Fighting the Fear – How to Conquer Pre-Performance Nerves

Do you get nervous before you sing in front of a crowd? Well, you’re in good company.

Many of the world’s top stars, with years of experience performing for stadiums packed with adoring fans, have admitted to suffering from performance anxiety.

Being World-famous Doesn’t Stop the Nerves!

Elvis Presley suffered from stage fright throughout his career, with his iconic hip-swing dance moves initially being the result of shaking legs due to his high level of anxiety!

Ozzy Osbourne, Freddie Mercury, Adele, Rihanna, Cher, Andrea Bocelli, and Rod Stewart have all spoken out about feeling that stomach-churning sensation of pre-performance nerves.

So you know it’s not unusual, (and yes, Tom Jones has battled with stage nerves all his life too) but what can you do about it?

Let’s Beat the Butterflies

Knowing it’s a common problem, and you’re not alone, can be reassuring.

The top performers feel the same, and they manage to overcome their anxiety, so you can too! But of course, when you’re feeling that way, that is much easier said than done.

So, let’s look at some practical tips to help fight the fear…

Prepare for your performance

Taking positive action prior to your performance will put you in good stead for the event.

First of all, get a good night’s sleep.

When you’re well rested, your mind will be at its most efficient, you’ll feel more relaxed, and you’ll be less likely to forget the words.

A tired mind can be a muddled mind. So get an early night in preparation for your performance.

Practice, But Don’t Overdo it

Of course, you’ll want to rehearse, to make sure your performance is perfect, but don’t push your voice too far.

The last thing you want is a croaky voice on the day of your performance. This will certainly bring nerves creeping in.

Learn Some Deep Breathing Exercises

Taking deep breaths can help in any stressful situation, whether you’re about to go on stage or you’re in the dentist’s waiting room about to have a tooth extraction.

So it’s a useful skill to learn.

Slowly breathe in through your nose, hold your breath for four seconds, then breathe out slowly.

This will help to relax and calm you.

Don’t Forget to Eat

When we’re nervous, we often lose our appetite.

Anxiety can play havoc with our digestive systems but it’s important to eat.

Without sufficient nourishment, you may feel faint, which will only add to your fears.

You’ll also build up excess stomach acid, which may then lead to feelings of nausea.

If your nerves do affect your stomach, it can be reassuring to keep some over-the-counter medication with you such as anti-sickness and diarrhea remedies.

You probably won’t need it, but you’ll feel better knowing you have a quick fix to hand.

Keep Hydrated but Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol

Dehydration can cause you to feel ill and more jittery before a performance, so be sure to drink plenty of water.

You should skip the coffee though, as caffeine will increase your heart rate which can exacerbate anxiety.

It might be tempting to have an alcoholic drink to take the edge off the nerves, but this is definitely not the best choice.

Alcohol can adversely affect your judgement and your performance.

We’ve all heard drunk people trying to sing right?

Use Your Imagination to Your Benefit

Visualisation techniques can also be useful when you step on stage.

Instead of being overwhelmed by a sea of faces, take your mind somewhere else, somewhere familiar.

Perhaps you can imagine yourself in your own home, your safe space, where you’ve been practising the songs.

Or you could opt for the classic option of imagining the audience like a flock of birds, chirping and bobbing their heads along to your music, just be sure not to get a fit of the giggles mid-performance!

Focus On Your Fears And Devise Solutions For Each One

Fear can be rather vague, it’s the monster lurking in the shadows, but when you address the fears, you can be more prepared to deal with them. Determine what you’re truly scared of and work out how you could effectively deal with every worst-case scenario. For example, if you’re worried you’ll forget the words, print them out and have them close by just in case.

You Can Do This!

But perhaps the best way to conquer your fears is to have faith in yourself. You know you’ve got what it takes to put on a great performance. Don’t let yourself be hindered by your nerves, don’t worry about what others will think of you, just get out there with a positive attitude and do your very best. You’ve got this!