Luck Is Luck

Whether it be singing, stage performance, lecture, or other types of public speaking, anyone who regularly goes in front of a crowd or group of people can testify to the level of anxiety or stage fright that overcomes a performer just before going on stage. As you go over in your mind what you think is going to happen during the performance, your heart starts to race, your breathing rate increases, your hands start to get all clammy. Many call it stage fright, others might only get some pre performance jitters. Even the greatest, most world-renowned performers and singers attest to still getting that rush of anxiety and emotion just before going up on stage. Here are some good techniques for overcoming pre performance anxiety.

Start with the End in Mind

Prior to getting up in front of a crowd, envision putting on a great performance and experiencing all the joy and pleasure you will feel afterward from knowing you put on an excellent performance. Focus on the rush of emotion you will experience afterward more than on the details of your actions during a given performance. This will aid in alleviating anxiety beforehand, allowing you to more effortlessly enter that state of flow as you move into your presentation.

Look at the Spot Just Above Your Audience’s Heads

This technique may sound a bit strange at first, but it plays right into part of the human psyche. During times of anxiety or fear, it is often a natural reaction to tend to avoid eye contact with the person or group from which that anxiety is stemming. When in that stage fright phase, avoiding eye contact with your audience is a natural reaction, but this will immediately diminish the effectiveness of your performance or presentation.

A great way to overcome this obstacle is to look right above your audience’s heads as you begin and you’re first up on stage. This gives the audience the appearance that you are looking directly into their eyes, allowing for that crucial sense of connection. As you progress through your performance and your anxiety begins to subside, you can gradually transition to looking in your audiences faces and eyes, which will allow you to experience the emotions taking place within your audience.

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