One of the most difficult challenges for an entertainer is working through the anxiety of performing in front of an audience. Here are some tips to help you stay cool, calm and collected.
• Be Prepared — When you know your music or script well, you are more likely to put to rest any fear of mistakes. Learn good practice skills including dissecting the notes, dynamics and the character or idea of the piece. Analyze, and try to find a connection with what you are performing.
• Reduce Stress — Everyone has different ways to reduce their stress. Prayer, yoga, meditation, exercise and deep breathing work for many folks. Find your own anxiety buster and practice it regularly.
• Practice Visualization — Visualize yourself relating well to an audience. They are interested in your performance and you are relaxed and performing well. When the curtain goes up, your mental image often becomes a reality.
• Use Positive Thinking — Instead of dreading your performance saying to yourself, “I am so nervous” or “I’ll never get those high notes,” try using positive thinking. Replace those thoughts with, “I am so excited” and “I know I can hit those high notes.”
• Focus on What You do Best — often we compare our talent with others, when it’s often like trying to compare apples and oranges. Don’t try and be someone you’re not. Find your own strengths and focus on them.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff – Even the pros admit that perfect performances are difficult to achieve. Recognize your mistakes, but don’t get stuck by focusing on them.
• Be Persistent – Don’t give up! An overnight success is extremely rare. It takes time for someone to become a president of a corporation. Setbacks can be learning tools. Hang in there, and success can be just around the corner.
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