I have developed a couple of recurring nightmares over time, ranging from bone-chilling natural disasters to working in a restaurant that runs out of food. But when it’s not either of those, my nightmares are usually set on a stage as I perform in a play and forget every line. It’s a little different each time, but the dream usually involves me in front of a huge audience, laughing uncontrollably at my failure. Or they throw things at me. Or suddenly, it turns into a natural disaster nightmare; you get the idea.
This nightmare-ish phenomenon is a symptom of a common terror that haunts many people in their daily lives, even non-actors: stage fright. According to HealthCentral, this phobia, which is scientifically called glossophobia, affects about 75% of our population. While I couldn’t necessarily spell that word without looking it up, I can say with certainty that it is a very overwhelming feeling.
Many seasoned actors still struggle with stage fright after years of training. Even the most confident-looking celebrities get anxious to perform in front of others. Hugely successful actors — including Meryl Streep, Cher, Elvis Presley and Andrew Garfield — all have a place on this lengthy list because this psychological fear is human nature, even for professional performers.
Why does stage fright scare us so much? Maybe we’re worried we’ll mess up on stage or forget what we have to say. Perhaps just the thought of standing in front of a large audience is enough to make a person feel anxious.
On a deeper level, stage fright represents an intense fear of rejection. It’s incredibly vulnerable to present your work and leave its fate in the hands of others.
Take acting, for example. Performers spend painstakingly long hours rehearsing, re-adjusting and memorizing their pieces until they can finally perform. Only, sometimes, the audience won’t receive the performance well, and that thought can be anxiety-provoking for the performers.
Of course, there’s also a distinct difference between stage fright in live theatre versus film and television. Live theatre is one of the most intimidating places to perform because there is nowhere to hide — no doovers, no outtakes and absolutely no room for error.
Stage fright doesn’t only apply to actors. It can be nerve-wracking for anyone to present in front of a class, a board meeting or even in a causal small group setting. Every time we make the choice to share something with others, we run the risk of rejection, and that fact is enough to give plenty of people nightmares.
But however intense the fear, there are methods we can employ to mitigate the anxiety we feel. Simple tasks can reduce anxiety before a performance: soothing chamomile tea, relaxing music, deep breathing or anything distracting to get you out of your head.
Another important task is preparation. We’ve all been told that practice makes perfect, and while this isn’t necessarily true (because perfection in theatre is pretty much impossible), practice can make you feel like the most confident version of yourself — one of the most effective ways to combat stage fright.
Finally, one of the best ways presenters and performers relinquish feelings of stage fright is to remind themselves of their “why.” Acting, presenting and sharing ideas can be frightening because it’s as if you’re putting a piece of your heart on the line. But it is beautiful to have something you care about so much you’re worried about how it will be perceived. Try to let your passion for the subject be greater than your fear, because if not for your passion, you wouldn’t be up on stage in the first place. Hopefully, you can relish the exhilarating feeling of sharing something you love.
If you’re still anxious about performing or presenting, remember that judgment from others should never stop you from your work. It’s a noble pursuit to put yourself out there and spread something you’ve worked hard to create, and that’s something not even fear can take away from you.
