There are numerous performers out there of varying skill and experience levels who regularly have to deal with performance anxiety. You might be surprised to hear that performance anxiety can actually help your performance. The trick is to be prepared for it and not to let it get the better of you. After you pinpoint the source of your fear, you can take charge of it.
Some common fears you may deal with as a performer are: your voice cracking during a performance, not being able to reach certain notes, feeling or looking stupid in front of friends, forgetting the lyrics of a song, wondering if you will fail or succeed, or even rejection – just to name a few. Naming the fear enables you to go after the problem and beat it. After you find the source, move forward and find a solution to eliminate it and not just the symptom.
A rush of adrenaline brings about a racing heart. Running in place until you’re out of breath is one way to duplicate the effect of an adrenaline rush – then practice singing while your heart races. During your practice session it’s a good idea to sometimes sing while out of breath so you can practice dealing with the stress situation and the feeling of being out of breath. When you endure breathlessness it’s similar to the issues that occur during your anxiety attack in the middle of a performance. Your breaths will feel like they are falling into your body. When this happens just realize you can sing even when the heart is pounding relentlessly. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but it is possible.
Did you know thousands of people have this feeling right before a performance? The symptoms include butterflies in your stomach, shaky knees, dry mouth (sometimes called cottonmouth), a sudden urge to cry or run away, trembling hands, a racing heart rate, nausea, runny nose, cold hands but sweaty underarms, and the urge to pee no matter how many times you visit the bathroom.
Most singers assume they should be calm and collective before a performance, but for most people it’s just not the case and believing they should be only increases the anxiety.If you expect the nervous feelings, you’ll be in a much better position to sing through them. Don’t be a afraid to use the fight-or-flight nerves and excitement to your advantage. In the end, if you accept your nerves and take advantage of your adrenaline it will be much easier to push past the anxiety and become a better performer.
For more great information on improving your singing performance and confidence when singing , be sure to check out this learn to sing online website.
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