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Question: Overcoming nerves before a performance!?
I have sung my entire life!.!.!. When I'm singing for friends, at home or recording music, everyone tells me I have a beautiful voice!. The problem is, when I try to perform for strangers or in front of a crowd, I get the WORST nerves ever -- short of breath, shaky voice!.!.!. I still sound okay but it's so hard to hold notes and make sure there's vibrato when you can hardly breathe normally!

Anyway, I tried out to sing the National Anthem today at a school football game and was one of three people to get a callback!. And even though they said I sounded good, I know the nerves and lack of confidence kept me from doing my very best!.

Has anyone out there gone from being a completely terrified performer to not being nervous at all!? Is this something that will go away soon if I keep trying at it!? Any other tips/insight/personal stories on the matter!? Sorry about the long story but I really want to overcome this problem and show that I have actual talent!Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I ran track in High School, a very long time ago!. I would get so nervous before races that I would be on the verge of panic attack!. I hated getting into the blocks and have the caller sound off "Ready, Set" and the blast of a gun which meant a heart pounding race!. I really like running, but the thought of racing scared me to death!. I could never put my finger on top of what did it either!. Then one day I picked up a yo-yo and started learning tricks!. I played with the yo-yo up till the time that I got in the blocks!. Once in a while I would even forget to take it off my finger and I would race with it!. The fact is though my mind stayed off the race itself and I was able to force my mind into a "Whatever attitude" about racing!. When I would get into the blocks I would have just enough time to get butterfly's and then repeat a saying to myself, "The way I perform is not dependant on my emmotion of this minute, it is based on the hours and hours of practice I put into for this moment!." That would usually force my mind into a calm state again and I would be able to race without wanting to throwup!. Hope this helps!. By the way, the yo-yo helped everyone else on the team too!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

tell yourself that you are tired of being nervous!. practice trying to put off a confident air!. if you look confident people will assume you are confident!. tell your self you are confident!.!.!.
also most people are nervous because they are afraid people won't like what they have to offer!.!.!. remember you are the one with the voice, no one else can sing it like you, you can sing!.!.!. also if you are bothered by how you look!.!.!. you are probably prettier than the people in the crowd!. you are beautiful and you are confident!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

My advice is to take deep breaths before you go on to perform!. Try to go off by yourself, and take a few minutes to relax!. Don't think about it consistently, or you'll have a nervous breakdown, or panic attack!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

You're right!. The more times you've performed in front of an audience, the more you'll get used to it and sing to your full potential!. There's no easy QUICK way around it though!. Although I have virtually no experience, I know that if you just concentrate on your voice, it will help a lot!. If you really have a beautiful voice (which I'm sure you do!), think about it, listen to it, forget that people are listening because they'll like it anyway, and let the beauty of it all carry you!. If you want further practice, simply sing a lot in front of people and you'll get used to it pretty soon, especially if people appreciate you!. The last thing I can say is!.!.!.!.!.good luck! I know you're going to do great!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I understand that some of the greatest performers feel nerves in various ways prior to EVERY performance!. I suggest that you put yourself in situations where you are performing much much more frequently, making the experience less of a rare occurrence and more normal!. Darned if I can think who said it, but with regard to overcoming stage fear, he said to imagine the audience is sitting with no clothes on!. Keep from giggling, but it makes some sense!. You fear the audience because they can make the unthinkable happen!. They can laugh at you!. They can carry on conversations while you perform!. They can boo and toss ripe fruit!. They can walk out!. In other centuries, all of those things would and did happen!. We are far more polite now!. Perhaps you might imagine a worst case scenario and realize that even the worst case scenario isn't that awful!. Get past it while you are young and each appearance will be easier!.Www@QuestionHome@Com