Many performers experience stage fright, including singers. Although it can be incredibly uncomfortable, it is normal to experience some anxiety before you go on stage. Performers have different ways of managing it so that they can go out and perform; no matter how hard it seems, it is possible for anyone to overcome it. Take a look at the following seven tips to overcome stage fright when singing.
1. Make Sure That You Are Prepared
One of the best ways to overcome stage fright is by being prepared for your performance. The key is to build your confidence by practicing until you don’t have to think about your performance. When you are well prepared, you can focus on making your performance better rather than getting through it.
Singers need to remember all of the lyrics to their songs, but they also need to practice the vocal techniques and know that they are singing in the range that is ideal for them. If you are worried about your ability to sing a song well, you will be more likely to be nervous before you go on. Practice your songs so that you know exactly how you plan to sing them. In addition, plan your moves and what you plan to wear. When you are thorough in your preparation, you will be less nervous.
2. Practice Your Facial Expressions and Your Body Language
When you are on stage, you can control how you feel by controlling the presentation. Practice smiling, and make sure that you use confident body language. Smiling naturally makes people feel more relaxed, and it makes the audience confident. People naturally respond well to someone who smiles. You will appear to be having fun, which is what people want to see.
Your body language also helps you relax and draws a reaction from the crowd. If you walk out with confidence, the audience will be excited to hear you perform. If you appear insecure or nervous, the audience will feel nervous for you, which can lead to a snowball effect. Practice smiling and walking with confidence so that the audience helps to put you at ease.
3. Keep Yourself in the Present
Another tip for overcoming stage fright is to make sure you stay in the present. Don’t allow your mind to focus on the past or what might happen, but stay in the present and focus on what you need to do. Let all of your energy go to the present and your performance so that you can make it the best you are capable of.
You need to center yourself with breathing exercises. If you feel your mind wandering to worries about what might happen, focus on your breathing to bring yourself back to the present.
4. Visit the Place Where You Are Performing
You can overcome your stage fright by visiting the place where you plan to perform. You should try to walk out on the stage so that you can see what it will feel like when you are performing. You can also see how much room you have and learn where there are obstacles or other limitations. You will be less nervous if you are familiar with the place where you plan to perform.
5. Come up with Pre-Singing Rituals
Some singers develop a pre-singing ritual that helps them calm their nerves. You might have breathing exercises or a special way to warm up your voice. Practice your ritual so that you can use it to get in the zone before you perform. Your ritual can be anything that helps to bring you to the present and clear your mind of everything except the songs you are about to sing.
No matter what you end up choosing, your ritual should be positive and help you clear negative thoughts from your mind. You can use a lucky charm or recite something motivational to yourself before you go on stage. The only rule is that it should be positive and help you focus and feel good about the songs you are about to perform.
6. Choose Someone in the Audience to Focus on
When you are on stage, it can be intimidating to look into a mass of faces in the crowd. This alone can make you nervous because it will look like a lot of people. When you go on stage, look for one person to focus on. If you know someone who is in the audience, you can act like that is the only person in the room. This way, you will have more fun with your performance, and you won’t feel nearly as intimidated.
7. Get More Experience
When you have more experience performing in front of crowds, it becomes less intimidating. The best way to gain experience is to take any opportunity you can to get up in front of people and sing. Try it at smaller family gatherings and parties as well as smaller venues. Each time you sing in front of people, it will get easier. Try not to save your singing for special occasions because getting this experience will change everything for you.
Final Words
Stage fright is something that affects everyone at some point when they are performing in front of people. It can feel awful, but you can take steps to overcome it. Try to learn how to take control of your fear by practicing the tips above, and it will become easier as you get more experience.
