What are some good techniques to get over nervousness and or stage-fright?

Answer 1

I do a lot of public speaking -- and I act in community theater plays. Here are some things that work for me in both situations:

-- Get all your worrying over with well in advance of the event. The best way to do this is to make sure you know your material -- and that you know you know it. If you're convinced deep inside that you won't be tripped up with forgotten information or forgotten lines, you'll get off to a good start.

-- When you're waiting to go on, be in the moment. Worrying about what might go wrong will increase the chances you won't do your best.

-- Some actors do some stretching exercises backstage in the moments before they go on. I find that doing a little bit of moving right before a scene helps me focus and keeps me in the moment.

-- Know that the people in the audience are rooting for you. They came to hear a good speech or see a good performance. They want you to excel.

-- Understand that -- no matter what happens -- you can't fail. If things don't go as well as you want, you'll still have information about how you can do better the next time.

-- Ask yourself, "What's the worst thing that will happen if I really screw up?" The worst thing would be not using the event as a learning experience.

And remember, usually the worst stagefright occurs just before you go on. Once you're on and doing it, the fear goes away. If you're prepared, it will just happen, and happen well.

Answer 2

Meet some of your audience ahead of time.
Spend some time on the "stage" beforehand,
before any one else gets there.
If the area is more familiar, it makes it easier.
If you break the ice with a few folks before the
event, they will be "in your corner" and supportive,
plus they wont seem so foreign either. Then you can
think of it as just another get together with friends,
that you are hamming it up for.

Last but not least, know your gig COLD.
Make it second nature. Practice your tail off. Get it automated.

All this combined, turns into a pretty darn good time!
But remember, stage fright is ok too. Just don't let it cripple you.
Practicing gives you confidence, but its quite normal to be nervous. Some of that may never go away.
But embrace it! It lets you know you're alive~



-R-

Answer 3

Rehearse: know what you're doing beforehand, because that's what it's there for and the better you know the material, the less chance of things going wrong.

Before you go onstage, do something very physical. A warm-up, good vigorous stretching. One of my favorites is to sit with my back against a wall, like I was sitting in a chair, until my thighs start to shake... and I mean really shake. These are ways of getting rid of excess energy.

Do long, slow deep-breaths. They have a naturally calming effect -- and yawns, too, even if you don't feel like yawning. They help relax your throat and give you a sense of well-being.

Do something secret. Paint a toenail black or pin a note to your underwear that has some thought or quote you like... or maybe it just says, "Breathe." Before you go on, think of whatever this "special" thing is and know that no one else on stage has that -- it helps you feel like a unique person out there.

When you're onstage, if you start to feel it coming on, pay really close attention to your fellow actors. Imagine what they would look like with purple eyes -- with tattooes on their faces -- if they were dressed in completely different clothes: anything that helps you concentrate on them, on the play, and on what you've rehearsed.

Answer 4

You now what they say, picture everyone naked... That should resolve everything.... Usually what I do before a performance is meditate and then when performance comes, just like others answered, picture that no one is in the audience... If your an actor, or a good one at it... the theatre atmosphere should disappear because prior to commencement of performance you have to envision yourself in the part, therefore you pretend and apply yourself to the situation... Now if its singing and dancing, thats a whole different ballpark... for singing, try to pick a few people to sing to and make the rest of the arena disappear... for dancing, its similar to acting, but what your picturing is the place that the music takes you to and linger in that place until the dance is over.... Hope this helps...

Answer 5

Be confident in what your doing, then you wont be nervous. Usually people are nervous because they're afraid they'll mess up. Or have one person you want to impress the most, and when you go on stage just pretend your doing it just for them. Or talk really loud; scream before you get on stage.

Answer 6

Whenever I get nervous, what I do is just practice whatever I'm doing untill I know it by heart. Then, right before my turn comes up, I just sort of relax. I keep doing that until I go past "The point of no return". Then, I just do it! It might sound weird, but it works for me!
Good Luck!^.^

Answer 7

Go to your physician and request a prescription for Inderal which is a Beta Blocker that will prevent the "fight or flight" syndrome from affecting you. You only need to take the pills two days before your speaking event.

Answer 8

wtage fright you should just go on stage and do whatever you had to do on stage or just pretend your the only one there

Answer 9

I just always try to remember that everyone is the same as me and they all WISH they could be doing what I am doing.

Answer 10

Focus on the message and the people you're giving the message to, forget about yourself, you are not that important to the message.