what are some ways of dealing with stage fright?

Question

I have a big solo in my school's choir concert, and i need some ways to help me stay calm and relaxed. I don't sing as well when i'm nervous!

Answer 1

I found a WONDERFUL website that I believe will really help you on your big day. Go to http://www.davidleisner.com/noname.html and use some of the tips he has given you. The summery of his "six golden rules" may be very helpful. Another helpful website is http://www.studentservices.utoronto.ca/resources/performance_anxiety.aspx they give some practical tools that will help you throughout your life. Break-A-Leg!

Answer 2

Stage fright is to be controlled, and not something you can simply overcome. The people who tell you that they "don't get stage fright anymore" are lying. Stage fright is natural for all of us. So how do you control your stage fright? Understand where you are (BE PREPARED). One thing that causes stage fright is the feeling that we have no control, and we are unsure of how things are going to work out. The best way to control this fear is to be prepared. Create yourself a checklist, and make sure you know your environment inside and out. Will you need your own amp? What kind of mic will you be using? Do you have a signal with the sound man to play a certain track? Is the performance outdoors? What will the weather be like?, etc. These are all examples of things that you should know before you perform. The less unsure we are, the more control we have over our stage fright. Understand who you are. I belive that in our minds we have an image of what I call the "perfect performer". This is our character. A common fear wich leads to stage fright is the idea that the audience might reject us, or not understand our character. It's a healthy fear, but it's one that can be controlled. Sometime before your performance, take a good look at the stage (or where ever you are performing) from the audiences point of view. Now invision yourself doing a successful show from begining to end. Make sure you have a solid picture of everything in your mind (Your costume, the way you move, the way you talk, the way you interact with your audience, etc). You should be invisioning YOURSELF performing, and not your biggest inspiration. BE YOURSELF. Once you've seen the show, run it through your head a few times until it comes time to go on stage. Once your on stage the trick is to be the "perfect performer" that you saw in your mind. Do not anticipate the outcome of your show during performance. Just do your show, and let nature take it's course. A good way to get honost critisism of your act is to have a video camera on the stage pointing at the audience. This way you can go back and study their reactions. If you can, try putting a tape recorder in the audience so that you can hear comments being made about your show.

Answer 3

Okay first of all congrats you must be a great singer in order to be given such a big part a solo for one by yourself !!! But moving on to your stage fright you know how people say imagine everyone in there underwear dont because my speech and debate teacher once told me that some people will look great in there underwear and some people wont and its true so please dont try imagining that... Well I think the best way to overcome stage fright is to A) perform your solo in front of your friends or people your family and friends know that you dont so youll become used to performing in front of people you dont know..or B) when performing your solo instead of looking at all the faces in the crowd you can look straight forward at the back of the audience or the back wall of wherever your singing..Once you get into the grove of the song and your voice is steady and your singing is good then you can start singing and loking at people in the crowd that you know because youll see them enjoying your singing and it will give you positive reinsurance and youll feel great and comfterable on stage. Good luck and from how the situation sounds youll probably do amazing.. Well adios ^ ^ )

Answer 4

look princess, nobody sings good when they are nervous I know that from experience, and you can always close your eyes and imagine yourself by yourself in your car or in the shower. never look around to see all the people in the audience until you can control your nervousness. Never think about what they think if you mess up. Always think positive and believe in yourself. Find a spot in the stage where you can focus onto and keep your focus on that particular area and imagine no body in the stage. You would also need to practice and make sure you are not singing out of pitch, tone or tune. When you are satisfied with your sound then you have enough power to give it your best, without a problem.

Answer 5

I used to have CRAZY stage fright--I could barely eat a week before the performance, I would throw up everyday, and I usually cried uncontrollably for hours immediately preceeding the performance!

The best thing to do is to be as prepared as possible so that you are confident in the job you know you can do. Stay focused on your part and your competence performing it so that your nerves don't get the better of you.

I also came up with a routine of things I would do just before going onstage. I take the deepest breaths I possibly can--all the way into the pit of my nervous stomach, hold it, then push out all of the air I possibly can, focusing on the control I have. I also will shake my hands vigorously, raise them over my head (still shaking them), and then stop and imagine the energy pouring through the rest of my body. I usually will run over my lines/lyrics quickly in my head one time, then I refocus myself, go out, and get the job done.

I hope this helps somehow! Good luck!

Answer 6

I know exactly how you feel, I totally have been there before! Some things I noticed that has work for me, and that I still do until this day because I still get jitters before I go on stage:
1.practice practice practice know your music
2.before you go onstage and before you start to sing your solo take deep deep breaths as you exhale breath out slowly
3.where ever your singing, sing to the back wall of the auditiorium or room, dont look at people unless you began to get comfortable
***4. if your a spiritual person, I highly suggest that the power of prayer works also...thats what I do right before I go on ANY stage...and it totally calms me!

Hope this is great advice for you....good luck!

Answer 7

Anxiety stems from fear of making mistakes. Your performance should be like saying your name. You open your mouth and it comes out. You don't think about your name because you know it..it's a reflex at this point. If you can sing your part then you needn't be nervous. Just practice it until you can sing it in your sleep. When your solo comes up, if you close your eyes or cover your ears, you'll still be able to lay it out.

Answer 8

I believe that there is a good book on this entitled "The Inner Game of Tennis" ... I have performed for 36 years and have found that the relization that 99% of people will not know if you make a mistake is very comforting ... unless you give this away through facial contortions etc. Just getting up and performing over and over again makes it much easier.

Answer 9

Trust me this works... First, before the actual performance, scream like crazy outside then go to the back stage and make funny faces, like blowing your cheeks til u look loike a piggy, or adjustng ur nose just funny faces.... preferably do it in front of a mirror or if not possible, anywhere I guess.... then go out again and screammmmmmm!!!!.... these will help you build up confidence and adrenaline rush flows through ur body so that you can get used to the rush so that the butterflies when ur upstage will lessen....... An before u go on-stage .,,, deep breathe and whisper to god to help you and tell yourself that you can do it about 5 times... And just smile and do your thang... I'm not joking this really works for me....... hope it helps a lot for u...

Answer 10

stare far away in the room and never stare on a single person directly...also you can look for familiar faces or people laughing (not at you of course) anything that relaxes you...if that is not possible then simply try to imagine something that would calm you down...never hesitate art cannot be judjed based on an actor