with your audience without looking directly at them.
6. Go for it. Sometimes, just swallowing your fears and going for it is the way to beat stage fright. The more successful performances you have and the more experienced you become, the better you should be able to deal with your stage fright.
