Conquering Stage Fright: 8 Effective Tips

Are you afraid of public speaking or performing at parties? What do you say when someone asks you how you do it?

Stage fright or performance anxiety is something that affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. If you've ever felt nervous before performing, either onstage or in front of a group of people, then you probably have experienced stage fright too.

Stage fright happens when nerves overwhelm you before going on stage. It makes you feel anxious, shaky, and even panicky. And because of these overwhelming emotions, you might worry about messing up, forgetting lines, or sounding stupid.

The problem with stage fright isn't that you don't want to perform—it's that you fear you won't be able to do it well. This kind of self-doubt can stop you from taking risks, which is why you might spend years working towards a career you never get to enjoy.

Public speaking isn’t always easy. Even though anyone can give a speech, most speakers get nervous before their big moment. Sometimes even the smallest mishaps can cause someone to freeze up and become anxious.

Remember That You Are Not Alone

It’s okay to feel nervous before attending a show or speaking in front of others. Even if you have done this repeatedly over time, it's still possible to get butterflies in your stomach. Anxiety about public speaking can arise for many reasons including fear of failure, fear of looking foolish, or not knowing what to say. Whatever the cause, try these simple tips to help calm yourself down before taking the stage.

1. Find Your Inner Voice

First things first. When you think about speaking in front of people, what do you hear? Maybe it's music; maybe it's the sound of birds chirping or of children laughing. Try to bring your attention back to your inner voice and what you're saying. If you find yourself getting distracted by thoughts of how you look or worrying about something else, bring your focus back to your mouth. Don't worry about what you might miss out on if you don't speak up. It may seem easier just to keep quiet, but you'll regret not doing anything if you give in to those fears.

2. Put Yourself Out There

Don't let shyness hold you back from sharing your message. You may feel anxious about going to a party where you know no one, but if you want to speak about your passion, you've got to take that risk. You're never going to make a difference if you only talk inside your own head. Take your words out into the world. If you're afraid of being judged, start with smaller events, like book clubs, coffee shops, school plays, etc. You'll build confidence with each experience and eventually it won't matter who's watching.

3. Be Prepared

If you can, write down some notes beforehand. You can use them to refer back to if you forget what you were going to share. But even without notes, you should have a general idea of what you were planning to discuss. Write down questions you'd like answered at the end of your speech, too. By asking yourself these kinds of questions ahead of time, they will free up your mind to concentrate on what you actually want to say.

4. Breathe deeply

Try taking slow, deep breaths to calm yourself down. If you get anxious about speaking in front of people, then try to take slow, calm breaths that fill your lungs with oxygen. When you feel stressed out, it’s best to focus on your breathing and not your nerves.

5. Slow Down

While trying to speak fast may seem like the only way to stay relaxed, it’s actually bad for you. Speaking at a rapid pace makes you sound nervous, especially if you have short sentences or stutters. Slow down and speak clearly so that you don’t overthink what you’re going to say.

6. Visualize

If you’re feeling anxious before a speech, then use visualization techniques to help you relax. Try imagining positive things, focusing on how beautiful or amazing you look, or thinking about how much fun you’ll have afterward. These thoughts should help you feel calmer and more confident before you go onstage.

7. Rehearse

Before your big day, practice presenting your work several times. By rehearsing in front of friends, you'll become more familiar with your material. This will help you feel less nervous during your presentation.

8. Use humor

Humor helps people to relax and lowers their arousal levels. In social situations, it's easier to keep calm if you have a good sense of humor about things and yourself. Humor is a great way to make fun of something you're nervous about, like stage fright. Laughter relieves tension and reduces anxiety.