Fighting Stage Fright: 8 Tips From a Seasoned Actress
Face it. Anyone who has ever been on a stage in front of a crowd has experienced this. Your palms sweat, your brain goes fuzzy, and you're left shivering like a chihuahua. I'm talking about Stage Fright.
I'm often asked by my friends and family, "Do you still get stage fright?" They're always quite surprised when I can confidently answer, "Nope!" They then proceed to ask me how, and the simple answer is: I've been doing this a long time. The not-so-simple answer, though, for people who may be new to Show Biz or who may be seasoned actors like myself but who just can't seem to shake those butterflies, is what I aim to answer in today's post. So without further ado...
1. Practice!
I cannot stress this enough. The old phrase, "Practice makes perfect," is so true in so many things in life and this is one of them. As soon as you get your hands on your script or your music or whatever, practice whenever you get a chance. On the bus, on the subway, preferably not while driving a car (at least until you've got it memorized). Just go for it. Don't be worried about if you look crazy. How many of these people actually have an influence on your life? If you can't be loud, just read quietly over your words and try to memorize them.
Once you think you've got your words memorized, go over them again... 10 more times. When I say practice whenever you get a chance, I mean it. You should be running your lines even after the show has closed. Be THAT obsessed, because I guarantee you will mess up, or someone else will mess up and you need to know your part by heart to fix it. Plus, the better you know your part, the more confident you'll be on stage.
2. Meditate
I know meditation can seem daunting at first, but just taking maybe 5-10 minutes before or after a show can help you get into character and out of character. This helps you acknowledge the things that are bothering you in your everyday life and keep them separate from your character's life. Too many times, I see people do what is called, "Method acting," and while it's great for character studies, it can be unhealthy to carry around your character's world all the time.
Now, you don't always have to meditate in the traditional sense, but you can see putting on/taking off makeup and your character's clothes as the transition, or you can just take a deep breath once in costume and makeup to center yourself. But then again, if you're hanging around a bunch of theatre folk, do you really think they'd judge you for full on meditating in the middle of the green room? Whatever you choose, the trick is to separate who you normally are and who your character is. The more you believe it, the more the audience will believe it.
3. Get Comfortable
One of my favorite things about theatre is that by the end of the show, most of the cast is made up of your closest friends. But you can't just join a show and expect it to happen. In many cases, it just takes staying after rehearsals a few minutes and seeing what everyone is up to. Don't be afraid to tag along to dinner. After all, rehearsals ran through dinner and you're going to be staying up to eat anyway, right?
My point is, make friends. Get to know everyone and their interests. Blanking on what to talk about? Talk about the show. It's the one thing you know you have in common, so ask them why they auditioned, or talk about the fails and successes of that night's rehearsals. Get everyone's numbers so you don't miss out on other dinners because I promise you there will be groups every night. Find yours.
But how does this tie into stage fright? Well, if you're up on stage with a bunch of people you like and who like you, it's easier to help each other out. I've witnessed when someone was sort of out of the loop and cut themselves off and when they messed up, the rest of the cast had no clue how to help them. Plus, you'll have tons more fun if you're just up on stage being silly with a bunch of friends.
4. Get Out of Your Head
When you first start a show, it's easy to get stuck in your own head and become self-conscious. But, if you conquer your stage fright with the small group of people who are doing things just as crazy as you are, then you will find it easier to do step 3. Again, trust me. If you're that person who is standing there saying, "No. I'm not going to do that. I'll look stupid," then just take a step back and realize that everyone looks stupid and those people will like you a whole lot more if you look stupid with them. Just let loose and go with it. You may look stupid, and you may feel embarrassed, but that's okay. You aren't the same person in rehearsals as you are the rest of the time.
At rehearsals, you get to explore your deepest darkest feelings and emotions and let them out. Everyone will be there to support you. (Just don't forget to support them too!) Once you can let go of your outside life and just let loose and have fun, you're well on your way to eliminating stage fright altogether.
5. Warm Up
Any good director will have the company do a few warm ups before every rehearsal and every night of the show. If yours for some reason doesn't, get together with your newfound friends and do a warm up together. This can be anything from reciting tongue twisters to "shaking it out," to the horrid game that everyone hates called, "21." Whatever it is, you should finish feeling focused and energized.
Use this time to get out of your head even further and get into character. Play some games in character and see what happens. Or, do a character walk. Whichever you choose, you should leave everyone about 15 or so minutes to make final preparations before the show.
6. Shake It Out
Now, my version of this is a little different and a lot more subtle than the official, "Shake it Out," warm up. If you're still feeling some jitters, use everything you've been practicing before you go on stage. Run your lines for the scene or just run your problem lines. Keep a script backstage, just in case. Read your scenes before you go on. Get out of your head and focus on what you need to be doing. Put up the fourth wall, forgetting there's even an audience there. Pretend it's just another rehearsal. And finally, right before you go on, take a deep breath, letting yourself feel your anxiety, and as you exhale, shake your nerves away, telling yourself, "I got this." Think of it as being like shaking off bugs. Let your worries go, go out there and rock it.
7. Have Fun
After the show is over, you'll miss everyone, so make sure you savor every moment. Don't take things too seriously, and just be yourself. I promise no one is going to think you're crazy or weird for being fun. Theatre people are the most genuine people you will ever meet, and if you let them, they will be your best friends. I know things get stressful, and some people just don't seem to get it, but the now cliche, "Keep Calm and Carry On," applies to Show Biz so well.
The greatest key to success in theatre is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Remember that everyone is in this together and the director is the one whose vision is coming to life. You may not always agree with them. but they cast you for a reason. If you have notes, feel free to propose your idea. Don't be afraid to open up.
Too often I have fellow cast members who shut themselves off and only focus on the "business," portion of the show, and everyone thinks they're just rude. It's super important to focus on the work being done, sure, but don't make it all work and no play. After all, another word for an actor is a player.
And once the show is over, be sure to ask around about a cast party. Usually, they're held after closing night to celebrate a great run and say goodbye (until next time) to everyone.
8. Keep trying
The more shows you do, the easier it'll get. Don't shy away from a show just because you suffer from stage fright. Be sure to keep trying and keep in touch with your friends. They will be your supporters and who knows, maybe you'll be in shows with them again.
And when auditioning, keep in mind that even a seasoned actor may go through 10 auditions before getting 1 role. You'll find the role for you. Just keep trying.
