As someone who dabbles in singing I always thought that the more experienced I got the less stage fright I would have. At least that is what I told myself in an attempt to calm my nerves and keep performing even when I found myself begging for an earthquake to rid me out of having to step on stage. It turns out that for me that dreaded fear does not go away, what happened is that it transformed itself into something more manageable. I expect it to come around, so I try to make small talk, ask how it’s doing, what it needs. I buy it a drink and we sit in silence. That’s an improvement from when I tried sprinting away from it, as somehow it was always around the corner. Sneaky bastard.

It is indeed a consolation to know that you are not alone in your pain. In fact, there is a community of performers suffering from chronic stage fright. So what is this plague that is tormenting us and is there anything we can do to get rid of it?

What is stage fright?

According to Webster the definition of stage fright is “nervousness felt at appearing before an audience”. I think we, or at least some of us, can attest that that is putting it mildly. The symptoms can be both psychological and physical. The former can include feeling ashamed, being overwhelmed by racing thoughts, fearing that you will fail once on stage and in more severe cases freezing and completely shutting down. The latter can include dry mouth, shaking hands and knees, nausea, lightheadedness and anything else your body can hit you with. It is said that this process resembles the fight or flight instinct animals get when faced with a dangerous or unpleasant situation.

What causes stage fright?

So, why, oh, why is this happening to us? Stage fright can be caused by many different things, but can most often be linked to a lack of confidence or a desire to be perfect. Not being prepared enough or feeling that you are about to go on stage and perform a piece you feel exceeds your abilities are very reasonable factors to be anxious about. Not being in top physical or mental condition can also add to the stress. Mix in a variety of other pressures, ranging from having to prove your mother wrong to needing to impress someone important in the crowd, and they can amp up anyone’s fear. Each person carries their own unique story, experiences and beliefs, all of which can play a role in determining anxiety levels – coming from a critical home or one where you got yelled at for expressing an opinion can contribute to feeling tense when having to perform in front of an audience.

I am sorry to say it but it is very likely that your performance anxiety will accompany you throughout your career. Before ripping your hair in horror, keep in mind that that can be a great thing. A performer who lacks adrenaline and a little bit of edge will likely give a forgettable performance and nobody wants to be forgettable, right?

Of course, if one is not familiar with their own particular anxiety and does not learn how to accept and manage it, will also likely have a very difficult time sharing their craft, talent and ideas with the world.Thankfully, many famous and beloved musicians have found a way to embrace this aspect of their chosen careers so we can now enjoy and get inspired by their music.

Famous musicians with pre-show jitters

Even the most experienced of performers are not exempt from the grip of performance anxiety. The condition has been so severe in some that it has lead them to choose various substances like drugs and alcohol, as a way to deal. Eddie Van Halen has said that he relied on a cigarette and alcohol before getting on stage as a way to deal with his overwhelming stage fright, that he has suffered from for a very long time. Ozzy Osbourne himself has a memorable quote about performance anxiety:

“To say that I suffer from pre-show nerves is like saying that when you get hit by an atom bomb it hurts a bit.”

Not only rock stars, but also classical musicians had talked about their stage fright. Frederic Chopin was known to dislike performing in front of large crowds and instead preferred more private settings. Thus in his 30 year career he had only 40 performances in front of big audiences.

Other famous musicians who have shared that they also have performance anxiety, include Luciano Pavarotti, Barbra Streisand, Adele, Cher, Katy Perry and many more.

How to overcome stage fright?

Some quick tips that can be useful to those looking to better deal with their performance anxiety:

• Don’t fight it. Accept your stage fright. If this article has illustrated anything it’s that this is a very common condition, so much so that it is basically normal. Fight it, and it is likely it will get worse. Befriend it, maybe it will have something interesting and helpful to share.
• Shift your focus. Try to place your attention on your music and what you want to convey to your audience through your art, rather than on how anxious you feel at the moment.
• Take care of your body. Spent time to de-stress before a show. Find what relaxes you and do it – meditate, exercise, get a massage, hydrate. Stay away from caffeinated drinks.
• Be prepared. As already mentioned, anxiety can come from a lack of confidence. Dedicate sufficient time to preparing and practice beforehand so as to feel and know that you are at the top of your game.

We are very proud of everyone who finds the strength to overcome their fears in pursuit of their dreams. Keep it up, we’re sure you will find support and encouragement from your fellow musicians here on Drooble.