Stage Fright

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 5:02pm

How do YOU get over it?

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 5:16pm

heehe *cough* about that, I have a *cough* totally normal way of getting over stage fright. I smell rotten garlics. its a very long story that I won't go into

[lovelyspotlight]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 6:16pm

I've started doing breathing exercises, both fast and slow. But you have to be a bit careful of the fast because if you're already nervous...you don't want to introduce another cause of possible hyperventilation. Anyway, I'm sure that wouldn't happen. Breathing is good. It calms me down a lot and helps me do whatever I need to do. =]

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 7:17pm

I definitely do breathing exercises and I give myself a little time to reflect and give myself a pep talk. I usually say things along the lines of "This is your time to show what you got" andf "You can do this." It really helps me focus and prepare.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 7:47pm

Just remember that the worst they can do is shoot you.

[StarStruckGB]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 7:58pm

I imagine I'm in a Broadway theatre and everyone is there to see me, and my favorite performer is front row center because we're super close like that...

Yeah I'm totally sane, I'm sure.

Breathing techniques are a definite. Also, my acting teacher told us once to try laying down, scrunching up all the muscles in your body gradually from your head to your feet, hold for 5 seconds, and then relax the muscles from feet to head, give yourself a shake and go.

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 8:04pm

Breathe. My first university show I had a song in the very beginning to start off the show and I was sweating bullets backstage, but I did a few breathing exercises and I was fine. Also there's the shake down that I always do religiously.

"Arm 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Leg 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Repeat arm and leg Hips 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Shoulders 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Head 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Whole Body 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Arm 2,3,4 Leg 2,3,4 repeat arm and leg Hips 2,3,4 Shoulders 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Head 2,3,4 Whole Body 2,3,4 Arm 2 Leg 2 repeat arm and leg Hips 2 Shoulders 2 Head 2 Whole Body 2 Arm Leg Arm Leg Hips Shoulders Head Whole Body Arm Leg Arm Leg Hips Shoulders Head Whole Body"

And a few vocal warm ups help too
"Give me the gift of a grip top sock a dip drape ship shape tip top sock not your spive slick slap stick slip slop stock but a plastic elastic grip top sock."

"Ohhh what a to do to die today at a minute or two till two. A thing distinctly hard to say yet harder still to do. For there'll beat a tattoo at twenty till two with a ratatatatatatoo. And the dragon will come when he hears the drum at a minute or two till two today at a minute or two till two.

Those are the things that I do.

[Becky2]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 8:40pm

I'm still trying to find out what cures my stage fright. I haven't found a cure yet, but the closest I've gotten is really odd. Most people calm themselves, but so far the best thing for me is to put pressure on me. I remember that I was most comfortable performing in two situations: when I'm surrounded by familiar energy; and when I'm competing against strong rivals. So what I tried to do was imagine I'm with the people who give out familiar energy, and that if I don't do well, Poland will get the World Championship.

But like I said, this hasn't really worked, it's just what has worked the most so far.

[kelley2]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 10:08pm

well one time i was watching Dane cook's show, tourgasm, (hahaha funny show) and he was saying that he doesn't think of the people he performs for an audience, he considers them just regular, every day people and relates them to himself or something so ever since i heard that, i just thought of that and i sing for people everyday now!

[ahmelie]

Posted: 1/1/07 at 10:26pm

I miss my stage fright, I haven't gotten it for about a year and I miss it.
I'm not kidding, appreciate it...

[justagirl2]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:41am

Updated On: 3/9/17 at 12:41 AM

[EmieMarie]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 12:59am

I have become such a showoff I forgot the last time I had stage fright, Only anxiety and excitement
I just think, "I know I am good, that's why I'm going on stage in one minute!" its all about self confidence

[trickedout22]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 9:25am

starstruck has a good one there. just think that everyone is there for you and thinks your the best thing on stage. Also, water helps me calm down and is good for your voice. =]

[The Wardrobe]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 10:25pm

meditation. either the calm, bottom of the lake style, or the Let everything hit and lett the flood waters in style. If you wanna know exactly how to do that PM me! (It's a pretty long explanation.)

[Dibbledl01]

Posted: 1/29/07 at 10:33pm

I do 3 things:

1. Stretch. Nerves and stomach aches are one thing, but the worst thing that could happen to you on stage is to show everyone that you are actually nervous, so streching gets rid of all the shaking and keeps your mind occupied.

2. Do not rehearse lines and dialogue for a long time. It drives you mad and will probably cause you to forget them when they count the most.

3. and my most important... Make the first step. The worst moments are right before you step on stage. Get hyper. get excited, but make sure you step on that stage and you completely change.

[Taryn]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 2:32am

I've never gotten nerves to the extend I would consider to be "stage fright." Why would I want to get rid of energy the situation is giving me? Focus it. Use it. But, again, I've never really gotten to the point of freaking out or anything. Just enough to keep me on my toes and give me a shot of adrenalin.
Updated On: 2/1/07 at 02:32 AM

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 5:42pm

I've performed so many times that I never really get stage fright anymore. When I used to get it though, I would just take deep breaths. I also would tense up every single muscle in my body before slowly releasing it. It really helped me relieve the tension I was feeling.

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 5:47pm

Well, either I knit.

Or I, as my mother and friends like to call it 'Diva out.'

I pace, think about my lyrics, freak out. Saying how I'm going to mess up and how bad I am la la la, and then finally go on stage and bam, done.

Probably not that great of a technique, but it works for me. And if I don't do it, well then, it's usually not a good thing.

[MarkRascati]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 8:28pm

Different things work for different people, but I usually get the most honest person I know, which is my friend(since he has no problem telling me what I suck at) to be as honest and harsh as possible, and this always seems to ground me, and makes me try harder and focus more on the performance rather than the dozens of people in the audience.

[Amneris]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 9:04pm

Just give yourself "points" for auditioning or performing.. I think to myself "okay, today you will get 5 points for auditioning for this" or I go in and think something horribly disgusting about the auditors.. and it helps lol. If you just think.. I dont give a damn about the people behind the table.. they are here to see me.. you will think about things in a different way and you will see that the shakes go away.

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 2/2/07 at 9:35am

Over the years i've acquired the ability to not even see the audience, that really helps me. Once I step on stage it's just me and whoever else is on stage, no body else.

I also never let anybody tell me when they're going to come see me because I know that it'll distract me and i'll start looking for them in the audience.

Updated On: 2/2/07 at 09:35 AM

[The Wardrobe]

Posted: 2/2/07 at 10:57am

Another thing I do is have a huge session where I just rehearse, but then, I stop and don't think about it, and I find I do okay. I have auditions for a show choir today and I'm using that method now. I used when I auditioned for a competition choir and I'm in the choir now. The more you rehearse, the more nervous you get.

[Prisoner 24601]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 12:36am

Well, I've noticed that when I'm actually prepared for an audition or performance, I'm not nervous. Whereas, if I wasn't completely solid on my lines or unsure of a piece of choreo, I'd tense up like crazy. My advice is simply to be as prepared as possible when you walk on stage. If you're unsure about an aspect of your part, it will show. If you're solid and confident, there's nothing to worry about.