Two Ways To Handle Stage Fright
No matter what job we choose, at some point a performance is required of us. This doesn't necessarily mean a performance on stage in front of an audience, but it could simply be convincing someone to purchase your product, convincing a company to implement your idea or a potential employer to hire you.
I'm not going to tell you that everything will go perfectly. I'm not going to tell you that you won't mess up. What I am going to tell you though, might free you up of some of that stage fright that makes those mess up's happen. So keep these two points in mind:
They will forget:
Try and remember an incident when you saw someone screw up their performance. Maybe a high school play, or even a pop star in a concert. I bet you have yet to come up with something! That's because even though performers sometimes completely drop the ball, the audience has a million other things to think of when they walk out of that theater. They have rent to pay, conferences to get ready for, heartbreaks they might be tending to, they may have been recently laid off from work or completely gaga in love. The point is, they won't remember your major blooper for much longer than the car ride home. Maybe they'll joke to their spouse or family about it one more time while brushing their teeth before going to bed. But realize that—visualize that exact scenario—and tell yourself, that is where it stops. That is where your embarrassment ends.
They didn't notice:
Sometimes the audience just doesn't notice! The performer is always his own harshest critic. You've listened to the tune or seen the dance a thousand times. While you are aware that you didn't bring your all when it came time to perform, keep in mind that your audience has never seen you perform elsewhere--they have nothing to compare it to! Also remember that, no one else could have done it like you did. Maybe you didn't do your personal best, but you brought that very particular stage presence that only you can bring. And that charm can overpower any mistake. A video I saw, which was essentially a video lesson between a renowned singing instructor and a professional rock singer brought up this issue—that no one else can do the performance the way that you can. And that is something you should take pride in that.
About the Author
Julia Austin is a healthy living, luxury lifestyle, travel and dating writer. Her articles on everything from skinny cocktail menus to online dating horror stories and even unique ways of improving one's voice like with http://www.thesingingzone.com/ and becoming a better singer have been featured on dozens of sites.
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