Don't let stage fright keep you from performing.
Stage fright can cause undue stress and tension in a person. If you're in the grip of stage fright, your heart may race, your hands may shake and your throat and mouth may become dry. Don't let this happen to you. Get a grip on your stage fright and learn to relax. Fortunately, there are things you can do to deal with the stress and anxiety from stage fright.
Instructions
1. Practice your material. It doesn't matter if you are singing, dancing or giving a speech. You need to know your material well and feel comfortable presenting it. Practice every day to gain the confidence you need to manage your stress about performing.
2. Exercise to relieve stress and anxiety. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise can raise your self-confidence and lower anxiety, so exercise at least three or four times a week with an activity you enjoy, such as walking, hiking, running or bike riding. You will feel calmer and more relaxed over time. Take a walk around the block before your performance to relieve your stage fright.
3. Use breathing exercises to control your stress and anxiety. Practice at home by inhaling through your nose for two seconds. Then exhale through your mouth for four seconds. Continue doing this for at least 15 minutes to induce a serene, relaxed state. Do this breathing exercise right before your performance to calm your nerves and slow your heart rate.
4. Practice visualization exercises every day to help you associate the performance with happy thoughts, not panic. Close your eyes and visualize the audience smiling and clapping for you. Feel the sense of peace and harmony that comes over you when you perform. If you get nervous during the performance, close your eyes for a second and imagine the audience's happy faces.
