Overcoming Performance Anxiety
There are numerous performers out there of varying skill and experience levels who regularly have to deal with performance anxiety. To overcome performance anxiety you have to acknowledge where it comes from and find ways to turn your nerves and adrenaline into positive forces. It’s important to identify the source of fear, in order to deal with it successfully.
These are some of the most common fears: cracking during a performance, making a fool of yourself in front of friends, forgetting words, constantly worrying about success or failure, rejection, and the list goes on. Naming the fear enables you to go after the problem and beat it. When you understand the problem, take the time to deal with the source of your fear as opposed to just the symptoms.
A rush of adrenaline brings about a racing heart. You can duplicate that feeling by running in place until you’re out of breath and then sing your song. When you practice out of breath you will get used to singing phrases where you just want to exhale and quit singing. The feeling you get when you’re out of breath is very similar to the way you feel when performance anxiety takes over. Every time you take the breath, you can feel it falling into your body. As it falls in your body, realize that you can sing even when your heart is pounding. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but it is possible.
You may find comforting the knowledge that thousands of other singers face the same icky anxiety you feel right before a performance. Whether it’s butterflies, shaky knees, a sudden dry mouth, the urge to run, shaky hands, nausea or many other issues, any one of them can surface.
Most singers assume they should be calm and collective before a performance, but for most people it’s just not the case and believing they should be only increases the anxiety.You should expect to be nervous and jittery because this will allow you to sing through the nerves. Don’t be a afraid to use the fight-or-flight nerves and excitement to your advantage. By reframing your thoughts about your performance, you can change from fight-or-flight adrenaline to a rush of excitement to seize an opportunity.
For more great information on improving your live singing performance and singing confidence , be sure to check out this learn to sing website.
Tags: performance anxiety, singing confidence, singing live, singing performance
