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Stage Fright.
Everytime I am on center stage, for playing an instrument, singing, acting, auditions, giving a speech in front of my class, whatever.... I get soooo nervous. My feet shake, my hands shake so hard it's hard to hold papers or instruments steady and they get really cold. Sometimes I get this nervous twitch above my lip. I don't know any way to get rid of it! And I can't just avoid the stage, because even though I get nervous, I really want to perform. Ugh.
Help!
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Maybe give some free advice about: Theater?
first of all u need to take a deep breath. lol. i am a stage girl and i know what its like to be nervous. all u need to think about is that when ur on stage or saying a report ur not being urself, ur being someones else(on stage) and ur being ur own words (during a report). just think of it like that. so if ur worried about being made fun of, they have no right to make fun of u because ur playing a part or presenting to them. just take a few large breaths before u go on stage or before u speek in front of a class and give the audience a HUGE SMILE!!!! *hope i helped*
*::shannon::*
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I used to have the same probLem. Sometimes i stiLL do. But whenever im performing or speaking i just keep in mind that whatever i do, they're not gonna BOO me off stage. Just take a deep breath, get your mind off who's watching you, and focus on what you're doing. And just give it your best shot!
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I am the same exact way. I don't present papers in school...they ask me if I want to because I am sooo nervous and I just say no. There were times I felt like I was almost going to faint. A few years ago I also thought how great it would be to be an actress but now I say no...hehe. It's just not my thing...but it IS fun to do when my cousin and I are acting for fun at home or something.
Are you old enough to get a job yet? Or do you have a job or are looking for one. Because my sister and my brothers friend said that working at the movies and at supermarkets helps them out a lot because they get used to being around people and striking up conversations with them.
THey said it REALLY helps because they both are really shy around people too.
I have to get out of this...I know how you feel...only I'm really bad and I'm sure I can give you more advice and stories about it if you email me!
*smile*
~*!*~GeSsYkA~*!*~
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Well, I have the same problem sometimes. I have a good voice, and when I was in a summer camp this past summer, and there was a talent show with a lot of people watching. I did three skits with my friends. One of them was solo. I was singing a song (into a microphone) and I was SO nervous that I was shaking, too. I really love to sing and be on stage, but I hate to be nervous. I mean, come on, who does? Anyways, my dad told me once before that when the nervous thing starts to come up, don't look at the audience. Try to avoid them. Pretend that they aren't even there! Or if you want it to seem like you are looking at them, don't look at them straight in the eye's; look above their heads! It works, I'm serious!
I hope this helps you and your stage fright!
~~~Shasta~~~
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Well this is very commen to most people, but not everyone has it*COUGH*COUGH*POLLY*. The best way to get rid of this is to imagine yourself in the crowd before you're about to talk, sing, etc. Think that if you were sitting there and there was someone about to sing what would YOU think. I mean of course nobodys gonna say that you did bad they'll look up to you that you were brave!
-shay :-)
Oh Polly, not everyone has this. I dont! SPEAK 4 YOURSELF!
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What you're describing is a typical case of performance anxiety. Although there are many reasons for it's manifestation, it could be quite simply a product of your eagerness to do well, or your fear of making a mistake. I know this will be wuite long and I do apologize, but I hope that it comtains something that may be of use to you. Please let me know.
If you do not suffer particularly from performance anxiety, count yourself privileged. Anxiety in moderation can be a good thing, helping you to focus all your energy on the task in hand. Clearly, though, if you feel especially uncomfortable when playing or singing (or conducting...) in front of an audience, your performance will suffer.
There are countless ways of coping with the stress of performing, some of which work better for some people than for others. Some have suggested pre-performance exercises of various sorts, from deep breathing to meditation to screaming (quietly if necessary!). Also suggested were longer-term techniques such as the Alexander Method.
Many people suggested (temporary) dietary changes as a means of calming nerves prior to a performance. Indeed, one of the most popular remedies would appear to be the humble banana. Eat a couple of these before you perform and you'll have no problems (or so I'm told) - apparently they contain some sort of natural beta-blocker.
Now for the serious stuff. A number of performers have advocated the use of various drugs as surefire ways of reducing/avoiding anxiety. While it is certainly true that drugs can be effective, it is equally true that their misuse can be highly dangerous. Never use anxiety-reducing drugs unless medically directed.
Beta blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal in the US), block the body's response (reaction) to adrenaline. Propranolol is well recognized as effective in reducing performance anxiety. It is one of the safest drugs ever developed, having been in use for treatment of high blood pressure, angina pectoris, and hyperthyroidism for more than 20 years. Unfortunately, beta blockers have at least one potentially fatal side effect: they will worsen the severity of asthma attacks and may precipitate an attack in an otherwise well controlled asthmatic. Persons with heart failure or mild degrees of heart block should usually not take beta blockers, as they can worsen these problems. Propranolol is supplied both in straight tablet form (taken every 6 to 8 hours) and in a long acting (LA) formulation, so be sure to find out from the prescribing physician how soon before a performance to take the medication.
Corticosteroids, such as Prednisone, work by reducing inflammation through suppression of immune responses. A number of side-effects have been attributed to use of such drugs, including thinning of the skin and redistribution of fatty tissue. Short term use of these drugs (a few days to a couple of weeks) will not usually have such adverse effects, though, given the suppression of immune response, corticosteroids should never be taken when suffering from a bacterial or viral illness.
A book on the subject of performance anxiety which comes highly recommended is `Stage Fright; its causes and cures, with special reference to violin playing' by Kato Havas.
Good luck.....and break a leg ;)
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Just calm down and picture yourself performing by yourself. Imagine you are in a room by yourself just performing, don't be nervous. Picture there being no audience, just relax. Or picture everyone in their underwear!
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Close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine that the stage is empty and that this is just another practice that you would have to give your best shot. Sign up on any musical, theatrical or talent event whenever you can because once you get used to getting up on stage, you'll eventually ease up and not get a nervous breakdown when you perform. Goodluck!
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First, I'm not sure if you're looking at the audience, but don't do it. Or if you have to, look at a friend.
It also helps to eat lightly for a day or so before you're going to be onstage. The day of most performances I was in, I'd have a bagel (instead of bacon and eggs) for breakfast, a salad and a thing of yogurt (instead of pizza) for lunch, and a small dinner.
Take a couple of deep breaths and tell yourself you're pushing all the bad things out every time you exhale. It sounds weird but it works.
Hope things go well for you.
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Hey I know the feeling I used to get it when it when I was asked to read. But lets start simple raise your hand more in class because that helps gain confidence. Second introduce yourself to people you don't know because believe it or not the more people you know and are friends with the easier it is to get up infront of people. And the third learn to block the people out, just think of them being around you not looking at you.
I hoped that helped you
Cspinoza1
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Get nervous ahead of time... get really really nervous. Worry about it days in advance.
No, really.
Get it out of your system.
The second you hit the stage - let it melt away.
If you worry at that point, you're only fucking yourself over.
Get it out of your system, and then when the moment arrives, just go for it and give it your all. You can worry again once you've left the stage.
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do you usually have someone sitting in the crowd that you know. If there is someone there that you know, have them sit in either the second or third row, preferably right in the middle, than when you are on stage giving a speech or preforming if you can find them and center your attention on them...Than everybody else kinda melts into the darkness around them...See if that works and let me know
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One girl I once had to present with got so nervous, she had to run out of the room or faint. Everyone, with a few exceptions, is born with a terror of being the focus of attention. I haven't gotten far enough in psychology to know why. ;/
This isn't necessarily a self-help problem. There are classes particularly for adults focused on teaching them how to speak and perform in public. It's a hardcore thing to overcome. The old tricks are the best--make eye contact with one person and pretend you're speaking or playing only to them; I hear it's easier in a dark theatre because the spotlight makes it so you only see the first couple rows of people, not hundreds; and focus on your topic or piece and what you know about it. If you can, don't even look at anyone and pretend you're talking to yourself.
I'm no public speaker, but there are multiple resources available to help you if you want to pursue this problem. If not you can just gradually get less nervous the more you do it (maybe).
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Here are some solutions:
You need to get into a certain mindset when you get on stage. You need to puff yourself up and be extremely over confident. Seriously, like pompous.
If you make yourself believe that you are better than everyone who is watching you then it wont matter how badly you do, because well, those little people dont matter.
Practice a LOT and in front of people you know really well and are comfortable with. Rehearse over and over and over again with these people, and when you get to the audition or performance, try to pretend that you are only in front of those people.
Try to impress. If you concentrate on being the biggest superstar since sliced superstarbread (yea I dont know) then you will appear more confident even if you are super nervous.
Just focus on what you are doing. If you are playing an instrument - visualize the notes and concentrate on those. Dont look at the audience.
If all else fails - look at the back wall. Directly at it.
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