How to calm nerves before a performance?

Question

I am a singer and I have some real big competitions coming up. How can I calm my nerves BEFORE i perform?

Answer 1

When I started in my Undergrad I was a trumpet performer with TERRIBLE nerves. Some things that helped me.

First, know and understand people are not there to hear you mess up and most of the time they don't even know you made a mistake because they don't know the piece.

Second, eat some bananas before your performance. They have natural beta blockers in them which help with your nerves.

Thrid, being nervous is a natural reaction. Learn to turn those nerves from something negative into something positive. Redirect that energy into your performance.

Fourth, do some deep breathing before you go on stage. About fifteen minutes befor you are scheduled to go on stage, find a quiet room and sit. Do some very slow deep breathing to really put yourself into the correct mind set instead of your current state of fear.

Lastly, the more you do it, the easier it gets. My first 4-5 trumpet performances were TERRIBLE. Now I am playing with a local orchestra and it's common for me to do solos and I get a little nervous but I expect that and it's natural. I just don't let it get the best of me. To get to this stage took many performances and years. Take every chance you have an perform, it will get easier and better.

However, if you are an absolute wreck and you are really bad. Talk to your doctor. They can prescribe you bet blockers which will calm your nerves. They do work but many I have talked to say the negative side is it basically turns you into someone with no emotions, which in music is not a good thing, but they do help. Again, use this as a last resort and just talk to your doctor.

Something I would suggest you to check out is a book called "The Inner Game of Music." It will be a huge help for you. I can't remember the author but just go to any major bookstore website and you will find it. It helped me A LOT and is a great book that really deals with these issues and more.

Answer 2

I would say 50 % of the nerves before to perform belongs to doubts about the songs, the words, how many bars you have to wait, if your voice is warmed up enough. The other 50% is just adrenaline runing fast in your body, that is good. That means you are ready to go!

Advice: Study a lot, repeat the words and rythms together, that will help you a lot. Think in that music all the time, practice in your mind constantely.

The day of the competition:

Warm up your voice enough, drink water, cool, not cold, do not eat to much before the performance, and do not eat food you know can make you feel bad. I would recommend a Good Break fast eat lunch too, eat fruits as a snacks and take a light dinner. I mean: do not eat a 16 oz steak potatoes, milk shake and desert.... Got my what I mean? You need to eat well, not to eat lots of food. Drink water during the day to keep your vocal chords hydrated.

Go to a room alone or with your voice teacher to warm up your voice, if you need to practice some part of the song, do it in marking sound, save your voice for the performance.

Back Stage, do not talk with people, get concentrate on you performance, words, beats, notes etc, streach your body, take deep breaths and relax your body. Keep drinking water. Do some soft hummings and lip trills.

At the time you are on the stage, no matter how nervous you feel. YOU NEVER SHOW THAT TO THE AUDIENCE. YOU ARE THE ONLY DIVA ON THE STAGE!!!!!!!! It's that clear?

When the Music start, if you feel your mouth dry, you can bite just a bit your toung to create spit. Do not do it too hard!

Do not look to the people, look forward, to the far wall and the very end of the place and think your voice is going there too!

Do not try to sing Louder than any one else there. Use your natural Voice, do not force it, do not take the risk to force it and make it crack.

Hope this help.

Answer 3

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RE:
How to calm nerves before a performance?
I am a singer and I have some real big competitions coming up. How can I calm my nerves BEFORE i perform?

Answer 4

I do a lot of spoken word performances and one technique that I use is I separate myself from the event until it is my turn whenever possible. Sitting around waiting for my turn makes me visualize that in a few mintues I'm going to be the one out there. I don't know if singers rest their voice before performances, but I also find a good spot to practice where I am not too far away to be contacted. That way I feel more confident that I know my stuff. If it's not possible to physically separate yourself from the event, separate your mind. Use your senses to make your mind focus on something else. Describe what you see, hear, smell, feel, etc. You will find it hard to concetrate on being nervous. Hope some of this helps and have fun at your competition.

Answer 5

Breathe. It's all about breathing. And I know that sounds obvious, but if you don't breathe properly, you don't get enough oxygen to your brain, you start getting butterflies, feeling tired and excited or panicky. As soon as you start feeling wound up, find a quiet place and sit down. Take a long, slow breath in to a count of four, then slowly exhale to a count on four. So 'In, 2, 3, 4, Out, 2, 3, 4' and repeat for several minutes. Think of nothing but breathing. Close your eyes, and just think breathing. When you have to do things, like pack your bag, get in the car, walk, whatever, just keep thinking of your breathing. And if you forget, and then notice that familiar 'flapping' feeling, just stop and start the breathing exercise again. Actors learn to do this backstage, in the wings, in the dressing room, during make-up, or even while waiting beside a camera. Try it. Breathe!

Answer 6

I have sung in opera houses and even in the chorus with the Three Tenors concert at Skydome, TO. The best way to calm yourself before a performance is :
1. Be fully prepared for your performance (well rehearsed) Record your performance alone and critique it yourself. Be on time-early if possible.
2. Find somewhere that you can relax and be alone. Listen to lovely music. Think lovely thoughts.
3. Eat well before you perform. Then you will not be enduring low blood sugar which will make your nerves even more on edge. I never eat lightly before a performance. You sing from the diaphram-not the stomach(which sits above the diaphram.)
Hope this helps!
Win that competition!!!!
Maximillian

Answer 7

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Answer 8

There are two things to instill into yourself before you perform:
1. Make yourself believe that you are good enough. People are coming to see you, so you are something special. They wouldn't come and watch you if you weren't good enough. Tell yourself that if someone out there in the crowd can do better then they wouldn't be watching; they would be the one performing!! YOU are the show and you have something that everyone wants to see. Have fun and make a show of it!
2. If you get nervous, just think about everyone in the crowd in their most embarrassing situation (usually in their underwear in a large crowd). That makes it better. That way you can perform in front of people that are in a more humiliating position than you are in!

Answer 9

Singing is something that everybody can learn and improve. Of course, some are more naturally skilled than others, but even a poor voice can be overcome by dedication, practice, and more practice. Even if you're content to sing in the shower, there are some things you can do to improve your voice. This is probably the best online course to improve your singing skills https://tr.im/0bdt8
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Answer 10

Go into a quiet area free of people sit up straight, legs crossed & good posture (on the floor if possible) close your eyes and "Yoga" brethe (deep breths that fill the lungs to maximun capacity and slowly exhale at you own pace). Then get up go to a mirror and give you self a good PEP talk. Make a habit of doing this even when you don't have any performances.


Many Blessings~~~