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Stage fright, or performance anxiety, is so common it’s actually rare to find a person who doesn’t have at least a little of it. Even being a professional performer doesn’t necessarily cure a person of it, and believe it or not, it can come and go in even the most confident performers. The good news is, it’s something that most anyone can handle.
So, without dwelling too much on it, let’s jump right into some tips for dealing with and preventing stage fright.
The better you are at your craft, be it piano, guitar, singing, or public speaking, the less afraid you’re likely to be. But even more than that, the more you put yourself out there, the more confident you’ll become, until nerves start to become a thing of the past. One thing to keep in mind: being comfortable on stage is a skill and it can get rusty if you don’t use it. So, get out there – open mics, public rehearsals, concerts, speeches at the grocery store – keep at it!
Being prepared means even more than just practicing. It also means having your ducks in a row for show time. Get set lists organized, properly pack gear, rehearse your whole set – be prepared. Another way to be prepared is to plan and practice how you’ll deal with problems like forgetting lyrics, dropping your drumsticks, and other things like it.
Obviously, you must breathe to sing or speak or even to live. But specifically, controlling your breath can control your fight or flight response. So, take time before the show to do some slow, diaphragmatic breathing. This will slow your heart rate and help you cultivate calm. You can do this during the show as well.
Some people may advise you to visualize your preferred outcome. This is a great thing to do on practice day, when you’re not nervous. On show day, let go of all that. Instead, let yourself know that no matter what happens, you’ll still be proud of yourself. Remember, one show is one show. NO performance will ever make or break you on its own, despite what you might have heard from the competition shows.
If you are feeling the nerves, don’t resist it, and don’t hide it. That will only make you more anxious, because what you’re most likely afraid of is being revealed. Instead, admit it, let it out, and/or turn it into excitement. “HELLO CHICAGO!!! MAN AM I JUICED UP AND EXCITED TO BE HERE! GOLLY I’M SHAKIN HERE! LET’S ROCK!!!” Crowd goes wild…
The last thing you want to focus on is whether the show is going alright or whether or not people like you. Instead, focus on the task at hand. If you’re feeling good and confident and you know your material in and out, then you can start to focus on the interaction with your audience. Is so and so smiling and dancing? Go up to them and have fun. Is it time for a call and response? Shout it out. If the material isn’t that automatic, no worries. Focus in on what you need to do to play it well, and not on yourself.
Yes, as musicians we want people to care. We want to move, touch, and inspire, and we certainly don’t want to go unnoticed. But the fact is in music as in life, people really aren’t thinking about you as much as you think. That means you have nothing to lose. If you mess up, move on. Nobody noticed. It may sound depressing, but it’s actually the perfect opportunity to relax, have fun and jam. And it turns out when you do that, people DO notice and they DO care – in a good way.
If you’ve practiced well and you’re well prepared, you may still find yourself a little nervous right at the beginning of the show, or beforehand. That’s ok. Just get started. If you’re nervous before the show, focus in on set up and sound check. If you’re shaking a bit before you start, just dive into the first bit of the show – before long the momentum will carry you and you’ll forget about your nerves.
It might seem like a few cold ones before a show will calm your nerves, and it’s not rare for musicians to use this trick. Let’s be honest – this can work – but it’s also a slippery slope. It’s pretty easy to overdo it, give a wonky or lackluster performance, and hurt your confidence in the long run. On the opposite end of the spectrum, caffeine will simply not help you on stage, especially if you’re already nervous. If your show is late and you want to make sure you’ve got the energy – a nap is a better idea than a coffee.
Stage fright may seem daunting, especially if you’re new to the game. But it’s very common, and a lot is known about getting past it. So, practice some our tips, come up with your own, and most of all, keep at it! It will get easier and easier, until you’re a fearless master. Do you have any tips that help you deal with stage fright? Let us know in the comment section below.
