Help me with getting rid of my stage fright, please?

Question

I have to do a showcase for my theater class tomorrow and im going to have to perform with a live audience, i have never really done this, well ive performed in front of my class but other than that i have never performed to people i dont know, so i please ask you guys how to get rid of my stage fright because i dont want to forget my lines on stage.

Answer 1

First of all, get a goodnight sleep. When you wake up, make sure to do something that helps you relax, like taking a nice hot shower, then if you have time a little bit of stretching. Have a light breakfast. Rehearse your lines in front of a mirror and stay calm, when you get there, try doing some breathing exercises, rehearse your lines again, maybe with someone else, and DON'T think about anything else, just remain focus and confident.

You need to know this, the audience will never know if you forget a line, that's actually the beauty of live performances. You can always use improvisation, that's a great skill for actors.

So relax. Don't think about failing, the more confident you feel, the better you'll do.

Good Luck ;)

Answer 2

Stage fright is nothing more than a fear of failing. If you are prepared for this showcase, you have no reason to be scared. After thousands of performances in front of audiences up to 4,500 people, I get stage fright only if I feel underprepared -- which never happens anymore because my fear of experiencing stage fright is all the impetus I need to do the necessary work.

If you have your lines/music memorized and "down cold," then relax. All you have to do is do the work. I presume you've taken this theatre class because you wanted to perform -- well, that exciting day has arrived. Enjoy the performance -- you've earned it, and the audience will only enjoy your performance if YOU'RE enjoying yourself. I hope that makes sense. Believe me, they don't want to have you walk out on stage looking paranoid and frightened -- it will make them very uncomfortable, and your fear of failure will come true.

I tell this to artists I teach/coach: You absolutely must conquer your stage fright and do a good job. You must never, ever retreat. The audience is expecting quality, so give them quality -- if you're prepared, SHOW them what you've prepared. Don't suddenly abandon ship. And during the performance, don't critique what you're doing WHILE you're doing it. There is no rewinding in live performance -- it's a one-way trip. Analyze any mistakes AFTER the performance -- but if you drop a line, just keep going. Always forward -- never back.

Here's an analogy that is completely relevant: In a relay race, if one runner drops the baton, they don't stop and stare at it -- they pick the damned thing up and continue the race. Can you imagine what the spectators would think if the runner just stood there looking around like it's the end of the world?

Finally, you can get a handle on your fears by completely psyching them out. Let your brain control your emotions. Lie through your teeth to your fears -- be cheerful and insistently say something like, "This is going to be great! I can't wait to get out there." Tell yourself this lie over and over again. [And of course it's not really a lie, is it?] The minute your fears start piping up with crap like, "Yeah, but what if --" you need to interrupt them with more positive energy and excitement. Actors have done this forever. By the way, this works for auditions as well, for casting directors always prefer to see someone giving an enjoyable performance, instead of someone nervously concerned with being judged.

Oh, and remember to keep breathing. If you get nervous, inhale deeply, hold it for ten seconds, then exhale slowly. It's very, very calming.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck at your showcase.

Answer 3

When I was in high school I used to become nervous be for I performed. I did musicals and I was not much of an actor, but everyone told me I had a great voice. So I would go up and do my lines and then go into my songs and let my nervous energy feed my performance. I found that I became more comfortable the more times I was on stage, and the thrill is like nothing else in the world. Trust me I have done skydiving, rock climbing, white water rafting, repelling, and none of these can compare to the thrill of going on stage and performing. Whether I though I did good or bad I would always receive complements from members of the audience. One thing that I did discover is that I could never get rid of the feeling of stage fright, but I could control it. As long as you do not let the feeling overtake you and control you then everything will be fine. Know that at some point and time that you are going to mess up and the nice thing is that the audience will never know if you cover it and keep going. It sounds like you need to lighten up on yourself (easier said than done) and just make sure that you practice. There will be times that you will not like how you performed, but you need to ask yourself who are you performing for? The audience, or yourself. If you are doing it for yourself then why bother performing on stage.

Answer 4

People come to see you and will do the effort to be there, so the best is that you do all the effort to give everything you have in your performing.
Many actors/ singers take a drink before they go up(it helps and is good for the voice whiskey or cognac) but don't over do because they don't like a drunk person on stage and that's why also so many famous are alcoholic.
Stage fright is part of a performance don't let it overtake just perform, the stage on that moment is yours, keep that in mind.

Answer 5

I think what has gotten me over stagefright is knowing that it's a natural feeling, one that almost everyone has. I used to have some stagefright, but it's disappeared over time. If you've already appeared before an audience, you're ahead of the game.

Also, if you want to be a performer in the future, you should look at tomorrow's performance as a valuable opportunity, one that will make you better and stronger, no matter how well you do. Even if you don't become a performer, public speaking is one of the most valuable skills you can have.

As long as you're prepared and have practiced, I think you'll do great!

Answer 6

This is my favorite question to answer because I feel that I can relate to the questioner the best. I myself have stage fright; horrible stage fright. I get chills, I get sick, all the time before a show. I know you;ve probably heard this alot, but ignore the audience. The more you concentrate on your character, the more your stage fright will lessen.

Despite my killer stage fright, I can't stay away from it. Never let your nerves get to you. Just remember that your great, and you know what your doing. No one in the audience is there to see you screw up, and even if you do, improvise to make it look as if nothing happened.

I hope all goes well for you tomorrow and knock um dead!!

Answer 7

You don't have "stage fright": You are insecure, as most people are when "required to perform". Performing for people who don't know anything about you is much harder than performing in front of people who know you.

You are prepared, you know your lines, immerse yourself into the character you are protraying, whether it is Scarlett O'Hara, Marilyn Monroe, Al Pacino, Robert Mitchum, Jim Morrison, or a mass murderer.

I always wanted to be an actor; but, was too shy and insecure to pursue a theatrical career. My chosen vocation was a public school teacher, where I get to "act" every day. I am "performing" before a captive audience, an audience that is dependent upon my evaluation of them!

Don't "sell yourself short". "Step up to the plate" and give a performance you know you are capable of; one your audience will applaud!

Answer 8

1) Everyone and every time feels stage fright regardless their years on stage;
2) Good acting is precisely that - ACTING. From the very first step onto the stage fill your mind and your time with small concrete ACTIONS aimed to achieve small concrete objectives;
3) When you see the audience imagine them all naked - that should help. (this also works for public speakers).

Good luck.

Answer 9

Just don't look eye to eye with your audience. The key is to look just above the heads, and concentrate only on what you have to do, not on your audience's reaction.

Do some breathing exercises just before you reach the stage, so that you don't hyperventilate.

You will be find. Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

lol i get huge stage frights behind stage lol feel like am gonna pee in my pants lol lol lol but once i get on stage it just naturally disappears and i dance my heart out and the claps and screams of the audience after that is so amazing that feeling. i guess just imagine that your alone and your gonna take on the role of whatever ur gonna be and change it into a dream and become that person and try not to look at the crowd i use to have this few bitches that were so jealous of me in high sch they wud sit right in front and scream mean stuff but since i ignored them the crowds joy after my performance made them faces turn red muahahahhahaha that was my main goal of performaing well to make em even more jealous than they already were lol