Stage Fright And How To Overcome It

Making a public appearance of some sort can be a harrowing experience. Whether it's a commercial presentation, a wedding reception or other type of speech, or a first appearance in a play, the experiences, and the fears and apprehension, can be the same. For many, the fear and the apprehension can cause stage fright that can prevent then from making the appearance at all, or getting on "stage" and freezing.

The nerves and the emotion of getting on stage can be turned to your advantage. By and large, if you get in front of an audience, they want you to succeed. If it is a private speech, the audience will probably feel for you, and imagine they are in your place; the same with a small presentation. Audiences do not want to be made uncomfortable themselves by witnessing your discomfort and failure. They would rather see you take them along with you on an enjoyable ride.

This means that you can use your own nervousness to your advantage and to relax yourself and the atmosphere. The most important thing, when you are making a public speech, is to let the audience see the real you, not an image you are trying to project. So, if you behave naturally, people will relate to you better. If you go in front of an audience with a “fake” personality, they will sense it and react negatively. Never try to be something you are not, otherwise you will be concentrating on the acting and not getting the speech or presentation across. People are a much more willing to accept someone who is a bit insecure or clumsy, rather than a person who is obviously putting on a false mask, and trying to cover his real personality.

Before making your "big appearance" think through some of the thing that you find difficult in facing an audience. Observe your own reactions as you think, and try to do so in a detached way. By so doing, you will put the fears in a much better perspective, and go a long way to dispelling them

Next, warm up your mind before a presentation, and do not neglect your body. Every muscle of your body should be relaxed, as even the smallest physical inconvenience will affect your communication with the audience. By preparing beforehand, you can aim to step on stage with a perfect mental and physical condition. that will make your task at hand a lot easier.

As you will "perform" better in a relaxed state, it is important to focus on your breathing, not just before you start, but regularly through the peech. Rhythmical breaths bring a feeling of order and balance, exactly what you need before and while giving your speech. Just before the start, try to breathe deeply for about ten minutes, as this will bring precious oxygen to your brain, and allow it to function at maximum capacity.

It is very important with an audience that you make eye contact with individuals. Try to visualise the scene as a place for dialogue, instead of just a monologue from you, and adopt a relaxed posture. Smiling sincerely, in a relaxed way, will always increase your chances of giving a good presentation. Remember that all those people in front of you are not there to judge you. They are there to receive the information you have, or the speech you are giving. you only need, therefore, to focus on the purpose of your speech, rather than the audience's attitude towards you.

In summary, you should turn your own fear into a feeling of acceptance. Your fears emanate from the fact that you are worried about the audience making a negative judgment of you or your presentation. Ignore this thought, and step on stage with the believing you are there to share information or experience, and that you will be met with both acceptance and interest.

The more engaging the presentation is, the better for you and the way the audience reacts. Communicate with audience members and try to do this on a one to one level. By talking to a certain individual you personalize your performance, and make it become part of who you are. Keeping eye contact with your audience may be difficult and disturbing, but you should try to do it regularly. Make a statement, and then pause and glance at the public. Remember that non verbal communication plays a vital role in your presentation, and the way it is perceived by others.