Don't Let Stage Fright Hold You Back

You might be one of those artists that loves what they do, but every time you find yourself under those stage lights you get a little weak in the knees. How is it that you can perform the piece of music so confidently in the rehearsal space and when you step out onto the stage you find yourself with butterflies in your stomach? Relax. You certainly aren’t alone. Many performers find that stage freight is a problem that rears its ugly head whenever they have an audience.

This doesn’t mean that you should give up the thing that you are passionate about. Chances are that the more that you perform the less you will be bothered by issues of stage freight, although you may always feel a few jitters at the beginning of the performance. These feelings are completely natural. There are also some handy tips that you can implement that may help to ease some of your fears so that you are able to look forward to a performance rather than feel a certain sense of dread.

Sometimes becoming familiar with a space will make you feel more at ease with performing. If you can get there early, get familiar with the building and the stage you might feel less out of place and improve your confidence level. Many performers develop pre-show routines that help them to focus and calm nerves. Perhaps reciting your lines, running over the problem spot in the music, or practicing your introductory speech will help you feel more confident. Some people find that taking a walk around the backstage area helps to eliminate jittery energy too. Often once you begin your performance you will be able to relax and remember why you undertook this opportunity in the first place.