How to combat stage fright as a performer

Whether you’re new to performing or experienced on stage, having a case of pre-performance jitters is extremely common. In fact, feeling nervous can often be a positive thing – as the adrenaline may help you to focus and stay alert.

If you often experience stage fright before performing, here are several ways you can help to ease your nerves so you can give your best on stage.

Use visualisation techniques

Visualisation is a hugely effective tool for helping to prepare your brain for certain situations and teaching it that it doesn’t need to be afraid.

In the run-up to the performance, visualise yourself on the stage, concentrating on what you can see, smell, hear, taste, and feel. This will anchor you into the experience and allow your brain to “practice” the performance before the real event.

You can imagine that you feel confident and that the performance goes really well. Once your brain learns that you can feel good in these types of situations, it’s more likely to choose this for you during the real performance.

Prepare for the unexpected

Another great way to combat stage fright is to prepare for the unexpected. Often, we feel anxious or nervous when we are putting pressure on ourselves to be perfect – and it’s usually impossible to do everything “just right”.

Instead, mentally prepare yourself for situations that could happen unexpectedly, such as memory lapse or technical issues with equipment.

If you’re a musician, for example, you may want to take out guitar, piano, or violin insurance to cover your equipment for risks like loss, fire, and accidental damage.

Reframe your nerves

If you’re struggling pre-performance with an intense case of stage fright, it’s worth reframing your nerves into a positive rather than a negative.

For example, instead of freaking out and thinking “I’m so nervous I can’t do this”, take that nervous energy in your body and accept that it’s there.

Feel into the nerves and reframe it as excitement rather than nerves, using the energy to your advantage. Give yourself positive affirmations like “I’m so excited for this performance – it’s going to be amazing!” or anything else that helps to psych you up to go on stage.

Look at success stories

When it comes to stage fright, we can often feel like we’re the only ones struggling – and other performers are a perfect example of grit and confidence. But this couldn’t be further from the truth!

Many famous musicians have shared their experiences of stage fright, including Adele, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne, and Eddie Van Halen.

It goes to show that it’s a very normal response to performing – and if they can conquer it, so can you! It’s worth reading up on their experiences to find out what they did to overcome their nerves.

Stage fright is a completely normal response to performing – but you don’t need to let it take over! By using visualisation techniques, delving into success stories, and preparing yourself for unexpected issues, you can feel ready to give your all on stage.