I have serious stage fright but I love to sing. How do I get rid of the stage fright?

Grace asked:

I’m defintly not saying I’m good, but I’ve been told I should do more singing for audiences and such. I love singing but the idea of having to do so in front of so many others scares me.

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Comments (13) Posted in Performing Arts

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13 Responses to 'I have serious stage fright but I love to sing. How do I get rid of the stage fright?'

RaRa D - March 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
get drunk n den u will b lose
gothicpunker - March 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
There are some people, like me, who have been able to turn that stage fright into something that would help them. When I am in my stage fright stage I tend to speak louder. Sometimes that is good. Sometimes I get yelled at… expecally during class. I just automaticlly become louder. I dont know how I do it I just do. Try to turn it into a projection. And pretend that everyone is not there. Look at one person and sing to them. Pretend that they are the only person there. I know that sounds stupid but that makes it easier!! I promise.
fry3006 - March 25th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Drink! drink! drink! THEN sing!
redhotchillidawg - March 28th, 2008 at 4:34 am
Just imagine the people not wearing any clothes. That would be funny but at the same time it allows you to relax. The other thing you can do is to picture no one is there. Look beyond the audience and pick a fixture or an object and focus on that. Another is to video tape yourself and watch the tape with people. The more you get use to watching yourself the more likely you’ll feel at ease.
bitchy_scorpio - March 31st, 2008 at 11:44 am
I’d suggest trying it first in an empty auditorium, then bring in a few friends then a few more until you do not feel scared any more. Most people get jitters before a performance. What ever you do do not lock your knees when you are performing. Doing this can result in passing out. I’ve seen it happen. If you sing in a choir it is much easier than doing solos. With lots of people around you in the choir you kinda blend in and disappear and you can somehow forget you are in front of an audience.

Just give it a try. After a few performances it becomes like second nature being in front of a crowd.
mike1942f - April 3rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
You can’t get rid of stage fright – nearly all performers have some because things can go wrong and being nervous puts an edge on a live performance that makes it more interesting.
What you can do is work on controlling the extreme reaction.
Among the things you can try are:
Find ways to perform for small groups and work up to larger groups. Maybe just ask some friends to come over or ask around about groups doing singing at church or via the library.
Sit in front of a full length (or full wall) mirror and watch yourself sing. Practice moves and notice how they feel and look. I mean girls probably still practice kissing, squinting at themselves, and boys pose in front of a mirror figuring out how to look cool (at least I hope a lot fewer are practicing handling a cigarette as we did when I was growing up.)
If necessary, work on a stage person that is a role you play. This person is narrower than you are, more focused on her singing, and has fewer fears because any failures are the fault of the role, which can always be adjusted, and not of your builtin personality. This is why many comics were shy kids – they built a personality that was funny and didn’t have those faults.
Marivic M - April 4th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Look at the top of the heads of the audience, they won’t know you’re not looking directly at them. If you have a friendly face in the audience, concentrate on him/her. There is no stopping the sweating or the shivers that come with stage fright but once you are underway with your song, it will go away without you noticing it. I am 51 and still have stage fright though I am forced on stage because of my work, community development. I’ve never gotten over the stage fright but I can cope with it. I hope you do. It would be a pity to keep your talent to yourself. The best of luck.
cityboy85 - April 7th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Go to a bar and just start singin, everyone there is drunk so they wont judge you, I think its a good place to start.
Phantom_Phan_Phorever - April 8th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I always used to get really freaked out before performances until I really sat down and though about it. What was I so afraid of? That I would screw up? So what, people make mistakes, its not the end of the world. Once I convinced myself of that, I was much more relaxed, and I’m now able to avoid those mistakes more often because of it. Just remember that a wrong note isn’t the worst thing in the world, and that singing is what you really love, and you’ll be fine.
insanity - April 11th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
i dunno if it will work with you, but if you love to sing, you are probably pretty good, so u need to stop caring whatever other people will think about you, and that you’re in front of so many people and just go for it. I wasn’t very good, but hey, nobody booed, so i guess there’s not penalty if ur bad, but there’s certainly a prize for trying and doing your best. The crowd is there to encourage you, not to scare you.
bortiepie - April 13th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Keep singing. By yourself, with others whatever. If you have a performance to do, practice, practice and then when you think you have it perfectly memorized, practice some more.
frenchhornfreak - April 14th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
participate in more things, and eventuly you will get to the point where you jsut dont care, and no more butterflies!
boilocal - April 17th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Imagine the performance from start to finish and replay it.