How To Deal With Stage Fright
Stage fright is the term we use to describe feelings nervousness before we sing in public and these feelings can get in the way of putting on a great performance and shining on stage.
How many times have you walked on stage to sing and felt that you really didn’t do as well as you could have because of nerves or found that you didn’t really go for it because of confidence?
Well, if stage fright is holding you back from being the performer you know you can be, then I have three super effective techniques that you can use to work through your confidence issues and really kill it next time you step in front of the mic.
Nicola xx
Video Summary
Stage fright is just a term we use to describe feelings nervousness before we sing in public and this nervousness can come in several forms.
You might get butterflies in your stomach and find it hard to hold your notes for long enough (because when youre nervous the first thing to go is your breathing), you might get the jitters and find your jaw clenching up or your lips quivering a little bit or you might get a full on end of stage fright which can include perspiring, not wanting to go out on stage and even getting sick.
Whatever level of stage fright you get, it is an annoying thing to have to deal with because it stops you from really enjoying your performance and singing as well as you KNOW you can.
Because how many times have you gone to sing and then afterwards thought to yourself ‘Ugh I know I could have done soooo much better!” This is just a lack of confidence and stage fright getting in the way. 
So, I’ve got three tips to help you work through your stage fright and really SHINE up there on stage.
TIP #1: Get Rid Of Your Nervous Energy Before Hand
This is the method I personally use to get rid of my stage fright. I’ve done so many gigs that I don’t really get nervous any more but there still is the odd occasion when I do and I can remember all too clearly how nervous I felt when I first started out.
About an hour before I’m due to go on stage I start warming my voice up and drinking some warm tea and then I let my nerves take over. I realise that this is just something I’m going to have to get out of my system before I hit the stage so I just let my body tap its feet and fidget and the butterflies go crazy.
But the thing is that after about 40 minutes of this I get worn out. My nervous energy burns itself out and my body cant be bothered being nervous anymore by the time I get my hands on the mic.
So you can try this for yourself. Just way to yourself, this is a natural process and instead of sitting there trying to not be nervous, just let it out and see if it makes a difference.
TIP #2: Take on a stage persona
Beyonce is the best example of this. You’ve probably heard that she actually takes on a stage persona which she calls ‘Sasha Fierce’.
Many singers, actors, comedians or anyone who gets up on stage to perform do this. I personally don’t but I do become a much flirtier and more seductive version of myself just become it goes with my music and that’s what comes out.
But if you are subject to nerves, you can give your alter ego a name, have a think about her personality – basically how you would like to act up on stage – and then mentally switch over from being YOU to being this new superstar version of you when you perform.
TIP #3: Have A Pre-performance Ritual
Having a pre-performance ritual that you can go through methodically to prepare yourself for performing can do wonders for calming your nerves.
This can be anything from deep breathing breathing exercises to always doing a steam that morning followed up by a light stretching routine you can do backstage or even a series of vocal exercises you like to do – whatever you find works best for you to calm down and prepare.
For me, I always do a steam the morning of a big gig then increase my water intake.
Just try these out and see if they work for you. Everyone is different so what may work for one person, may not work for you so you’ve just got to try a few things out but remember the most important thing is to HAVE FUN.
Its gotta be fun otherwise what’s the point? If your having fun, then the audience is having fun they don’t care if you hit a bum note here or there, they just want to be entertained and have a good time so just think of each performance as an opportunity to show off, get a little crazy and really do your thang.
Now I’d love to hear from you: do you have a secret way to remove your stage fright? If you do, please share it in the comments below.
Nicola xx
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Dear Nicole,
Many thanks for all the good tips, I still need a hell of a lot more practice
You are great to help .
Hi Nicola,
I have sang in public, two times in the last year, small gigs, I have been asked to perform again, I also play keyboards,and guitar, it feels so scary, why am I still nervous about performing, is it natural, I always feel like I need loads of practice, but I always seem to perform well on the day.
Love your website and helpful tips and Videos.
Thanks, I’m descent and have MAJOR fear of messig up thanks to two of my childhood friends. This website helps me out a lot, and right now I have a cold and am trying to practice something for new years/Christmas.