Stage Fright

Stage fright is not a rare phenomenon. It is all too common.

There is a tendency when you suffer from stage fright to think that you are on your own, that no-one else knows what you`re going through.

That`s not true.

I am a professionally trained actor and I have been working in the industry since 2007. From December 2007 until July 2009 I was touring the country with one of the biggest musicals of all time. We went to the biggest and best venues throughout the UK, often performing to sell-out audiences of over 1000 people.

And I got stage fright EVERY SINGLE SHOW.

It`s not a pleasant experience. It can manifest itself in different ways. For some your palms get sweaty, your heart-rate increases and you can`t seem to focus. For me, I would get dizzy and be convinced that I was going to fall over. On one particular show the entire auditorium began to spin around in front of me and I have no idea how I made it off stage.

But you do make it off stage. And you make it back on again. Because that`s your job. And the buzz you get from the audience rising to their feet and applauding your work is worth every second of it.

If you feel yourself getting taken over by the grip of stage fright there are some things you can do to help yourself.

Firstly take slow, even breaths into the pit of your stomach. Breathe in to your belly button, feel the breath spreading through your back and going into your muscles.

Then concentrate on being in the moment. Don`t think outside of what you are doing right then and there. If you are on stage with another actor then look at them properly. Look right into their eyes and see what they are thinking and feeling. Listen intently to what they are saying, trying to understand their meaning. Even if you`ve heard the words 100 times before, listen carefully and concentrate. Watch the way their lips move.

Stage fright is often a manifestation of feeling like everyone`s watching you. An incredible thing to say when you`re an actor - you want everyone to watch you! But it isn`t that simple, and the feeling can be horrible. When you feel like you`re being watched and - worse - judged, you tend to come out of the `moment` and become really self-conscious.

The best way to deal with that is to actively try to put yourself back in the moment by really thinking about what you`re doing. If your mind`s on what you`re doing/saying/hearing, it can`t be anywhere else.

For more information or help, please contact me.