How To Beat Performance Nerves!
Being a performer, it’s pretty inevitable that (at some stage) you will come face-to-face with one of our most dreaded enemies…Nerves!
It’s only natural that when you are bravely putting yourself on a public performance platform the ‘what ifs’ start taking over! Here are a few we have encountered in our time…
“What if I forget the words?”
“What if I sing the wrong note?”
“What if they don’t like me?”
“What if I fall over on stage?”
So…. What if? Take a second to actually answer and resolve those questions!
We believe that the only way to get better at performing… is by performing! You can practice all you want in your room, in the car and in the shower but nothing compares and develops an artist more than actually biting the bullet and turning your practice into a performance! Whether it’s at a local open mic night, in front of your family or friends or at a professional gig, the more you do it, the more confident and better you will become! This isn’t to say that you won’t still get nervous! But at least you will learn to manage your nerves!
We have put together a few tips to help you out!
1. Practice! – Der! The more confidence you feel about what you are actually performing, the less worried you will be about stuffing it up! Prepare for your performance to avoid last minute stress!
2. Breathe! – As singers, you should know all about diaphragmatic breathing. Utilise this! Breathing correctly helps reduce anxiety and fear!
3. Mindset! – Nerves can create muscle tension so try to be mindful of your thoughts! Positive thinking and affirmations can help distract yourself from negative worrying and allow you to relax a little!
4. Connect! – Remember why you’re performing in the first place! It might be your passion, your expressive outlet or simply for a bit of fun. Don’t rob yourself of that experience! Be in the moment, tell your story and enjoy it!
