How do you get over stage fright?

Question

I got juliet in our school play (romeo and juliet) but i am afraid i will go up there and forget it all.

Answer 1

Hi,

You conquer it before you get on stage. Visualize yourself being very confident and relaxed and in your best form, and see yourself being at your best and doing great, and everyone applauding you for your excellent performance.

Or you can do the opposite, and build a negative image of yourself being scared, and being afraid you will go up there and forget it all, and believe it or not, that is exactly what will happen if you allow your thoughts to continue in a negative form.

Your subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real event and an imagined one, so if you imagine you are relaxed and confident and doing good, that is exactly what you will end up doing.

Please do not be your own worst enemy.

Darryl S.

Answer 2

Stage fright is a common fear among actors. My only experience with acting was in high school, but the main help for it is practice, and knowing your lines backward and forward. There is no getting around stage fright for most of us, but think of it as adding to the tension and emotion of the moment while you are on stage. Make it an asset to add to the emotion of your performance. And just be prepared. Practice by yourself, watch yourself in the mirror and see where you might be able to improve your performance. And commit yourself to Juliet and bringing her to the attention of the audience in a real way. Try to understand her motivation, why she is doing what she is doing, and allow yourself to believe in her and why she does what she does.
You can also get some Shakespeare movies and listen to the pace and tone of how the wonderful actors in most of them say the words. Listen to their tone and pitch and elocution. Practice saying the lines out loud, record yourself so you are able to hear how you sound saying them. Improve where you can.
Good luck, now go out and break a leg!

Answer 3

Congratulations! That's a great role and I"m sure you'll have a lot of fun playing it.

Stage fright is generally the result of one being too aware of oneself. What you might find helpful is determining what it is Juliet wants and then decide, as you read the script, what she is doing to get what she wants.

Another thing to remember is, as Sanford Meisner once said, "it's always about the other fellow." Stay focused on what Romeo is doing, is he doing what you want, is he giving you what you're after? How can you make him do what you want?

I would love to hear how it goes. If I can be of any help, send me an e-mail.

Answer 4

Hopefully, the house lights will be down and you can look out OVER the heads of the audience, not at them.

Be Prepared ! Lines, costume change, props, timing. It's when these things have hicups that you get self-conscious and remember where you are.

Another time you remember the audience is when there are hecklers ("Give him a Kiss!"). Don't answer them. Turn towards the other section of the audience and deliver your lines away from those other guys. When there is a response to their outbursts, they will give more. If they get louder, look to the teacher in the wings and she will go to the audience & give out detentions .. ;)

HAVE FUN and everything will go with you

Answer 5

Imagine you are still at practice. Don't think about messing up or u will.

Imagine your bf/gf is in the auditorium or your best friend. And no one else.

Usually, people get stage fright because they think they will mess up.

Practice a lot. If you know your parts well, then you won't be nervous and won't mess up.

Practice your part in front of your parents. Ask them "What do you think?"

Practice in front of mirror.

Remember, if you have enough practice, you will not be afraid of messing up. Even if you do, your other great performance throughout the rest of the play will cover it up.

Answer 6

This was what my drama teacher told us: Before the play, try standing at the front of the stage and shout on top of your lungs. I didn't try it out, but you may want to use it. If not, just look at the front and try to play a game with yourself. Like, try counting the number of people wearing specs, etc. With a 'task' while on the stage, you'll not be afraid. Good luck for your play!

Answer 7

Try to really get into the scene, as if you were actually living it. I know this sounds weird, but have your mom call you juliet and talk to her like 'Me think you are a darling mother' etc. or 'Mother, what is your will'. Not infront of your friends though, lol. Make sure you have plenty of water... and that you t ake your time speaking clearly and slowly. If you begin to feel nervous, have a signal before hand... talk to the director. Listen to music and pamper yourself before the show... do your nails have a hot bath drink hot tea while watching your fave. movie. Then... its show time!!

Answer 8

Just practice A LOT. Then when stage fright sets in your natural instinct takes over and will do what you've rehearsed a million times over. If you aren't prepared... stage fright will just make it so much worse.

Answer 9

Practice, Practice, Practice and after that Practice some more. Use every opportunity to do your part in front of the people you know, love, and trust.
Try to give your lines in a tough environment. It will make it easier on the big day.
GOOD LUCK.

Answer 10

well it depends on who you are really i thrive from that scared energy.. i feel like i am about to die until i get up there.... its OK to be scared don't loose focus and try to harness this feeling and use it for good... and i never ever looked at the crowd only focus on your lines and you co-actors.. though Shakespeare is very hard if you got the part you can do it right?? or you wouldn't have got the part oh yeah make sure you eat... stay away from sugar they only make it worse.. OK?? good luck then