Some Tips for Overcoming Stage Fright...

[Torch]

At times when I did not feel self-confident, I pretended (within my mind) to be a different musician. For example, I have a strong admiration for the talent and humor of guitarist Paul Gilbert. Sometimes, I pretended that I was HIM onstage...and THAT ALONE made me feel more confident. Along with that, I pretend that the audience sees me as being THAT musician who I am prending to be.
However, I rarely feel stage fright anymore. I have developed a lot of self-confidence. Typically, people in the audience are there to be entertained. So I say, go onstage and deliberately enjoy yourself. Move to the beat just as dancers do. Smile! It's a simple gesture and positive. Incorporate a little bit of humor in your facial expressions or your moves. Wander over my your fellow musicians and "jam" with them.
If a drink or two will loosen you up, then go for it, but know your limits. Never sacrifice the quality of your performance by over-imbibing. Nobody like to see a falling-apart drunk onstage.
My final piece of advice is....wear sunglasses. I have heard some musicians say that they wear sunglesses onstage for the sake of "hiding". If that's the case, it's an easy disguise. Furthermore, a classy choice choice in style of sunglasses can "up" your cool factor onstage.

[Kolstad]

Thanks for a thread on this subject, Anthony!

I feel pretty much like Stuart, having more trouble when fronting.
Might be because I feel more like a session musician, but I do write a lot of songs now and need to get up there once in a while.

I've had a couple incidents with high stress levels in my day job, and that seem to have affected my memory when performing on stage, so I have huge trouble remembering lyrics. Playing guitar is different, because the song seem to be memorized in the hands, in a more physical way, and even if I miss something, I can always improvise myself out of trouble. Doesn't work the same with lyrics.. so it's not really about confidence in the first place for me, allthough it's getting there.. *sigh*

[thekman]

Nice post Anthony!

Good to see you on the forum and getting your tips rolling.

See you in November

[michael11]

Vodka!

[coachdebra]

As a speaker, I also deal with stage fright and I got a wonderful tip from another speaker:
When you perform, you are channeling spirit (God, the Universe - fill in your word here). Stage fright is actually just spirit asking for a wider channel. So, just breath and open yourself to allow the energy to flow through you.

I love that and use it every time I speak. Just breath and open yourself up as a conduit for the energy to flow through you. In other words - get your ego out of the way and allow yourself to really give to your audience.

Also, remember this - when you're in the audience, aren't you totally rooting for the person on the stage to be good? Remember that your audience is rooting for you. They want a good show; they want to see you win. So, let go and have fun!

[deankripp]

Hi,

my name is Dean

I'm a fearoholic...



...actually, almost twenty years ago I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder - along with a bunch of other disabling mental stuff... If your stage fright is annoying - cool, you'll find a way to work through it........, but if anyone reading this thread has fear that leans toward disabling you might want to take a look at some of the cognitive therapy stuff that I have put up on JoePanic.com (a website I started about ten years ago to help people trying to recover from anxiety and depression.... the psychological part of anxiety/depression recovery steps are very similar)....

...there was a time when my fear was so intense I could not come out of my house... these days, not only can I make it out of my house, I can go anywhere do most anything and stuff like performing on stage and speaking in public are a breeze....

...you can teach yourself to be calm on stage... it takes practice and clear, undistorted thinking, but it can be done

HTH

dean

[cardell]

As a speaker, I also deal with stage fright and I got a wonderful tip from another speaker:
When you perform, you are channeling spirit (God, the Universe - fill in your word here). Stage fright is actually just spirit asking for a wider channel. So, just breath and open yourself to allow the energy to flow through you.

Wow, the truth of this statement is resonating with me. In other words, I can tell this is true...great tip, thanks so much Debra!

Stuart

[cardell]

...if anyone reading this thread has fear that leans toward disabling you might want to take a look at some of the cognitive therapy stuff that I have put up on JoePanic.com (a website I started about ten years ago to help people trying to recover from anxiety and depression.... the psychological part of anxiety/depression recovery steps are very similar)....

Oh wow, this is gold, thanks Dean!!

You're talkin' my language here.

Stuart

[AnthonyCeseri]

Thanks for a thread on this subject, Anthony!

I feel pretty much like Stuart, having more trouble when fronting.
Might be because I feel more like a session musician, but I do write a lot of songs now and need to get up there once in a while.

I've had a couple incidents with high stress levels in my day job, and that seem to have affected my memory when performing on stage, so I have huge trouble remembering lyrics. Playing guitar is different, because the song seem to be memorized in the hands, in a more physical way, and even if I miss something, I can always improvise myself out of trouble. Doesn't work the same with lyrics.. so it's not really about confidence in the first place for me, allthough it's getting there.. *sigh*

Thanks, man - the trick for lyrics, is really to focus in on the emotion of your song. So many times we start to think "okay, what's the next line?" when we're onstage, when we don't normally think that way, because the fear forces us to. But if you focus your mind on the emotion, and what the lead character is experiencing, forgetting lyrics tends to go away... because now you're involved in the story...

That was a great tip I learned from Steven Memel who presents at the Raod Rally... : )

[AnthonyCeseri]

Nice post Anthony!

Good to see you on the forum and getting your tips rolling.

See you in November

hey dude!... thanks! nice to see a familiar face on here too