Stage Fright Ain’t Your Enemy

How to conquer the stage and overcome your fears

Getting on a stage and opening your mouth can be terrifying, we’ve all been there, done that. But for some people it can be paralysing and extremely uncomfortable, limiting them as people and actors. For example, maybe you practiced for hours on end on a monologue and once on stage you can’t deliver.

If this happened to you, don’t fret, you’re not alone! You can follow these simple steps to get over your annihilating stage fright, just stick with us. 😊

Get over yourself

The audience won’t know the monologue by heart and if you make a mistake, just think about your overall performance. You’re there to get your message across and convey feeling, not to repeat words like a parrot. So, don’t panic and continue what you’re doing without looking distressed. It always works out in the end.

Focus on your goal

You’re there to provide entertainment, focus on your audience and what you want to communicate. You’ll conquer them in no time.

Fear is your friend

Stage fright is completely normal, and sometimes it gets the job done. It is a normal reaction and it gets your adrenaline up, essential element to deliver energy to the public. If you’re not scared, either you don’t care or you’re not giving 100%.

Don’t forget your support network

In our society everyone’s welcome and we are really committed to helping each other out. You’ll not be alone on stage, and you can always count on the other actors to jump in if you get too scared to speak. You should not depend on others though, just remember it’s a team effort and others are counting on you, too.

Think about the character

There are different acting methods, and everyone has its favourite, we know. Regardless of your chosen one, you should be able to get on stage thinking, breathing, moving and speaking like your character. So why not starting this process even before the beginning of your scene?

Last but not least – PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Every performance should flow naturally, but getting there requires time, dedication, and maybe a pinch of stubbornness. Don’t despair if you won’t be the best actor in the play, it takes time to refine the art of acting. You will see incredible improvement in little time if you put your soul into it.

If you still got doubts, check out our blog post How To Nail Your Audition From the Moment You Enter.