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Due to a long break, I get butterflies flying in my stomach. The stage fear spoils the whole show. How to cope up with stage fear?
confidence. if you aren't confident in your ability to entertain, you will get nervous. just remember one thing, the people have come to see your band and to listen. that's it. so go have fun and do what you love to do just as if there wasn't anyone out there. if you have fun, the show will be fine
Thanks Pipeous for your suggestion. My band members too feel the same thing and they are confident about my singing ability and range. I need to practice and have a positive thought on stage.
I think back to a gig we did when I first started playing. our lead guitar player sang a song but an octave below what it was supposed to be. so we decided I should sing it. acdc tune. I didn't know the words so made cheat sheets and taped the paper near me with key words to help remind me... the light man was my best friend (bastard lol) and he saw I was struggling and I looked down to see the words, so the light man hits me with the chaser spot. I was blind... the line I didn't know was coming up... so I just started making up words... the lead guitar player is looking at me funny, all I could do was shrug and keep going. people were dancing... and you know only the people on stage really knew I had screwed up. after that I never even worried about it. just work through and it's all good. only the real hardcore fans will actually notice that stuff. we are our own worst critics at times
and dude, I have embarrassed myself on stage enough times to the point I don't get embarrassed for nothing anymore. even those bad times turn out to be pretty funny later
Due to a long break, I get butterflies flying in my stomach. The stage fear spoils the whole show. How to cope up with stage fear?
"It's OK to have butterflies in your stomach. Just get them to fly in formation." Helen Keller
A few tips from someone who was nervous onstage even in the company of a band, but who now plays solo and is fine in front of any size crowd:
1) the chemicals in your body that make you feel excited are exactly the same as the ones that make you feel anxious, nervous, or have "stage fright." Instead of thinking and saying that you are anxious or nervous about playing and performing, start saying and thinking that you are EXCITED about playing and performing. Don't think of the feelings as being bad, think of them as being good. Project them OUTward and not INward. Thats worth repeating .... project your energy and excitement OUT, not IN.
If you do this, you won't have to worry about making those butterflies go away ... just make them fly in formation as mentioned in the great quote in this thread.
2) Play as often as you can in front of small crowds, open mics, best friends, a video camera. Sometimes its even harder to play in front of friends than in front of strangers, but they will give you the support you need. The more you play out the more comfortable you will be.
3) Imagine that the people listening are enjoying what you are doing, instead of thinking they are scrutinizing or being critical. And you know what? Its not just your imagination!
I agree with Sound Dog! For years people would say 'just take deep breaths' etc., but once you're in a state of stage fear that has already begun to affect you physically - shaking hands, quavering voice, no breath support etc. - it's a bit too late to reverse that until you've settled into the song and hopefully gotten control of your mind.
My advice is - prepare BEFORE you get on stage! Singing is 90% mental, so what really works for me and my clients is to FOCUS. Do the mental work every time you rehearse of focusing on your STORY - the lyrics you're singing and the underlying emotion. If you're fully engaged in telling your story with sincere emotion, then you can't possibly focus on your audience, their reaction to your music, what's going on in the room or anything else.
Practice visualizing your performance venue as you rehearse, then train your mind to focus on what's really important - the emotional story you're delivering. It's not about you, or your audience, it's about the character in your story who is telling their story through you.
Not only will your fear butterflies turn into positive excitement, but by being totally emotionally involved in your song you will totally connect with your audience on an authentic, heartfelt level. This is where true artistry lies.
Good luck - try it! viva la voice . com
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