This article was co-authored by Ben Whitehair and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Ben Whitehair is a Social Media Expert and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TSMA Consulting. With over a decade of experience in the social media space, he specializes in leveraging social media for business and building relationships. He also focuses on social media’s impact on the entertainment industry. Ben graduated summa cum laude from The University of Colorado at Boulder with BAs in Theatre and Political Science as well as a Leadership Certificate. In addition to his work as CIO, Ben is a certified business and mindset coach and National Board Member of SAG-AFTRA. He is also a successful entrepreneur as the Co-Founder of Working.Actor, the premier business academy and coaching community for actors.
There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Dry mouth, nausea, clammy and shaking hands. Are you sick? Not exactly. You have stage fright. Performing in front of an audience can be scary. Whether you’re acting in a play, giving a speech, or presenting a slide show, the pre-performance jitters can creep up on you. But you’re not alone. Every performer experiences stage fright at least once in their lives, and they’ve come up with plenty of tips and tricks to help you overcome it. After reading our article, you’ll know how to get in front of that audience feeling a million times better!
Things You Should Know
- Move your body to shake off those nerves by going for a walk, dancing around, or shimming your body before you step on stage.
- Make time in your performance day routine to relax and sit with your thoughts.
- Kick the fear of failure to the curb by practicing every day by yourself or in front of a rehearsal audience.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionI'm worried that everyone will know I'm nervous. What should I do?Ben WhitehairBen Whitehair is a Social Media Expert and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TSMA Consulting. With over a decade of experience in the social media space, he specializes in leveraging social media for business and building relationships. He also focuses on social media’s impact on the entertainment industry. Ben graduated summa cum laude from The University of Colorado at Boulder with BAs in Theatre and Political Science as well as a Leadership Certificate. In addition to his work as CIO, Ben is a certified business and mindset coach and National Board Member of SAG-AFTRA. He is also a successful entrepreneur as the Co-Founder of Working.Actor, the premier business academy and coaching community for actors.
Acting CoachBill Hader talks about how he used to be so nervous he would throw up every single time before he went on Saturday Night Live. But if you watch him, you don't think, "Oh, I bet he was so nervous." It's actually possible to feel nervous and have the audience not experience that. They might see you as very confident, even if inside you're freaking out. -
QuestionWhat can I do before an acting performance to calm down?Ben WhitehairBen Whitehair is a Social Media Expert and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TSMA Consulting. With over a decade of experience in the social media space, he specializes in leveraging social media for business and building relationships. He also focuses on social media’s impact on the entertainment industry. Ben graduated summa cum laude from The University of Colorado at Boulder with BAs in Theatre and Political Science as well as a Leadership Certificate. In addition to his work as CIO, Ben is a certified business and mindset coach and National Board Member of SAG-AFTRA. He is also a successful entrepreneur as the Co-Founder of Working.Actor, the premier business academy and coaching community for actors.
Acting CoachI'm a big fan of mantras for meditation. The exact mantra will be based on the individual, but having a personal mantra that you can repeat to yourself before going on stage or camera can be really helpful. -
QuestionHow can I make my nerves completely go away before going on stage?Ben WhitehairBen Whitehair is a Social Media Expert and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TSMA Consulting. With over a decade of experience in the social media space, he specializes in leveraging social media for business and building relationships. He also focuses on social media’s impact on the entertainment industry. Ben graduated summa cum laude from The University of Colorado at Boulder with BAs in Theatre and Political Science as well as a Leadership Certificate. In addition to his work as CIO, Ben is a certified business and mindset coach and National Board Member of SAG-AFTRA. He is also a successful entrepreneur as the Co-Founder of Working.Actor, the premier business academy and coaching community for actors.
Acting CoachSee if you can channel that nervous energy somewhere as opposed to trying to make it go away, which generally doesn't work. What we resist persists. If you're just trying to make your nerves go away, that may not be as effective as embracing your nervousness and channeling it into your performance.
References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456
- ↑ http://operationmeditation.com/discover/four-ways-how-to-overcome-stage-fright/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6366876/
- ↑ https://dbp.theatredance.utexas.edu/content/shake-out
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-willpower/200910/change-your-posture
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/how-to-stop-worrying.htm
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/nerves.html
- ↑ https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/performance-anxiety
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4814782/
- ↑ https://nationalsocialanxietycenter.com/social-anxiety/public-speaking-anxiety/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/UfLLm-TR_fM?t=102
- ↑ https://www.fords.org/blog/post/strategies-for-students-overcome-stage-fright-in-public-speaking-or-performance/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/specific-phobias/expert-answers/fear-of-public-speaking/faq-20058416
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yYkwSJsyo2s?t=64
About This Article
To overcome stage fright, try exercising for 30 minutes before your performance, which can release tension and help you feel less nervous. You can also try meditating for 15-20 minutes to relax your body and calm any racing thoughts you're having. Even just chewing gum, stretching, or humming right before your performance can relieve tension and steady your voice. To help with any nervous feelings in your stomach, try eating a banana before you go on stage, which can help calm your stomach without making you feel full. To learn how to overcome anxiety for a speech or presentation, scroll down!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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