STAGE FRIGHT

THE BOGEYMAN, STAGE FRIGHT, PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY, PERFORMANCE ANXIETY – regardless of its name, it conjures up uncontrolled fear and nervousness that is about to eat you alive!  And it rears its ugly head not just in those who perform on stage, but also in many people involved in all kinds of public speaking.  Stage Fright can be a huge challenge for many people.

"Stage fright” is what you experience in an unusual or highly tense situation.  It is the label we use to describe our reaction to an uncomfortable and often extremely challenging environment.  Most seem to fear it, thus stage fright.  There could be many causes of stage fright, but perhaps the "fright" is misunderstood and is actually a benefit – an ally and friend waiting to assist.  Read on.

HOW TO CONTROL STAGE FRIGHT 

1.  Look at it realistically. 

• Have you ever seen a cat that is backed into a corner?  The fur stands straight up, the claws come out, the back is arched to the ceiling and an “I dare you to try and pet me” feline glare says to you, “look out!”  In short, they become super cats!
• People are like that too. When a highly charged situation stares you in the face, backs you into a corner, you often get nervous and your fur goes up!
• What happens to you physically?  Well some have sweaty palms, others have a heartbeat like motorized tympani, others have butterflies in their stomach, some have knees that clang together like cymbals, some complain of having a flushed face and on and on.  Any of these sound familiar?  These are man’s physical reactions, his fur and claws, as he is “backed into a corner.”
• Do you know what adrenalin is?  Also known as epinephrine, it is a “power hormone” that God gave us to face the unknown, to make us supermen/women.  It rushes into our blood and encourages the heart to beat faster. It provides us instant energy, strength, a way for us to be supermen/women.
• IN OTHER WORDS you are supposed to have this thing we call stage fright.  Notice the title of this section was “How to Control Stage Fright,” not “How to overcome stage fright.”  Are you surprised?  Well good.  Now you know.  I am sure there are some who say they never get nervous, but nevertheless - you are not some kind of freak because you do – you are human.  Hurray!  And God has prepared you to face those high pressure situations by giving you that power hormone.  Isn’t that amazing that God would give us a tool to face such “speaker anxiety?”  Stage fright or public speaking anxiety or knock-knee syndrome or the fear factor, however you label it, is a natural biological function.  (Without it it’s possible you are missing out on an energy provided by God and thus forced to create a new method to “get energized?)"

And how about this - the situation matters little:  

• The basketball player on the free throw line, no time remaining, his team behind by one, one and one, miss the first and you lose, make both and you win – and everyone is watching!
• The unexpected call into the principal’s office – it has never happened before and going into that office usually connotes trouble.
• Your name as it is announced for the next job interview.  You stand to go in and all other expectant applicants stare.
• The confrontation you are dreading with a relative/neighbor/friend knowing full well it will be awkward and the wrong words may ruin a relationship.
• Your hands as they shake while picking up the pen to take the test, sign the document, write the complaint.
• Even the super strength we witness as someone lifts a car (impossible) off an accident victim or someone on their last breath, trapped by fire and smoke, pulling a window casing from the wall, lag bolts and all, to reach air and freedom (another impossibility).
• And the “stage fright” in the above begins well in advance or immediately before the event – and often without speech.  The label is a misnomer, the traits are real – but this one solution is worth gold.  There is no such thing as “curing stage fright.”  It is natural!  God has equipped us with a defense for the situations we face.  Accept stage fright for what it is.  Once you realize you are not from the planet Wimpville because of some nervousness, then you can begin focusing on harnessing that vast explosive energy additive God has given.  Instead of the “anxiety” controlling you, you will control the energy – and become Supercat!

“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves … but our competence comes from God.”  2 Cor. 3:4-5 NIV

This is the mind game you play.  Your goal, your purpose, must take precedence.  This is not merely a confidence builder (although that may be the result) but rather a method to gain control.

• It is the “willing suspension of disbelief” actors assume for themselves.  They capture the necessary attitude in order to experience the character.  By doing that, their mind goes to where it should be – and away from themselves.
• I remember reading an episode about Constantin Stanislavski.  In the Soviet Union he worked primarily with the Moscow Art Theatre and developed “the Method” style of acting.  It is regarded as the “acting is believing” classic theory.  While backstage, in character, just prior to an opening curtain someone arrived with a telegram.  They approached Constantin and asked if a Mr. Stanislavski was there.  Constantin, still in total character supposedly turned and replied politely, “I’m sorry there is no one here by that name.”  That is focus! 
• Whether bugs swarming around a Boston pitcher at a crucial moment, a wandering mind while playing a computer game or a headache during an exam – they are all distractions.  They draw attention to you and your personal environment – they are the perfect distraction which destroys your goal.  You must avoid the trap of “personal distraction vision” and get refocused – you must get a “task vision.”  Do not forget what you are attempting to do.
• Often horse trainers use blinders to keep the horses eyes straight ahead. Why do you suppose they support such a “gimmick?”  They do it because the “gimmick” works.   The horse sees what is ahead and rarely is influenced by the multitude of distractions on the right and left.  Put your blinders on.  However you force yourself to get focused, do it now.  Use your blinders to keep your attention on the journey and the goal – and off of the many telegrammed distractions around you – including yourself.

When was the last time you went to a concert wondering if the singer would be off key,   to a play looking for a monologue forgotten or a dialogue twisted into nonsense, to a lecture curious about whether the professor would stumble over words, or worse yet actually forget the message?  Probably never!  And that is the point.  Read on MacDuff.

• Audiences attend because they have an interest in the event.  They like the singer, are curious about the topic, want to be entertained, know the performer, want to escape the outside world, and on and on.  With rare exceptions, they arrive open minded.  The furthest thought from their mind is whether the performer/speaker is nervous.  In short, they are in your corner.
• You see the audience also participates in the “willing suspension of disbelief.”  They have suspended their personal world to join yours.  They have stopped themselves and opened their ears to you.   They have committed themselves to being receptive.  Their intentions are positive.  You must realize that.
• True, they may not like what they see or be in agreement with what they hear.  True you want to “please” them.  But when that bell rings to begin the round they are in your corner.  Audiences are your allies – hold on to that.
• They do not attend hoping for a disaster.  You don’t do that either, do you, when you attend such an event?  Of course not.  You arrive hoping to be taught, entertained, uplifted, whatever.
• We are a self-centered age.  Our own feelings and perceptions and thoughts dominate us.  Your audience is composed of many “self-centered” people.  I suspect very few of them wonder if before the event begins you checked your zipper or adjusted the clothing or went to the bathroom. (Ahah – but you will do those things, won’t you?  You did that “preparation.”)  Nor will they be giving any thought to your stage fright.
• And if . . . IF . .  they do, it is with empathy because they too have traveled the “boards.”  They too have experienced “stage anxiety.”  
• In short, be realistic.  Most audiences are your friend, not an adversary.  Join them in visualizing your success and anticipating satisfaction.  They do not visualize your failure and you shouldn’t either.   Get it?  Got it. Good!  Now don’t forget it! (And remember to go to the bathroom and adjust your clothes, fly included!) 

Preparation does not guarantee success.   Success is not solely based on preparation.  But make no mistake success without preparation is nothing more than a risk, a lifeless kite waiting for a gust of wind. Moral:  reducing the risk by preparation greatly improves your chances of success.

• It really is a no-brainer.  If you are prepared you do better.  Study and your test scores are likely to rise, limber-up the lips first and those trumpet notes will come easier later, practice 50 free throws a day and you are likely to improve your shooting, stretch out before dance class and you are less likely to pull a muscle, practice the speech out loud and you will probably be more fluent and less likely to “blank out.”
• Do you remember your early failures with your first crossword puzzle, the first time at the keyboard, the first driving lesson?  And yet now the puzzles are less challenging, the keyboards more friendly and those driving rules less confusing.  Be realistic now.  The progress will probably be slight at first.  When you first pick up the guitar and begin to twang, your fingers bleed and hurt.  Only later, as they become accustomed to their newfound occupation, do they become hardened and capable of “twanging without pain.” 
• Preparation is a confidence builder.  It is a reminder of what to do, how to get there and exactly how to do it.  The more times that sequence rattles through your head the more likely you will remember and your body will know what to do.  Your preparation makes you strong and reduces the anxiety.
• We rehearse on stage to make us better, more comfortable, more complete.  When directing, I typically work about 6 weeks with my casts.  They “prepare” at home for the rehearsal and they “prepare” while at rehearsal for the production.  Over and over we go – experimenting, analyzing, growing, fine-tuning.  And why do we do such preparation?  Because we know full well if the preparation is complete, the stage energy harnessed, we will likely achieve that legendary goal of the International Thespian Society motto – “act well your part – there all the honor lies.”
• It is like the parable of the seed in Mark 4.  A seed has great potential.  Inside it are the mysteries only God understands.  But the seed is worthless until it is planted.  Until it is put in soil it is only potential.  You are like that seed.  You are unharnessed energy just waiting to be planted.  I believe that when you begin to prepare you have put your seed in the soil.  The preparation begins to take root.  And the longer you nurture and care for that soil the greater will be your harvest
• As a director, my many rehearsals are important. (Actually the rehearsals are more rewarding than the performances – but that is another story.)  My goal for cast members is that after each rehearsal they are better than before.  Adopt that goal.  As you prepare, remember a little bit more than before.  Realize your confidence is growing step by step.  That gradual growth does not only lead to success, but it is inspiring to see it happen - the stage fright will diminish.  And you will have harnessed some control.
• In other words, here are three ways to greatly reduce your anxiety - Prepare.  Prepare.  Prepare.

Look for them.  Investigate.  Add your own personalism.  Once you find a remedy or a temporary fix grasp it – use it and recall it.

• Several deep breathes – hold – and then exhale.
• Physical exercises like knee bends, shake out the fingers and wrists, jump, roll the head and hear the “cracks” or torso twists and feel the “snaps.”
• Take a few moments alone – close eyes or find a place where you can focus.
• Any effective physical gimmicks you discover which somehow corral and control your physical energy are great weapons.  But make no mistake, that cache of firepower when “fired” can be a true ally and an instant boost of energy which catapults your effectiveness.   (Wow, I got excited just writing those words.)

6.  In Summary – Stage Fright Tips

   Stage fright is:

1. Common – celebrities and peons and those in between experience it.
2. Natural – God made us that way.
3. Untapped energy – use it.

    Moral: 

1. Understanding the nature of speaker anxiety allows you to actually control that dreaded Bogeyman. 
2. You probably cannot eliminate stage fright – and probably do not even want to!!   So get a grip – and get going.

    Steps to Take:

1. Look at it realistically.  Use this God-given energy to help you excel at what you do.  Don’t look at it as a hindrance, but as a helpful tool.
2. Be completely focused on your task.  Don’t think about yourself.
3. Realize the audience is for you.  They are on your side and probably want you to win.
4. Be prepared.  Preparation will build your confidence.  Go over and over your material so you will be ready to step out on that stage.
5. Use personal physical preparation techniques such as breathing, stretching, bending, etc

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy;  nothing will harm you."             Lk 10:18 NIV