How To Get Over Stage Fright

How to get over stage fright is one of the most frequently asked question among young actors today. Did you know that the fear of public speaking and performing in front of a group of people actually rates higher than the fear of dying? Wow!

So what to do? You definitely have to believe in yourself. But I realize it’s easier to say than to do, so I will try and explain it to you better.

What's really important is that you first of all are as well prepared as you possibly can be. Practice and make sure you know your stuff!. Practice. Practice. Practice. That alone will help you to feel more confident.

Public Solitude

If you really want to get over stage fright, there is something else that your drama classes and your teacher can help you with and that is a concept called ‘public solitude.’ If you can, take a GOOD acting class. (If you are an actor, you should be taking regular classes anyway.) They will teach you that. You learn how to develop public solitude, which is really feeling comfortable in any situation and being able to block out everything around you and focus solely on ‘being’ the character you are interpreting and on your scene partner. The exercise and acting classes in general will help you to feel more comfortable in front of people while performing. Something else that is crucial for how to get over stage fright is that you need to focus on what you want and not on what you don't want. You need to focus your mind on what being focused and comfortable in your scene will be like and not on the things you are afraid will happen if you mess up. Why? What will that do for you? Let me give you an example.

Don't Think About...

If I tell you right now, "Don't think about a pink elephant! Don't think about it!" What's the first thing that comes into your mind? You don't have to tell me, because I already know. It's the yellow elephant isn't it? Why is that? Because that's how the human brain works. That's how your brain works. In order to forget something, our brain first has to understand what it is supposed to forget. How does it do that? By first bringing it to the forefront and creating an image around it. So what does that have to do with your feeling comfortable while speaking? Everything!

Stay Positive!

If you are serious about wanting to know how to get over stage fright and at the same time you tell yourself before you go into the audition or during any performance itself things like; "I hope I don't mess up, I hope I don't get nervous. I hope I don't forget anything. I hope I don't freeze in front of the group.", you are putting yourself in a position to think about what you don't want. Your imagination will go there and recreate that image of all those negative things you keep telling yourself. Your focus is on the wrong things! You said you wanted to know how to get over stage fright, so now you know what you have to do? What kinds of things will you tell yourself the next time you go into a performance or an audition? Positive things! Good things! You will give a great performance! You will be very comfortable in front of your audience! See yourself doing that. If you have to, close your eyes, BREATHE deeply before you go in and visualize yourself being brilliant. How confident will you be while you are performing? You know your lines. You know what you have to do. You are in the character. You feel it! You can see that you feel what you are acting! You are confident and you will be brilliant!

When you talk like that to yourself, you will feel your posture change. You will be erect and your shoulders will be back if you really feel it and if you really believe it. So BE confident and FEEL confident and you will BE the best that you can be.

Overcoming the nervous energy that you accumulate before ‘going live’ speak at a louder tone of voice, use gestures and BREATHE deeply. Be conscious of that.

So now you know a little about how to get over stage fright! Good luck.

Click here if you have any questions about how to get over stage fright. We'll be happy to help you.

AND, if you are starting from scratch with regard to presenting and need some good tips about public speaking, here are three more modules I've created to give you a hand and guide you through the process:

Public Speaking I: Preparation And How To Structure Your Presentation
The Art Of Public Speaking Pt. II: 9 Ways To Communicate Your Message
Public Speaking IV: Your Communicative Ability IV

Site Map | Home | Who's Behind ACSUp.com | Acting Career Blog | Site Testimonials | Actor Q & A | Buy Acting Books | Typical Day Of An Actor | Start Your Career | Fund Your Career | Acting Classes | Acting Schools |International Actors | The Business Of Acting | Actor Promotion Tips | Your Actor Website | Teen Actors Guide | About Disney Channel Auditions | Headshot Advice | How To Find An Agent | First Audition Advice | Avoiding Scams | Find Acting Scripts | Find Monologues | Resources For Singers | Acting Industry Information | Cruise Ship Opportunities | Nutrition & Health For Actors | Public Speaking Tips | Staying Motivated | Link Exchange | Contact/Ask A Question | The Bollywood Connection | Find Acting Work |

Become a member
of the fastest growing community for new and aspiring actors and get your copy of the free ebook:
HOW TO START
AN ACTING CAREER
just for signing up!
We promise to protect your privacy and not to give your information to anyone else.

First Name* First Name* E-mail Address* E-mail Address*

---

Do you have what it takes to become an actor?
Take the quiz and see what areas you need to develop.

---

Video Special Report!:



The Top 10 Reasons Why
Most Aspiring Actors Never Make It!

---

Hi Tony
I would like to thank you for helping me with the monologue question I asked in October 2007. I went to the auditions for a Drama course and I am happy to say that I have been accepted as a first-year student at the Tshwane University of Technology. Please keep on sending me those newsletters and let me know where I can find books that will help me in my acting career. Thank you once more. Have a blessed day.
Sincerely
Edward Thaba -South Africa

-----------------

Hi,
I was wondering if there is anything established like actingstartup.com in the U.K. because you are amazing and I have learned loads...
Thank You.
Nadine., Newcastle, UK

-----------------

Dear Anthony,
Just wanted to thank you for bringing me in to [audition for the video], meet you and chat this Saturday. I was really excited to hear about your working on actingcareerstartup.com and even took a look at it today - it's awesome! You are very well-spoken, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and it shows through the work that you do! I hope our paths in the industry will cross again and really enjoyed meeting you. Thanks, again and best wishes with your very important work!
Warmly,
Gretchen, NY, NY

-----------------

Hey Tony, thanks for the info, yours by far is the most useful, I am 30 years old, and I myself always (secretly) wanted to be an actress, but I never knew where to begin, so thank you. You have given me hope!
Ana C., Tampa, FL

-----------------

Hi, I’m John.
You answered a question for me about two weeks ago about how to write my cover letters…I want you to know your advice was helpful. I got called in for a part as an extra in my first movie! It’s not big, but it’s my first one! Thanks for your help!
John, San Diego, CA