Overcoming Stage Fright Or Pre-Performance Jitters.

Whether it be singing, stage performance, lecture, or other types of public speaking, anyone who regularly goes in front of a crowd or group of people can testify to the level of anxiety or stage fright that overcomes a performer just before going on stage. As you go over in your mind what you think is going to happen during the performance, your heart starts to race, your breathing rate increases, your hands start to get all clammy. Many call it stage fright, others might only get some pre performance jitters. Even the greatest, most world-renowned performers and singers attest to still getting that rush of anxiety and emotion just before going up on stage. Here are some good techniques for overcoming pre performance anxiety.

Start with the End in Mind

Prior to getting up in front of a crowd, envision putting on a great performance and experiencing all the joy and pleasure you will feel afterward from knowing you put on an excellent performance. Focus on the rush of emotion you will experience afterward more than on the details of your actions during a given performance. This will aid in alleviating anxiety beforehand, allowing you to more effortlessly enter that state of flow as you move into your presentation.

Look at the Spot Just Above Your Audience's Heads

This technique may sound a bit strange at first, but it plays right into part of the human psyche. During times of anxiety or fear, it is often a natural reaction to tend to avoid eye contact with the person or group from which that anxiety is stemming. When in that stage fright phase, avoiding eye contact with your audience is a natural reaction, but this will immediately diminish the effectiveness of your performance or presentation.

A great way to overcome this obstacle is to look right above your audience's heads as you begin and you're first up on stage. This gives the audience the appearance that you are looking directly into their eyes, allowing for that crucial sense of connection. As you progress through your performance and your anxiety begins to subside, you can gradually transition to looking in your audiences faces and eyes, which will allow you to experience the emotions taking place within your audience.

Avoid Substances that May Increase Your Stage Fright

One way we as humans go about reaching a change in state is to consume. Eating food, consuming alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or taking in other substances are all ways to instantly achieve a change in state. When you're experiencing stage fright and pre performance jitters, one of the things our minds immediately desire is a quick change in state. Substances such as alcohol or cigarettes may give you that state change you desire, but they are absolutely horrible for your vocal chords and will ultimately dull your senses and diminish the effectiveness of your presentation. Coffee and other stimulants cause over stimulation within the brain, which will also leave you empty and less sharp.

Work Your Way Up to the Larger Audiences

Just like anything else, you have to crawl before you can walk, and you have to walk before you can run. If you're inexperienced with public speaking or public performances, try smaller venues until you get comfortable and then work your way up to bigger audiences. With each performance, you will grow and learn to control your emotions, which will make you stronger for bigger and better things.

Just keep in mind that you will never conquer the nervousness and anxiety that comes before going on stage. The world's greatest leaders and public speakers attest to always experiencing a bit of anxiety just before going on stage or in front of the cameras. The secret is to use these feelings to your advantage and put yourself into that hyper-aware state known as flow. Ultimately, the best way to overcome stage fright and pre performance jitters is to simply practice. The best confidence booster is just knowing that you've been there and done that before.

Read Vocal Domain to learn more about the subject of this article or other singing and performing techniques.

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