I need some tips.... (STAGE FRIGHT)

J

Jbadham77

Well-known member
I have to give a perfromace infront of my class tommorow on a stage...
(class is some where around 40 people) and I have tremendous stage fright.. anyone have any tips to make me more relaxed or something?

[I hate theater class, but you have to take it for 1 year before you can work back-stage and stuff... and thats what I really wanna do]
 
Hey, I can relate. I had to perform to a crowd of 450 the other day, and I'm not what you would call an 'actor' or 'performer.' I'm barely a DP. But what I find works, especially in situations where I might feel embarassed, is that I mentally sit back and let myself do whatever it is. Like watching your own performance. The down side is you can lack a certain pizzaz and energy by seperating yourself from what's happening, but it's better than peeing yourself
 
Just keep saying to yourself, "don't screw up," over and over.

Just kidding.

Just pretend like everybody in the audience is one of your good friends.

Or: pretend like everybody in the audience is way lower than you and you're better than them and their opinions don't matter and nobody cares what they think...

sounds snobbish, but it helps me get over stage fright.
 
Sounds stupid, but...if you can get away with it (scene-dependent, or make the teacher believe it's part of your interpretation :) )...wear sunglasses.

Works for me.
 
do some push ups before you go on and yell at the top of your lungs hopefully in a sound proof room, that gets some of the jitters out.
 
I've done quite a bit of theatre and I'd have to say bballplaya pretty much nailed it. Think that everyone in the audience is your best friend and they are all there to see YOU and that they all really want you to do really well.

Also remember (if you're not mic'd) to speak to the person who is furthest from you.

And if you're shooting from the hip, make it short but sweet. I went to a concert last night and one of the sponsors gave a speech that was longer than an Oscar acceptance speech. I was dying.
 
scene permitting - pick an audience member with a friendly face and direct your monologue at them - they are your only audience , nobody else is there...
 
Thanks for all the help, I got away from performing today.... but I have to on monday.. so I have some time to prepare!
 
The thing about public speaking is if your not used to it your body builds up a lot of pent up energy. This energy, if not released will come out in your voice and manerisms.
A simple way to neutralize this enerdy is to give it a release. A simple method is to put ayour thumb and middle finger together and press, hard. This gives your body a focal point to release energy to. You can do this just before your talk or anytime while your talking. Also breath from your diaphram (meaing your stomach expands, not your chest). This helps keep energy from building.
 
i was always told project your voice over the audience to the back of the room. never helps when you're singing into a tiny mic pointing down at the crowd.

also, i've been on stage doing camera work in front of 5000 people, only to come off and notice that i was rather "sweaty". luckily i dont think they were looking at me!

alex
 
If you're like sitting at a table talking, have a small plastic water bottle by your side and pour some vodka in it. When your getting the butterflies take a small swig... i swear it helps to calm you down
I had to do a presentation in front of a class and used this trick. I could have talked for hours after 2 or 3 gulps!
Know your limits!! Dont get drunk... just get to a point of uninihibition!
 
Let loose a little and realize that nothing detramental will happen no matter how bad you do. In the end no one cares. Your mind is just playing tricks on you.
 
I'm assuming it's a monologue. Pick a spot on someone's chair in the audience and concentrate on that. Also, maybe also pick a person that you're speaking to in the monologue on concentrate 100% on him or her. Hope that helps.

cheers,
JP
 
I think for some performances it's okay to be your natural self. Just don't put too much thought into it about 5 minutes beforehand and relax. If you have a comedic monologue that's even better, try to be in the moment and think about how to get the big laugh out of your audience. And if it's an speech give some interesting story, anecdote to put both you and the audience at ease. For dancing, just get lost in the moment and the music. Nothing beats preparation beforehand. Once you're up there just relax and show that you own your presentation.
 
Well guys I did my scene... it wasn't so bad when I was up there.. I think I did pretty good, think I got a C, because I wasn't paying attention to the stage directions....
 
If your on a stage, and that stage has stage lighting, you wont be able to see your audience. They are so bright, all the audience is pure black. The bright lights will blind you...


to the big surprise, swimming round and round like the deadly hand of the radium clock- at the bottom of the pool. (Only take the first paragraph seriously. This second one was written because the last few words of the first one opened an opportunity to sing a B-52's song)
 
Qauludes work well.

Other than that, just sack up and be a man.

-

I always found that acknowledging to the class that I was not comfortable in the first place helped relieve the tension. If it helps any EVERYONE IS NERVOUS
 
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