Your heart is pumping so fast and adrenaline is at its best, your stomach is full of butterflies, you are scared of being on stage. Don’t let your stage fright take control. Here are five tips to gain self confidence:
1. Take a Deep Breath
You can deal with any kind of panic or fear by controlling your breath. The best way is to take a deep breath inhaling through your nose and exhaling via your mouth. You will be able to concentrate on breathing rather than being nervous, thus reducing the degree of stage fright. Try doing activities that train you how to control your breath like yoga.
2. Rehearse
Practice makes one perfect. If you are going to read a speech, rehearse it over and over until you gain the confidence of going on stage and reading without trembling. Get a sneak preview of how events will happen on that particular day so that you know when it is your time to go on stage.
3. Own the Stage
There are no set rules for how you should behave on stage. This is your time, your show and your stage. Endeavor to be comfortable and natural while on stage. You can move around and do anything that you feel is working for you. Utilizing your stage the way you find right will lift the burden of fear off your shoulders and the audience will interact more with you.
4. Smile
Your physiology has a great impact on your mental state. If you always look down on yourself, then you will feel low most times. What you do is what determines how you feel. Overcome your fear by smiling and pretending that you are actually okay and you actually enjoy your presence on stage.
5. Give Yourself a Break
To conquer stage fright, crack jokes or do something that will make people laugh. If you are singing and you have forgotten your lines, do not stop. If you have a live band, let the band proceed as you recollect what words to sing.
About Debora Wondercheck
Debora Wondercheck is the Founder and Executive Director of the Arts and Learning Conservatory (A&L), a non-profit performing arts and theater school in Orange County, California. Debora and her husband Gary began A&L with one summer camp in 2004. Since then she has produced over 40 productions and helped create highly reputed music and theater acts. She loves inspiring and being inspired by children and works closely with parents, staff and community leaders to create a fun, unique and creative environment for all children.
