How to handle stage-fright & nervousness.

[broadwayaddict2]

Posted: 11/10/08 at 1:50am

Hi, everybody...

I was wondering what is the best way to deal with stage-fright and nervousness before going on to a show. For me, I tend to get it before almost every show I do, and, for the most part, it really doesn't affect my performance. At times, it affects me to the point that I tend to miss my lines and blank out.

Does stage-fright / nervousness ever go away as you become more experienced? If not, how do you best control it when you're out there performing?

[geekgirl06]

Posted: 11/10/08 at 2:35am

My best advice is just to perform more and more. For me, it hasn't gone away. Everytime I go onstage, my legs start shaking like crazy. But I make sure to be 110% confident with my lines, and I just follow my instincts and focus on the scene, not what I'm doing. If I become the character then I wouldn't have stage fright, because the character is not on stage! So while my body reacts normally to my presence on stage, I have become a totally different character in my mind, and I don't even notice the fear until I get off-stage.

[dramadude2]

Posted: 11/12/08 at 11:56pm

It's natural to feel anxiety or tension before performing. If you have none at all, it generally means that you don't care, which is not good. But everyone feels a bit of nervousness I would have to agree with Geekgirl and say just perform more and more. Take every oppuortunity you have to perform. Try to take classes that are specificaly performanced based to give yourself more opportunities.

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 10:39am

Channel it.

[MikesBarto2002]

Posted: 11/13/08 at 5:43pm

I suffer from nervous stomach, and every day that I would wake up with an audition, it would hit hard. But there were ways to deal with it.

First, I would sit on my floor Indian-style and do some deep breathing. It sounds lame, but it really did work.

I also found that drinking something soothing that reminded me of relaxing helped a lot (not alcohol, obviously). My drink of choice -- green tea! Not only is it really good for you (lots of antioxidants), but the warmth of the liquid helps soothe the vocal chords.

And, of course, I always got nervous, especially when I felt a little under-prepared for the audition, so make sure that you can do everything in your book backwards and forwards without having to practice a lot before hand.
Schools for Theatre

[tinysinger87]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 12:34pm

I used to ALWWWWAYS drink green tea. With lots of honey because when I get nervous I get dry mouth (greeaaat for singing)

[jessica0414]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 4:24pm

This might sound lame, but...

I just started taking voice lessons this semester. We have several "Musicales" and one "Jury" to perform (solo) at each semester. I've never performed in front of people before, and I kept getting really nervous. I still get really nervous, but before it's my turn to go I always take deep breaths and think to myself "Heidi Blickenstaff says she has stage fright and she was/is on Broadway! If she can get up in front of all those people I can sing in front of my voice class!" Works for me *shrug* lol it's super cheesy but hey.

Updated On: 11/14/08 at 04:24 PM

[SamanthaisFierce]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 7:37pm

Well if you're not nervous before a show or audition it means you don't care. But once you're on stage, BREATHE. Actors forget they can breathe while acting...yes...just as deep as when you sing.

I recommend taking a tremoring class. It helps actors channel deep breathing in scene work and performing.

[cello_dude]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 7:05pm

Potassium helps ALOT of people. Try having a banana or 2 before you go on. It really works!

[Icandefygravity]

Posted: 11/20/08 at 9:54pm

try what works for me: go out there thinking "hey, no ones judging me. i already auditioned and got in, there's no way i can fail this! I have the courage to get on stage infront of people. i can do this!" sometimes, i even write the names of 3 inspirational actors/singers on my hand, and if i get nervous, i just remember that i can do what they do. cheesy, but it works. :)

[SamanthaisFierce]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 12:07am

I did a master class with Danny Gurwin and he said every single night before Astonishing, Sutton would be like, "Danny..I can't do it. I'm not going to I can't. AH" and every night she went out there and belted her face off like a pro.

See. Even Sutton Foster gets nervous. hahaha

[wizard2joe]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 12:46am

When i get stage fright usally my legs starts to shake really badley and im not kinding.I usally get really nervous in my first scene but after that im fine but you will have to keep on doing more shows and get used to it and you will be fine probally
and try not looking at the audience too much but im not saying dont ever look at them but look at the back wall on the back that always works for me.

[Xaya]

Posted: 11/21/08 at 8:18am

Stage fright makes me want to pee... badly.

It doesn't matter if I went 10 times before the show, so I just remember it's all just in my head and that it will go away once I'm actually on stage.