[Here's an article I had to write for my school magazine]
Can you think of that kid - that one who just has that special something to go up on stage and rock the crowd like there’s no tomorrow? This talented someone who always seems to know what he/she is doing; who just has this way of always getting stuff right, no matter how many people are watching them. Don’t you just envy this lucky little (or maybe not) bugger? I know I do! We’ve all met or watched these kinds of people. They could be people we’ve seen on TV, at culturals, or maybe even that chirpy girl who sits next to you in class. Whoever it is, I know that at some point of time, all of us have wanted to be this person; we’ve craved for the spotlight or maybe just the satisfaction of knowing you were in front of a crowd and you totally hit the spot.
But let’s just forget all those ‘glorious’ examples for a moment, because here’s the catch; most of us will go faster than a bullet to the other end of the planet before we even consider stepping up in front of a crowd and showcasing our talents and creativity. Face it, the great majority of us are a dreadful wreck when it comes to performing or speaking on stage. And whether we like to hide it under the rug or not, the problem is that a lot of us are plagued by something very familiar called ‘Stage Fright’. It’s that feeling you get when you’re made to stand up in front of a group of people- it’s like you’re being cornered by the angel of death, your throat goes dry, your mind goes blank, your heart is beating at a thousand beats per second and the world around you shatters into tiny little pieces. Well guess what? The last part doesn’t really happen, nor will the ground swallow you up (as much as you want it to at that point). The hilarious truth is that the world does NOT end the minute you make a mistake and you won’t be walking around with an oversized scar on your face that confines you to a life of ridicule.
You see, the bigger problem is that we don’t need to live with stage fright but most of us just can’t be bothered to shrug it off. Any of us can do it. All it takes is an itsy-bitsy ounce of will power, but finally it’s up to you. There are many ways to do it, but here are a few simple tips to help you overcome stage fright:
F- Face your fears. It’s a clear rule- know that you’re afraid, but also know that you’ll overcome it. Like I heard someone say, “Let it be, fear grows. Face it and it goes.” Sometimes, it’s as simple as just sucking it up and taking the plunge. Go for it, its okay if you mess up a little, taking your chances will definitely reduce your stage fright.
E- Experience it again and again. That’s very important, to gain some familiarity of going on stage. If you happen to pass out five times, chances are you won’t the sixth. (Uh…Don’t worry, I was just kidding.)
A-Assume imagine and act. Whatever works best for you; imagining the crowd naked, your favorite memory, or just thinking of your dog. The point is to use your imagination to your advantage and to make whatever situation you’re in more under control. It might seem silly at first but either way, you’d be doing the same. Only, usually, on the other hand, our beloved “sensible” and “realistic” smart alecks will waste their oxygen making up their own assumptions and predictions about how they look and what the audience thinks. So my advice to you is, for a second, just own the moment, forget about the audience, forget about messing up and just go with the flow.
R- Relax! This is probably the most important thing to do out of everything. Whatever it takes, just chill yourself out because the more anxious you are, the stupider you’re going to look and the more panicky you get, the more chances there are that you won’t think coherently during a performance or a speech. From inside, do your best to be calm and composed and most importantly, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. A lot of experts recommend listening to music or entertaining yourself before going on stage. Another crucial thing is to take care of the physical part too. I know it sounds like a load of bogus baloney, but the advice people give you to eat, exercise and sleep right is actually really important because a great part of fear is the bodily reflexes. Keeping that under control is very important. Another thing you should remember is to take deep breaths and breathe properly to relax yourself more.
Most people have to live with having cold feet for going on stage but the bottom line here, literally, is that if there’s anything in the world that’ll scare of fright itself, it’s got to be you.
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'A lot of experts recommend listening to music or entertaining yourself before going on stage.'
Fully agree.
I used to sing June Ponal to myself, but then I discovered the ipod.
Good stuff. Full feelings.
Take on stronger topics, you'll do wonders.