How to Conquer Your Stage Fright Like a Boss

You know the feeling, and so do I.

Your heart, pounding like it’s about to jump out of your chest.
Your palms, slick with sweat, with tiny trickles of perspiration running down your forehead.
Your mouth, completely dry.
Your breathing erratic.
Your belly, queasy.

But the spotlight’s waiting for you. And so is the stage. Oh god, the stage.

That two-word awful feeling: stage fright.

Ever experienced it? Maybe as one or all of the symptoms above, or some unique “tells” all of your own?

Uh huh, me too. It’s completely normal, and something every speaker and performer goes through.

However, your stage fright – no matter how scary – is actually totally manageable. I’ll teach you my tips for getting that fear under control when you click play and watch today’s episode.

Let’s start with a basic rundown of stage fright. What is it, really?

Stage fright is actually a protective mechanism, and physiological response that takes hold when our fight or flight instincts decide they need to kick in.

But why does it start? You’re not exactly running into battle – you’re about to take the stage, that’s all. Why do our whole bodies suddenly feel so averse to standing in front of that microphone, or behind that podium?

The reason is actually pretty simple: your fight and flight response activates because your brain sees the audience as a threat.

Let that sink in for a second.

When you’re about to stand in front of an audience, you’re putting yourself in a vulnerable position.

You’re scared they’ll judge you. Anyone sitting in those seats could challenge and reject you.

Plus, what you say is going to be LIVE, and that means FINAL, and that really FREAKS YOU OUT. Right?

That’s completely OK! Because surprisingly, your fear can be a really useful tool. I’ll explain why in today’s episode so go ahead and watch it now.

I’ve probably performed in front of over a million people in my life. Translation? I know a thing or two about stage fright and combating it.

So, without further ado, let’s get into the juice of it:

My Tried n’ True Cures to Kick Stage Fright for Good.

The first step is to quiet your mind.

Try managing your critical mind chatter with soothing music, or by going for a walk or (as my friend Erin Stutland calls it), a soul stroll.

The second step is to breathe.

Really flood your body with oxygen, sit down, and breathe full lung breaths. In. Out. In. Out. This will cool down your adrenaline, and help your heart slow down, and start beating at a normal rate.

The third step? Laugh a little!

Humor is the best cure for anything, and it works with stage fright too. Check out a funny website, watch a hilarious video, read jokes, or call someone who you know will make you laugh. It does wonders for relieving tension. Seriously!

The fourth step is to visualize yourself kicking butt on stage. Athletes do it for success, and so should you when you are about to own the spotlight. Let yourself walk through the full performance in your mind’s eye, from beginning to end.

The fifth step is to acknowledge your fear.

Try starting with “Right now I feel…”

Like…

“Right now I feel butterflies in my stomach.”
“Right now I feel energized!”
“Right now I feel my feet on the ground”.

And always remember: your audience has flaws and fears too. Remind yourself of what makes the audience human and frail, and that they actually believe in and want you to be great!

No one wants you to fail. They are rooting for you, excited for you, and with them, you are safe.

To prove this, I want to hear from you.

It’s time to get down with our awesome sisterhood discussion in the comments below!

What is the best speech, performance or show you have ever seen on stage? Tell us a little about the performer or performance and why you loved it so much.

One last thing, did you get the gift I attached in the email sharing today’s video?

It’s my world famous stank face face video. It’s pretty funny, and also my secret cure for solving stage fright and kicking ass on stage. It gets me out of my head and into my playful heart.

I give gifts in the form of downloadables, detailed resources and personal success secrets almost every week to those of you who join my tribe. Just enter your name and email to subscribe.

And remember: there’s never a reason to fear the audience waiting to hear your words. Whether you know them personally or not, they’re behind you all the way, babes!

Just take that stage, fill it up with your amazing presence, and watch the magic that unfolds.

Now, I’ll drop the mic. See you next week!

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