How to feel confident on stage while any kind of performance ?

Well, I was involved in theatre for some time and the way I got over stage fright and felt confident on stage was just to know exactly what I had to do and believe in myself. I eventually forgot about the audience and just thought about doing my job and doing it properly and with all the passion and heart I could. If you believe in yourself, it'll be much easier. Good luck!

Look out into the audience and choose a person on the right, on the left, and in the middle. Choose people you can find again--because of a red blouse or white hair or dark-rimmed glasses, etc. Look only at each of those people as you perform. It will seem to evryone like you are looking at the audience as a whole, not just at individuals.

Remember you are the expert, the one who has come to them to provide entertainment or information. You are doing them a special service, and they will let you know how much they are enjoying it by cheering and clapping.

Once you hear applause for the first time, you will relax and smile.

What is it that you are doing or are going to be doing on stage that you are having some fears about?

Actually I know that whatever I am going to present on stage is excellent and I am also doing it with the best efforts I can, and I also know that people like me. But still somewhere in my mind, a thought comes like I am not perfect. What if I made a mistake ? What if something bad happens on stage... These things don't let me feel confident... :-(

What is it that you are doing on stage, please? Knowing that would help in answering you better.

I am basically a singer... We are 5 guys and have formed a musical band... We have an upcoming event coming very soon, We are preparing for that...

It is not like I am fearing for this event... but every time I have such kind of programs , or If I do anything which draws people attention , I feel nervous...

Thank you for saying what it is that you do on stage. I too, am a singer. I also perform on stages playing other types of musical instruments.

Are you in school? If you are, what grade are you in, please?

Nice to hear that... :-) , I am not in schools, I am a computer professional working with a MNC.

Thank you!

Are you the only singer in the group?

No, We are 2 guys in the group who sing but the other guyz is purely confident... he enjoys the crowd... He says that it gives him more enthusiasm when he see that there is a huge crowd... while it is reverse with me

Do you sing the same notes as him? Or, is it more like a duet, say on different notes that are sung at the same time?

Do you feel like he is a better singer than you? Or that, because he feels so confident on stage that it makes you feel uncomfortable?

Sorry about so many questions this time. But, I'm just trying to figure out what is going on. I do know all about what it feels like to be afraid on stage.

Sometimes we have to take things apart piece by piece here in order to figure out what is happening.

No , we don't sing the same notes... we even don't do duet also... except sometime singing a song in which there a chorus involved, then we sing the same song...

I even don't feel like that he is better then me, This is not like that in these 5 guys only I feel nervous, but every time... when I go on stage to sing or whenever I am asked to sing in a group of people, I feel like this only...

I can understand why you are asking all these questions, you are just trying to help me only... thanks for sparing your time to talk to me...

I never talked to anyone on this subject before...

You are welcome! Thank you for being honest, open and sharing with me! :)

Are there other things that you do in your life where you might feel as unconfident like you do on stage?

I'm glad that you came back! I thought that you were gone...

No , not now , but earlier I used not to mix up with girls, I used to feel the same in their company... But After my marriage that fear is gone... In case presenting a Presentation in to the management, or giving a demo of a technology to the group of users... anything where I am standing alone and discussing about anything in front of a group of people...

In all such cases , I feel like this only... I feel like I don't have power in my legs lower then the knees...

But there is one morething... as the show /presentation goes on, I start feeling confident, I start feeling the same power again...

I think that we just hit the nail on the head! It sounds like you might suffer from anxiety attacks. I have suffered from them for years.

When you are in front of people and presenting something to them, do you ever feel like your brain is going so fast that you can't think and that your heart starts beating more than normal?

Actually during those moments, Lots of thoughts come to my mind, like What if somebody asked a question for which I don't have answer, how am I appearing ? Am I too loud or am I too slow... blah blah... Yes My heartbeat starts beating more than the normal... I can easily feel the heart beat...

But every time somebody asks any question, I manage the situation better...

You are stressed, nervous and afraid when you are in front of people doing something where you want to be the best that you can be. I am the same way. When things get going some, then I calm down and am able to function better.

Has anyone ever said that you were a perfectionist or had perfectionist tendencies? Do you view yourself as being at least somewhat of a perfectionist?

What do you mean by perfectionist , I could not understand your question clearly

Being a perfectionist means wanting to do things as precisely and as accurately as possible, to put it shortly. There are also a number of other words that could be used to describe a perfectionistic attitude or way of being.

Yes, I always try to do things as accurate as it is... I always try to perform the same things as performed by the original singer..

Would you like to know how I got over being anxious and nervous when doing things in front of people concerning performing music or when making presentations?

(No one really gets over it completely. We just all have different ways of dealing with it, depending on what we are doing in front of people.)

I should rather say that I always try to sing all the notes, all the singing techniques performed by the original singer...

Definitely , I would love to know that... Please tell me

Answer is coming. Please be patient. Thank you!

I graduated from college with a teaching degree in music. I was very reluctant to pursue a teaching job at any school for a number of years because I was afraid. Afraid of being in front of people. Afraid that I would not do the absolute best that I could, for myself as well as the students.

I got my first teaching job because I had been recommended by a friend. The principal of the school called me up. I had an interview. I got the job. (This was also in the middle of the school year, by the way.)

I was scared to death in front of the kids. Could function better as things went along. Was getting used to it. I would get horrible anxiety attacks where I couldn't say or do anything. Since they were little kids, they didn't know what was going on and just laughed some. (Of course that didn't help me any either!)

Eventually, I got over my fears and also being so much of a perfectionist at what I was doing that I began to relax and feel confident. Instead of having problems speaking in front of a group of just six or eight people, I have now come to the point where, (even though I am nervous, of course!) I can speak in front of a group of 1,200!

Also, when I started giving lectures and demonstrations to groups of people years ago, I would always write down exactly every word that I would say.

Not anymore! I rarely ever even use notes!

The key for me was PRACTICE!! Let me say that again, PRACTICE!!

You will get over your lack of confidence! I know that you will! You just have to have more time being in front of people doing what you are doing!

In my heart-of-hearts, I don't think that you are that different from me as far as being in front of people.

Two questions for you. Please answer without regard to your feelings of confidence while doing things in front of people.

Do you want to and love to perform for people?

Do you love the job that you have and preparing for giving presentations for people?

I graduated from college with a teaching degree in music. I was very reluctant to pursue a teaching job at any school for a number of years because I was afraid. Afraid of being in front of people. Afraid that I would not do the absolute best that I could, for myself as well as the students.

I got my first teaching job because I had been recommended by a friend. The principal of the school called me up. I had an interview. I got the job. (This was also in the middle of the school year, by the way.)

I was scared to death in front of the kids. Could function better as things went along. Was getting used to it. I would get horrible anxiety attacks where I couldn't say or do anything. Since they were little kids, they didn't know what was going on and just laughed some. (Of course that didn't help me any either!)

Eventually, I got over my fears and also being so much of a perfectionist at what I was doing that I began to relax and feel confident. Instead of having problems speaking in front of a group of just six or eight people, I have now come to the point where, (even though I am nervous, of course!) I can speak in front of a group of 1,200!

Also, when I started giving lectures and demonstrations to groups of people years ago, I would always write down exactly every word that I would say.

Not anymore! I rarely ever even use notes!

The key for me was PRACTICE!! Let me say that again, PRACTICE!!

You will get over your lack of confidence! I know that you will! You just have to have more time being in front of people doing what you are doing!

In my heart-of-hearts, I don't think that you are that different from me as far as being in front of people.

Two questions for you. Please answer without regard to your feelings of confidence while doing things in front of people.

Do you want to and love to perform for people?

Do you love the job that you have and preparing for giving presentations for people?
Thanks for your answer :-)...

The answer to both of your questions is YES... I love singing... I love singing of people..
Even I have a dream to perform in a big Stadium in front of thosands of people...
I have a dream of being a popular / famous artist/singer...

I will work on your suggestion... I will practice more harder from now onwards...

Thanks for your answer :-) .....

The answer to both of your questions is YES ...... I love singing ...... I love singing of people ..
Even I have a dream to perform in a big Stadium in front of thosands of people.....
I have a dream of being a popular / famous artist/singer....

I will work on your suggestion ...... i will practice more harder from now onwards.....


Please do just that. Practice in doing things in front of people. It will get easier after time. But, it will take some time.

I have given you my witness as well as my story.

You can also live your dream, if you try hard enough and practice hard enough. Never quit dreaming and trying to do the things that you want to do. There are many people at the top. There is always room for more people at the top. It may be the top around where you live. It may be the top that is recognized on t.v. somewhere. It may be the top that just helps a lot of people. All of those things are the top. It may also be the top where you can make a lot of money. Or, maybe you won't. But, the benefits might far outweigh the money that you make.

What kinds of music do you sing?

Please do just that. Practice in doing things in front of people. It will get easier after time. But, it will take some time.

I have given you my witness as well as my story.

You can also live your dream, if you try hard enough and practice hard enough. Never quit dreaming and trying to do the things that you want to do. There are many people at the top. There is always room for more people at the top. It may be the top around where you live. It may be the top that is recognized on t.v. somewhere. It may be the top that just helps a lot of people. All of those things are the top. It may also be the top where you can make a lot of money. Or, maybe you won't. But, the benefits might far outweigh the money that you make.

What kinds of music do you sing?
We are primarily in to Hindi Music, but we perform English also...
Recently we did a small performance in our office. Some body had captured the video of one song which I sang and has uploaded it to YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. (http://www.youtube.com)... but it is a hindi songs.

You can watch it on YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. (http://www.youtube.com), just open YouTube and search by " Amit Saxena "...

It will result with some videos... the first video is mine :-)...

How to feel confident on stage while any kind of performance ?
YouTube - IBM Rockstar Amit Saxena (Atif Aslam) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r0y62Bh2IU)

Go through this url... and give your comments...

Thank you! I will be checking those out! I can sense the excitement in what you write! And, that is very good! You sound a lot better now then when we had started this thread!

But, right now, I really need to get to bed! It is 5:41 A.M. in the morning where I am right now. I have to ride a band bus today to a performance that we have to give at a place that is nearly 100 miles from here.

I would love to continue discussing with you about you, your music, and how things are going in general.

Hopefully, some things that we have discussed here have been helpful to you!

If you do return and want to discuss things with me, I will know if you post to this thread in the future simply because you will have posted to it. If you have any further questions in any new threads that you might like to start and would like for me to be a part of them, then please Private Message me to make me aware of your intentions.

I look forward to further dialogue with you!

Thank you! I will be checking those out! I can sense the excitement in what you write! And, that is very good! You sound a lot better now then when we had started this thread!

But, right now, I really need to get to bed! It is 5:41 A.M. in the morning where I am right now. I have to ride a band bus today to a performance that we have to give at a place that is nearly 100 miles from here.

I would love to continue discussing with you about you, your music, and how things are going in general.

Hopefully, some things that we have discussed here have been helpful to you!

If you do return and want to discuss things with me, I will know if you post to this thread in the future simply because you will have posted to it. If you have any further questions in any new threads that you might like to start and would like for me to be a part of them, then please Private Message me to make me aware of your intentions.

I look forward to further dialogue with you!
Yes that's right, I am feeling more confident now.

Thanks a lot for all your support and suggestions.

I would definitely be in touch with you and will be updating you regularly.

It was really a nice talking to you Sir :-)

People get nervous on getting on to the stage , that is because,they think of the judges,the audiences,the place u are going to secure and everything else.but don't forget that u are the best and are going to be best.And some people just go on reciting,memorizing,reading.Don't do that,before going do all the preparations required.when u are about to enter the stage take a deep breath and leave it out do it twice or thrice.and all the best.Don't get nervous.

People get nervous on getting on to the stage , that is because,they think of the judges,the audiences,the place u are going to secure and everything else.but don't forget that u are the best and are going to be best.And some people just go on reciting,memorizing,reading.Don't do that,before going do all the preparations required.when u are about to enter the stage take a deep breath and leave it out do it twice or thrice.and all the best.Don't get nervous.

Just so everyone knows who continues to post on this thread...

It's now very old and archived. So, it's no longer visible on the list of currently active threads.

Plus, the original poster hasn't logged back on to the site since December 24, 2007.

Thanks!