By: TMA Team | May 23, 2022 1:00 AM

What Is Stage Fright?

Performing on stage in front of countless souls isn't easy. Haven't we all been there when we feel a creepy opposing force pounding in our hearts? Or perhaps you get an uncomfortable feeling in the stomach or sometimes a nauseating feeling? A dreadful fear of one inadvertent pause in the middle of our performance breaking our flow, and it's a game over phase for many of us. This creepy feeling of anxiety that you get before or while appearing in front of the audience is commonly called stage fright or performance anxiety.

How To Overcome Stage Fright?

Wondering how to stave off your stage fright and give your best performance on the stage? Frankly speaking, stage fright is not a joke. It can literally make your heartbeat race and vision blurry. But your performance doesn't have to be this way, full of fears and anxiety. You cannot let anything come between you and your passion for shining through as an actor. We have got some tried and tested techniques that performers over the years of their performance trajectory have shared.

So let's walk through the top 10 ways to overcome your stage fright.

10 Ways For Actors To Get Over Stage Fright

1. Clear the clutter in your mind:

A chaotic mind filled with negative thoughts makes it impossible to feel confident about yourself and your performance. Especially if you are a newbie in the acting world, you may feel immense pressure. Having scattered thoughts in your mind is a prime cause of having stage fright. So the first thing you do is clear all the clutter in your mind. Form a clear and positive intention. Focus on your goals and your performance. In this way, you will refrain from self-doubting your acting capabilities.

2. Take a deep breath:

Let out all your nervous energy by taking deep breaths. Purposefully, before going to the stage, close your eyes and then take deep breaths. It will help you to maintain your focus and relax your mind. It also helps to mitigate the anxiety cycles and allows you to remain calm.

3. Relax your body:

It is essential to let go of all the muscle tension building up inside your body. In a state of anxiety, we often tend to clench our fists and our jaws and even tense our shoulders. Your body becomes stiff and often disrupts the normal flow of blood. However, throw all the muscle tension by progressively relaxing your body. It can also benefit you by mentally shifting your focus from your fears. Instead of stressing out your brain with something negative, it would be a good idea to remain calm and relax your body.

4. Cut down your caffeine:

A morning latte is a routine for many of us. Caffeine or having any sugary drink might benefit you by giving an instant boost, but they can make you agitated. You might find it even more difficult to calm yourself. Just before your big moment, it is essential to choose an alternative healthy drink to boost your energy level and skip your latte for a day.

5. Make it early:

Arriving late will escalate your anxiety level. Make sure that you reach your destination early and acclimate to your new surroundings on your special day. It would be best to check your stage and the auditorium where you will be performing before the performance.

6. Practice:

We all have heard this over and over again. As cliche as it might sound, keep practicing to deliver your best performance without any stage fright. It would be excellent if you reach the auditorium early and rehearse on the stage to further exacerbate your nervousness.

7. Choose your focal point:

A favorite and clever strategy to redirect your nervous energy is to choose a focal point. Choose any random and far-off point at the back of the auditorium. While feeling anxious, use that point to let loose all your nervous tension. This is quite an amusing trick since it doesn't forcefully curb your anxiety but redirects it.

8. Use a prop:

Well, many of us are unfamiliar with the location where we will be delivering our performance; you can use some other prop. Many people use a pen and imagine throwing all their nervous energy toward it and putting it back. It gets easy to trick your brain that you have let loose all your negative energy.

9. Visualize getting through your performance:

Instead of giving yourself unnecessary stress of performance and holding yourself in the manacles of self-doubt, you can do something positive. Imagine getting through your performance and making the audience happy. Visualize the audience applauding your performance. This will make things less stressful.

10. Give yourself a pep talk:

No one can motivate you better than yourself. Before your performance, give yourself a pep talk and encourage yourself to bring out your best acting capabilities. Make yourself realize that stage fright and fears are only a negative force in your mind. Change the negative narrative that goes in your head into a positive narrative. Start thinking, what if I actually impress the audience. A positive affirmation can help you with tackling your stage fright in the best possible ways.

Summing It All Up:

Stage fright is real and especially for aspiring actors who are trying to make it big through their performance on stage. If you are aiming to transform yourself from an average stage performer to a potential rising global star, it is essential to recognize your weaknesses, flaws, and fears and overcome them. Our top ten techniques will help you combat your fears in the best way. You can strategically and systematically start practicing all of these techniques before any performance. We hope that our guide helps you combat any kind of anxiety before your next performance. We hope that you deliver the back-to-back best stage performances in the times to come. Best wishes on your next stage performance!