You stand frozen, the microphone placed before you, waiting for you to begin. All eyes are fixed upon you, taking in your trembling legs and the fear on your face. Nervousness and anxiety is crushing you under its weight. Well, wait! If you experience this, trust us, you’re not alone. But the good news is that you don’t have to.
We have some easy hacks that you can use to build confidence and perform with ease:
Visualize Success
You’re on the stage, you can see the beaming faces in the audience enjoying your performance, cheering for you. You give your best performance, engaging with the audience, looking at them and returning their smiles. Does it feel good? This is because your brain doesn’t differentiate between recollecting past memories or visualizing future events, and that makes visualization a powerful tool that can help you overcome stage fright. So, before the performance, take some time to visualize yourself giving your best performance. The more you see yourself succeeding, the more confident you'll feel.
Practice, Practice, Practice
The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel on stage. Make sure you practice your music until it becomes second nature. This will help you feel more comfortable and relaxed during your performance. You should rehearse in front of friends and family to get used to performing for people.
Focus on your breathing
Deep breathing can help you calm down and stay relaxed. Take a few deep breaths before you go on stage and throughout your performance to help you stay centered. This is because when you focus on your breath, you bring the attention to the present moment breaking the cycle of thoughts.
Use positive self-talk
Positive self-talk can help you calm your nerves and build confidence. Before you go on stage, tell yourself that you can do it and that you're well-prepared. Avoid negative thoughts and focus on the positive. Affirmations like “I can do this well,” “I am going to be amazing on stage” will act as reassurance and allay your fears.
Connect with your audience
Remember that your audience is there to enjoy your music. Try to connect with them by making eye contact, smiling, and engaging with them during your performance. This will help you feel more comfortable on stage and create a more enjoyable experience for your audience.
How can you help your child or friend build confidence?
As a friend or a family member of someone who may be struggling with stage fright, you can also help them build confidence:
Encourage them to practice regularly, and acknowledge their efforts. Because this will be an added motivation for them for further practice.
Provide positive feedback, when they perform for you because this will instantly make them feel more confident.
Constructive Criticism can help them become better but provide it with kindness and support so they don’t feel discouraged. Your criticism should not make them feel demotivated and that’s why it is important to remind them that mistakes are okay and crucial for progress.
Remember, stage fright can only be overcome with practice and persistence. Perform more and practice these tips to counter the nervousness. You can start small, perform in front of friends and family to build the foundation. Then gradually move to a larger audience until you feel confident that the stage is yours. And when you own your stage, you will perform your best.