by Lee VanAmee

Created on: January 10, 2010   Last Updated: January 12, 2010

Most people have had or will someday have to speak or perform in some way before an audience. There are some preparations you take to make the experience less anxiety ridden. 

Stage fright is one of the most common forms of anxiety in our society today. Whether it is at work or leisure; we are usually required many times in our lives to step up to the plate so to speak and put ourselves out in front of everyone, for the entire world to see. Or so it seems.

We feel like we are naked, like people can actually get inside our heads and read our thoughts. We shake, tremble, forget our lines, and feel faint. Sometimes it involves a personal speech like a wedding or anniversary, or even a funeral.

At work you may have to chair a meeting or be a leader for a task force. It could even be a passion like poetry, singing, performing music. It could also involve politics, personal causes or your children's play.

There are endless possibilities; the point is to be prepared, because the worst thing you can do about stage fright is to never put yourself in a position to feel it. 

Here are some things to consider and to incorporate to combat the fears that keep you paralyzed with fright: 

Before you are to present in front of a crowd, try to visit that venue physically and go up on the stage and feel what it feels like, get acquainted with what you will see visually and how the lighting is, etc.

Sit in the audience and feel what that feels like. Hear the traffic sounds that may interrupt you, get some perspective and a feeling for this venue. Musicians and public speakers do this all the time. 

There will be mistakes, there always has been, and always will be. Accept this when they happen and move on quickly, you will get over it. 

Everyone has had those butterflies you feel, share your anxiety with anyone and you will hear all kinds of stories of how we have all coped with stage fright, you may get some extra tips that will help you. 

Even though you "feel" that you are the only target of everyone's attention at this time: you are not. From the stage it appears that everyone is steely honed in on you and their attention is locked on you, it isn't.

Some people are doing their shopping list in their heads, some humming a song, some need to go to the bathroom, someone is double parked and wishes you would finish so they don't get a ticket, on and on it goes. People pay about as much attention as they can some more than others. 

So, don't let stage fright get the best of you. If you keep saying no to opportunities that you know in your heart of heart's you wanted to be a part of; you have to stop that cycle by saying yes, once. Then the next time and the time after that gets easier because you are mastering your fears instead of cowering and letting them get the best of you.

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