Got Butterflies 🦋 Stage Fright Tips That Actually Work

Have you felt like this before a gig?

Cold hands, racing pulse, the sudden urge to forget every lyric you’ve ever written or learned. For many musicians, performance anxiety feels like a wall between them and the audience. But what if that wall was actually a door?

Being the Performer You’re Meant to Be isn't about being fearless; it’s about knowing how to focus and reframe that fear into energy.

Feel It

It's Just Adrenaline.

The physical sensations we label as "fear" are usually just your body preparing your for peak performance. Fear is very similar to excitement and energy. Your heart is pumping blood to your muscles and your brain is sharpening.

Your body is telling that you are ready

When you to learn to relabel your thoughts like "I am nervous" into statements like "I am ready to do this," the nervous energy turns into your greatest asset and a useful tool to get your show going on the right track.

Shift It

Focus on the Room, Not Your Mirror

Stage fright often comes from extreme self-focus.

• "What if I make a mistake?"
• "What if I play the wrong notes?"
• "What if I do something dumb and everyone laughs?"

If you shift your goal from worrying about yourself to making sure that your audience has a great experience, you remove the pressure you've placed on yourself and turn your focus to something you can control. You become a vessel for the music rather than a subject of judgment.

Prepare It

Good Systems Keep You Ready

Confidence comes from competence. We recommend a "Pre-Stage Checklist" for your technical gear and a set of routine exercises for your mental state to do before the show starts and during if necessary. There are tons of options available to you like breathing techniques, physical exercises, and even positive self-affirmations (You are going to be great today! - Works great for some, and not so much for others.) Find your routine and use it as often as you need it.

If you can handle the "business" of your gig, then your creativity and artistry has room to breathe so that you can Be the Performer You're Meant to Be.

If you are looking to take your stage presence to the next level, check out our latest courses at dannyrobertsonmusic.com.