Many singers experience performance anxiety, regardless of their level of experience or skill. It’s quite common in the music industry and can affect both beginners and seasoned professionals. Below are some tips to help manage performance anxiety, also known as stage fright.
1. Prepare Thoroughly: Confidence comes from preparation. The more you practice and familiarize yourself with your material, the less you’ll rely on luck and the more in control you’ll feel.
- Practice: Rehearse your performance multiple times until it becomes second nature. Practice in front of friends or family to simulate the experience.
- Visualization: Mentally walk through your performance. Visualizing success helps your brain feel prepared and can lower anxiety.
- Plan for the unexpected: Think about possible challenges and how to handle them. Knowing you have a strategy can alleviate fear.
2. Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome: Shift your attention from worrying about mistakes or judgment to enjoying the process itself. Focusing on doing your best in the moment helps reduce anxiety and keeps you grounded.
- Stay in the moment: Focus on the task at hand and not on what could go wrong. This helps keep your mind from spiraling into anxious thoughts.
- Set small goals: Instead of fixating on a perfect performance, set realistic, small goals for yourself, like staying focused or improving one particular aspect of your performance.
3. Practice Relaxation Techniques: Relaxation techniques reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, like rapid heartbeat or shallow breathing.
- Deep breathing: Practice slow, deep breathing techniques to calm your body and mind. Inhale through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, then exhale for a count of four. Repeat as needed.
- Progressive muscle relaxation: Starting from your toes, tense each muscle group for five seconds, then release. This technique helps alleviate physical tension.
- Mindfulness meditation: Practicing mindfulness or meditation in the days leading up to your performance can help you develop the mental clarity needed to manage stress in the moment.
4. Reframe Negative Thoughts: Challenge your negative self-talk and perfectionist thinking.
- Challenge negative thoughts: When you catch yourself thinking something negative, challenge its validity. Ask yourself, “Is this really true? What evidence do I have?”
- Focus on effort, not outcome: Shift your mindset from worrying about the results to valuing the effort and growth you’re experiencing by performing or taking on the challenge.
5. Accept Imperfection: No performance is perfect, and accepting that mistakes are a natural part of any process can relieve a lot of pressure.
- Be kind to yourself: Remind yourself that everyone makes mistakes, and one mistake doesn’t define your abilities. Accept that anxiety is a natural part of performance.
- Acknowledge your progress: Focus on how far you’ve come and the effort you’ve put in. Celebrate small successes along the way.
You can put these tips into practice and shine brighter on stage by taking a performance course here at HVS Conservatory with our supportive mentors along with our wellness course that focuses on techniques to reduce stress and anxiety.
Check out our schedule of masterclasses. HVS Conservatory also offers free community events, including acoustic sessions, seasonal open house events, and artist showcases.