I have stage fright...?

Question

I am running for secretary for my school's Student Council. I have to make a speech a in front of the whole school and I have stage fright and really NEED to get over it. Any help...? PLEASE?

Now, please don't feel anything, but I am not going to chose a best answer. All the answers are wondeerful, and thank you guys!

I can't chose, you guys gave such good advice already. I will tell you how it goes, later.

Answer 1

Before the big day, take time to reflect on all the reasons you want to be Secretary. Think about what you can bring to the role that others before you have not. List the pros and cons of how being in this position will affect you (academically, emotionally, socially, etc.). If, after all of that, you're still convinced you want to be Secretary, then use all those tools you've created for yourself to write your speech.

When the big day arrives, before it is your turn to speak, take a deep breath and remember all the positive things about why you are best suited to fill that role. Let that sense of confidence and poise fill you and calm you, and then begin your speech. If you feel your hands start to shake, use them in a gesturing manner to hide the quiver. If your find yourself starting to sweat, think of something calming and cool like an icy glass of lemonade or floating in a swimming pool/lake/etc.

Remember, too, that some amount of stage fright is normal and healthy. I have been performing in community theater productions for ten years, and whether it's the first performance or the last, there's always that little quiver in the belly before the curtain goes up. People who have a passion for what they do care enough about it to want to do it well. Stage fright is often a part of that.

Answer 2

Well, I did a bunch of therapy and I'm on anti-anxiety meds and I did a bunch of work on my own...and you don't have time to do all that stuff, do you? OK, here's what I do since I still have some issues.

Give yourself a few seconds to freak out on stage. You won't die; you probably won't even look like you're all that nervous. Even great speakers take a few moments to shuffle through their materials, get used to the lectern, adjust the microphone...don't you think they might be getting over nerves? Make a little joke (not a big long joke with a punchline, just say, like "settle down", which will be really funny if everybody's totally silent, but will work just fine if they're making a little noise.) Clear your throat, take a deep breath, straighten your collar--just do some little movements to burn off some nervous energy and get you in the zone to speak.

If you have more time, check out the book Dying of Embarrassment--it has a lot of great info on social phobia (which often includes stage fright.) I mean, like a few weeks. Just take about 5-10 seconds to loosen up *in front* of the crowd--it's not a long time, and it'll make you much more comfortable when you start to actually speak.

Good luck--it's tough to get over but you can do it! Every time you feel nervous and you speak anyway, you'll get better and better--your discomfort will absolutely help you in the long run. Think of it as exercise--you have to build up your muscles, right? So build up your stage muscles and then it'll get easier and easier (which means you should do stuff that's harder so you get even stronger.) I used to be a total basketcase about stuff like this, and now I do just fine with public speaking, so I know anybody can do it if they work at it!

Answer 3

Practise does make perfect when it comes to public speaking. Read your speech to an audience as many times as possible before hand. Family, friends, people at bus stops...you get the idea.

As for the mental aspect of it, it is the fear of being judged as inferior that is the source of stage fright. Thus, the picture everyone naked. It shows that everyone is vulnerable, just like you, that you are all on the same level and the audience is not in a superior position to judge you.

Picturing everyone on the can always works for me. Yes, its slightly gross, but also freaking funny, reinforces that everyone else is just a vulnerable as you, and it works.

Good luck with the speech.

Answer 4

The best way to overcome nerves in public is to 'practice and/or rehearse your speech 'all the time' and force yourself to imagine that moment....a good imagery excercise would be to 'imagine yourself giving the speech in a snowstorm and if you do not get through it - you will not survive & never feel the sun again....so be strong, confident & remain focus in spite of outside distractions. And remember, EVERYONE gets/is nervous no matter how well they are suited to speak in public and so you have to believe that you are not handicapped by a very negative 'mental' image of your 'nerves' - be brave. Excercise self-confidence & assertiveness....being assertive is what being a grown up is all about and you have to know that now & work on that skill to succeed and not be taken advantage of...sounds like you have a head on your shoulders...good luck. Hey, don't forget this is the 'time of your life' and have fun with all of it....have fun, fun, fun and don't forget to smile!

Answer 5

The more you believe in what you say, the easier it will be to say it. Believe that you are the best person for the position - and go up there to explain why! EVERYONE is nervous - even teachers get nervous speaking to parents on Back To School Night. Focus on one or two people in the audience - try to plant some of your friends in front so you can speak directly to them. But most importantly, be prepared....try holding something in your hand - a pen/paperclip....believe that you are the best candidate and tell them why! Good luck!

Answer 6

Um pretend that nobodys even their nd act as if you were all alond and that nobody is even lloking at you

Answer 7

stick a broom