Overcoming Stage fright: Boosting confidence for Singers
written by Lisa Hawkins
Stage Fright is something many performers will face at some point in time. It’s a mix of nerves and excitement that could either propel your performance or hinder it. There are many ways to conquer stage fright and boost your confidence as a performance. Let’s take a look at some effective strategies to get performance ready and overcome pre-show jitters.
Understanding Stage Fright
What is stage fright? A state of anxiety or fear which occurs before or during a performance of sorts:
In my experience this can show upon in many forms:
Sudden nerves that don’t show up till the moment I hit the stage
Nerves that impact your vocal control and performance quality
Nerves that you can’t shake till the last song of your set
Controlled nerves that fuel a performance
As a performer I know I will have to face nerves often and its something I’d like to continue to get better at using to my advantage. In my opinion, having nerves means you care about your craft and you want to deliver your best, which is a great thing! Ultimately we all are going to feel his way at some point in our lives, embrace it as part of being a performer.
Getting Performance Ready
Preparation Is Key
To tackle stage fright, preparation is important to minimise the possibility of debilitating nerves. Here are some tops tips to help you prepare for a seamless performance.
Practice Practice Practice!
There is no replacement for truly knowing your song inside and out, take the time to practice your material thoroughly. This will boost your confidence and ultimately reduce anxiety on stage.
If you know you have come prepared, ready to step out onto the stage, your mind will be free to enjoy the fruits of your labour without being preoccupied on remembering lyrics etc. You can trust that the music is ingrained in your muscle memory, allowing you to be present in the moment.
Pre Show Rituals
Its great to establish rituals that help to calm your mind before a show. Here are some of mine that help me to feel prepped and ready.
Plan your day + outfit
Plan your outfit in advance to avoid any last minute stress
Give yourself plenty of time to get ready so you don’t feel rushed
Arrive early to the venue, giving yourself time to have a mindful moment & take in the surroundings
Warm Up
Warm up your voice + your body (it is all your instrument)
Simple stretches or take walk to release tension and get your body moving
Face & Neck massage to loosen the muscles around your vocal cords
Thoroughly warm up your voice: There are plenty good resources online if you don’t have your own routine yet.
Mentally run through your set list
Give thanks for the opportunity: personally for me this is always to God
If possible, practice your setlist or focus on the difficult parts to increase trust in your voice that day.
Food, Hydration, Sleep
Sleep
Do your best to ensure you get enough sleep the night before. Our body is our instrument, so our mental and physical state will impact our singing.
So adequate sleep is important for how we’ll feel on then day.
However, should you happen to get less sleep than usual, It’s okay. Take some moments throughout the day and if possible, fit in a little power nap, a great way to re-energise yourself before a performance.
Food
It’s important to make sure you have enough sustenance to get through the show with strength and energy.
I don’t like to eat too much right before a performance but you can trust I eagerly anticipate a big celebratory meal afterward when the adrenaline has worn off.
Eat a balanced meal with vegetables, fruits, and protein to fuel your energy. I opt for something clean and light to stay alert and prepared for the performance.
I’ll usually have a substantial breakfast and lunch, an early light dinner, and keep fresh fruits and vegetables on hand throughout the day, such as pineapple, cucumber, grapes, etc to stay energised.
Hydration
Water water water! - Stay hydrated! Be intentional about drinking more water on the days leading up to a performance as it takes about 4 hours for water to reach your vocal cords.
Ginger Tea - I like to drink a ginger tea with honey, you can also add lemon; Ginger is anti-inflammatory and full of antioxidants so it can help to sooth your throat and has warming properties to increase blood flow.
Steam - The quickest way to hydrate your vocal cords is breathing in steam. You can use a vocal steamers but a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head works just as well! Take deep breathes for as long as you need. I find this to be a very relaxing way to calm your mind too.
Visualisation
Take some time to visualise your performance, going over talking points you have prepared: imagine how you’ll feel talking to the audience, what movements you might make, how you will use the stage.
A sound check is a great chance to anticipate the feeling of the nerves you'll have later: you get to see the stage, take in the surroundings, and get a moment to mentally prepare for the show.
Be Grateful
It can be easy to get caught up in the adrenaline and the expectation of yourself and how you may be perceived in front of a crowd.
Whether you are performing competitively, for an audience or with a group - It’s good practice to take a moment and remember you are only human, embrace any mistakes with humour and grace, enjoy the moment and appreciate the opportunity to share your music and connect with others.
Of course, have fun!
Through it all keep in mind why you love to sing and have fun!!
These are a few of my personal rituals, but you may have your own methods of preparation. You might find you’re already developing your own rituals, If you found something you like here, add it into your own routine.
Lastly, audiences expect you to shine and showcase your talent, so give it your all and be proud of what you have achieved to get there.
Take a breathe, take it in, give the audience a great performance and enjoy the moment, nerves and all!