Overcoming Public Speaking Nerves! - Part5

By: Johnnie Gentle
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:43:05
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We've been talking mainly about how to conduct effective public speaking and in particular, overcoming the inevitable "Nerves". However, these dreaded nerves or "stage fright" as some like to call it, are not just confined to public speaking, but can affect us at many important moments of our lives, such as the important job interview, the first night performance, the meeting with the boss, the big game or race, or maybe just the simple toast at a family gathering.

So you feel nervous prior to your performance, your interview or your race, or even your beloved game. – Well, you’ll be pleased to know that you’re not alone.

We all feel nervous at these very important occasions on our lives and usually the more important the occasion the more nervous and tense we feel.

However, although we all experience the dreaded nerves, we all react in very different ways.

I can recall being on the bill with many top entertainers who were greatly affected by nerves before a performance. Some were physically sick, others were never away from the toilet and some would pace around and constantly chatter, whilst others preferred to sit alone in silence. Some performers preferred never to look at the audience before the moment they went on stage.

I much preferred the opposite. I liked to get among the audience and get chatting to a few people. I felt it created a friendlier bond right at the outset, at least with some of them.

I know that in a theatre setting, where there are maybe several thousand in the audience, it's not possible to mingle with them prior to a performance and some artistes can't bear to look at the vast array of faces because they feel it only adds to their nerves. However, I like to have a good look at the audience before hand and try to picture them as friends and visualise them laughing at my jokes, being amazed at my magic and thoroughly enjoying my performance.

One old experienced performer once told me that he always made a point of looking out at the audience, no matter how large, and telling himself that there was no-one in that crowd that could do what he was about to do.

This helped him feel confident, because he was the only person there that could perform his act.

The important things to bear in mind are:-

1. The feeling of nervousness is natural.

2. You are now aware of the cause and therefore you need not fear it.

3. You know that if you've prepared well, nothing is likely to go wrong.

4. You know that the audience is on your side. They want everything to go well and are there to be entertained.

5. Take my word for it, that the worst nerves are felt before your performance.

6. You now know that it will quickly diminish and will eventually disappear. - Just begin.

7. You must stop seeing this nervous feeling as a hindrance and use it as a guide and stepping stone to a good performance.

So you just have to believe me, that once you start your performance the nerves will definitely go, so it's important to get your act off to a good start.

Rehearse your favourite opening trick; (or opening sentence or two) right down to the way you're going to stand, your facial expressions and even the words your going to say to start your act. That way you'll be off and running, the audience will be right behind you and you'll be so busy concentrating on entertaining them with the rest of your act that the nerves will be gone.

Your nerves may still be there when you get to your feet, of course, but you will be too busy to worry about them unless things do go wrong and even then a mistake will make you seem more human.

In fact, if you make a mistake in front of an audience or someone gently heckles you and you cover it with an amusing comment, you will find that it may actually help you to relax and perform better.

On the subject of relaxation, it will help during these tense nervous moments while you're waiting to perform, to try to relax as much as possible.

I’ll touch on relaxation in another article, but in the meantime, you can get plenty more advice and information at:

Effective Public Speaking

You can become a "Public Speaking Superstar" - Just take a look at:

"How To Conduct Effective Public Speaking"TODAY!

Article source: Expert Articles