Did anyone here beat performance anxiety?

examples:
-musicians playing live
-giving presentations in front of people
-any situation the spotlight is on you basically

if so let us know how!

thanks

 

Yeah. By avoiding all that stuff.

 

There used to be a time when I struggled hard with that, and back then, what really helped (and the only thing that ever helped) was to perform a lot. On all possible occasions that you can possibly get, even if it's playing for a few people. Do that all the time and things will get better. But stop doing it for a while and it gets worse again. It's like a muscle you train.

 

Literally just getting up and playing, putting the work in so I had a bit of confidence in my playing, then after that continuing to develop and gain confidence. I don’t think there is a secret as such, and the weird thing is, I am extremely shy in a lot of situations. I would say I do kind of wear a mask when playing (psychologically speaking, not like Slipknot), and that definitely helped.

 

Viagra.

 

you learn and plan your career like a machine.

 

First the positive sides: stage fright is part of every lecture. It is normal. Even professional keynote speakers with years of experience have it. Also, wet hands and a dry mouth before an important presentation can occur. But that shouldn't unsettle or block you. Stage fright is useful. It doesn't feel like it, but the tension and nervousness that come with stage fright make a speech or lecture even better. The reason for this is the production of adrenaline. The hormone makes us wide awake, increases concentration and performance. The body is better supplied with energy. In short: the tension helps us cope with the task at hand.

The following tips can help you overcome your fear of speaking:

Relativize
Around 40 percent of people are afraid of making public speeches. So you are anything but an outsider or particularly handicapped. Even more: A large part of your audience knows exactly how you are doing on stage and the stress you are going through. By making yourself aware of this, the pressure often goes down.

Analyze
If you want to overcome fears, you have to face them. They often go away as soon as we become aware of why or what we are afraid of - and how realistic that is. So feel free to play through the thought in the form of a worst-case scenario: What could happen in the worst case? Would that really be that bad? How realistic is that? Then what could you do? Most of the time the result is: Everything is not so wild.

Prepare
The better the preparation, the greater the self-confidence. This also reduces the fear of failure. As long as the routine is missing, you should invest more time in preparation. Make notes or bullet points on index cards and practice the presentation in front of friends or the mobile phone camera. All great speakers started small.

Relax
If you notice that you are feeling nervous and panicky, short relaxation exercises can help you to calm down again (such as so-called star breathing, see graphic). Try different exercises to find out what works best. We recommend the following breathing technique, which can be used in every situation: breathe in normally, hold your breath, breathe out slowly. The technique can be repeated until you feel inner calm.

Talk
Okay, this tip sure requires some effort. In extreme cases, however, it can help to overcome fear of speaking: Verbalize your nervousness and ask the audience for understanding. As I said, they can usually understand that. The release and confession usually reduce the tension. The more professional you become, the less you should use the remedy. Unfortunately, it doesn't look particularly confident either.

Watch
Insecurity escapes as soon as we look her in the eye. So don't look at the ground, but look for friendly, well-meaning people in the audience and keep eye contact with them again and again. First of all, it seems sympathetic; second, the trick builds your confidence. You can even increase the latter with your body language. If you stand securely and speak upright, the so-called biofeedback drives away the fear of speaking.

To ignore
Fear of speech often causes us to overinterpret everything or take it personally. Someone in the audience yawns - we already think the lecture is deadly boring. Two listeners are talking - I'm sure they're gossiping about the stupid blah. Of course it's nonsense and a lie of our self-doubt. Try to ignore such false assumptions and take them less personally.

https://karrierebibel.de/redeangst-ueberwinden/

 

As mentioned above, practice a lot so you're certain of what you're doing. Also i usually take a few minutes before going on stage and meditate about my position on earth, in the universe, the purpose of our existence, the goals i set for myself, until i'm aware of the relativity of it all.

I'm in the event-business, cleaning venues.

 

I've been performing live for over 40 years and to this day I still (would) have the "stage syndrome".
Yes, I tried all the suggestions above but everything failed quite miserabily.
One day I was telling this to a friend doctor who said to me: "betablocks". (Chess and snooker players are known to make use of it)
As it happens 1 of my brothers is also a doctor (I never mentioned this to him before) so when I asked his opinion he went off to do a deep search of infos about betablocks.
Came back with a big thumb-up. It is not a drug and has very rare and little side effects (headaches, mainly, but I've never experienced any).
Since then I take 1 small betablock pill a couple of hours before walking on stage and all anxiety is just gone. I feel relaxed but still focussed.
My heart doesn't pump like a train and my hands don't tremble. I enjoy playing live like never before.
Bliss!

 

do you think after a month of being on stage with beta blockers and feeling relaxed...if you don't take it after that for a day or two is there a chance u are still relaxed on stage? due to be experiencing being relaxed all this time taking this medicine..i guess not right?

 

it doesnt go away but you learn to just do what you gotta do regardless , and it gets easier as time goes on and you realise it doesnt stop anything

 

never had problem with that, because I started as soloist at music school, later changed instrument and joined band in result playing with other people almost completely kills the stress/burden of self-error,
I'd say the key is to change mindset to leverage burden on people around you, it works for me


ps: and people don't really care if you play/talk shit, unless your body talk explicitly warns them

 

Never forget that most people in the audience love what you do and they're grateful to see you on stage, even if they can't always show it.
Becoming aware of that toggled the switch for me.

 

can you further explain what you mean by this

thanks!

 

If you don't get anxious before you perform, it's time to move and quit.
I've been performing in front of thousands of people in the last 3 decades, and every time I feel that anxiety before the show... All that goes after the moment I start.

 

4,6 works for me https://www.healthline.com/health/pressure-points-for-anxiety#union-valley

 

What for me always works is:
...to be myfuckinself
(I know, it´s not easy)

 

The following is absolutely true. I rehearse the chords I intend to record a dozen times before I hit the red button. I play F major, C major and D minor. Then last minute anxiety scrambles my brain and I hit record and play an E flat minor.

 

A couple of shots of vodka before going out and there has to be beers on the stage at every corner to "keep you up".

Oh, and practice a lot. Not drinking, i mean. The more you perform, the less anxiety you'll experience. Interestingly, bigger crowds make me less anxious than smaller... hmmm but being ready [practising] will install bigger confidence in you and give you some relief from anxiety.

 

By understanding that the audience is less than you.
That's why they're down there and you're up here.
If they're paying you, that cinches it