Practical tips and tricks to overcome stage fright
Here is part two of Wolfgang Reibe’s series of tips on overcoming stage fright.
9.Mental practice
If you drive past me when I am in my car, odds are you will either think I am mad, or I am talking on the hands free phone. I mentally practice my talk out loud and imagine myself standing in front of the audience. I even imagine, and answer people questing me from the audience. In fact, I enact the whole presentation out loudly. At home I will stand in a room on my own and pace act out the entire speech. My family already understand this and accept me as mad! Visualising this two or three times really helps calm the nerves and cement the presentation in your mind.
10.Use your imagination
Some speakers actually imagine their audience in a funny manner when they walk onto stage - they believe this calms them down. It could work for you too! Imagine them all dressed in funny clothing, or without clothing! Whatever works for you and makes you smile!
11.When things go wrong
If you are on stage regularly, something will go wrong sooner or later. Accept this! If you know your stuff, odds are it won’t phase you as much. If a microphone suddenly stops working, carry on in a louder voice, but don’t let it distract you. The technical people are already stressing and trying to sort out the problem. You adding to the stress won’t change anything. Think about the things that can go wrong and plan for them, thus when they happen you already have an action plan.
12.Double check everything
Do you have notes, or a laptop which you use? Check that you have them with you and that everything works. Before you leave home, have a check-list so that you don’t forget anything. When you walk onto stage and suddenly realise that your notes are missing, or the projector doesn’t work, it’s too late! Of course your nerves will take over! In the same vein, know your speech so well that should this happen, you don’t need to rely on notes or presentation slides. That alone will give you huge confidence.
13.Eat a banana!
No I am not kidding! Someone told me a long time ago that eating something nutritious, but not too filling, takes away the butterflies in your stomach. Fear and anxiety causes an empty nauseating feeling in your stomach. By eating a banana 20 to 30 minutes before you go on stage, that empty feeling disappears!
14.Do something different
Whether you listen to soothing music, phone your spouse or play a game on your mobile phone - just try doing something completely different before walking out on stage. It takes your mind away from the fear and relaxes you.
15.Be comfortable with who you are
If you are self conscious about your looks, clothes or anything about you - you will be distracted and nervous. The only solution here is to be honest with yourself and learn to be comfortable with who you are. Similarly, wear clothes which is comfortable and not distracting. New shoes give blisters, so don’t wear new shoes on stage which could hurt and distract you. Wear them in first. Ladies, high heels can get stuck between floor boards! Leave them at home. If you are comfortable with yourself, it is easier to laugh at yourself, if something goes wrong.
16.Don’t rush it.
When you start your presentation - take it easy. Don’t rush it. Make a point of starting slowly so that you can get into a comfortable space. Not only do you have to get used to the audience, they have to get used to you. Especially if you have an accent - they need time to understand your pronunciation clearly. I’ll never forget seeing one speaker who walked onto stage, sat down on a chair, lit a cigarette and drank a cup of coffee. At the end he turned to the audience and said, “What’s the matter, do you start immediately when you get to the office in the morning?” What a brilliant gag and opening! He had the time to check out the audience, plus turned it into a huge laugh which everyone could relate to. Immediately everyone was more relaxed.
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