How to Manage Stage Fright
Stage fright is the anxiety of looking stupid while speaking or performing. Among personal phobias that rank highly are stage fright and the fear of public speaking. Not many people are born orators or performers. There are certain people that love attention and are natural performers. It may surprise you how many of our most celebrated performers have to learn to manage stage fright. One of the most well known performers that has a problem with stage fright is Barbra Streisand. There is help available for stage fright sufferers and you can learn to manage it.
Almost all people will feel the effects of stage fright when performing. You must learn to not think about the audience when you are performing. If you have learned your song, the performance is your main concern, not what someone may think of you. It is best at first to not look any audience member directly in the eye for fear of losing your place or being distracted by their demeanor. A good tip is to look just above the heads of the audience sing as if you were singing to that place, not the floor, and they will think you are looking at them.
Your first selection should be one which you can always do without thinking, an easy one. Do not start with a piece you have to think hard about or one which requires a difficult technique to perform. Do the hard part when you are warmed up. If you do the right number at first, the audience will applaud and you will feel much better about the performance. Let small steps lead to larger steps.
With help, time and study all of us can learn to manage our worst fears; even stage fright. Stage fright is so difficult because we all want to be accepted and not fail. Learn how to manage stage fright and manage you own anxieties .