Stage Fright

There's a very simple explanation as to why we get stage fright-- but that doesn't change the fact that everyone experiences it in some way or another-- no matter how much experience they have.

Stage fright is nothing more than our reaction to being in front of others. For some, it shows itself as mild butterfies, a dry mouth, or sweaty hands (or as in my case, sudden drowsiness), for others it rears its ugly head as uncontrolable jitters, memory lapses, upset stomach, and/or dibilitating anxiety.

What is Stage Fright?

This is what happens: When you learn the show (notice I said "learn" and not "memorize"), you are using the left side of your brain. Your brain treats your lines and memorized blocking as facts. You learn your lines and your brain processes it all like a computer. All fine and dandy. But as soon as you step out in front of an audience (this is a relative term because for some, an audience means "two people" -- for others it may mean "over a hundred"), the right side of your brain takes over. You realize that you now have to "perform." Stage fright is the phenomenon where your left-brain and your right-brain don't play nicely together.  Your brain concentrates on having to perform and forgets to consult the side that controls your lines and blocking.

You see all those eyes looking up at you and your mind goes blank. You have to perform-- but perform WHAT? Of couse, usually the harder you try to remember your lines, the farther the are from your grasp. You see all those eyes staring up at you and you think: "I have to perform, I have to tell a story in an entertaining way."

Again, let me stress: everyone experiences Stage Fright. It's just that it manefests itself in different way to different people. The only way to better control it is by rehearsal and experience.

A seasoned director will take the needs of the individule cast member into consideration as rehearsal progress. Talk them through the phenomenon. The more they are aware of what's coming (an audience, audience reaction, stage fright, etc), the better they can prepare themselves for the moment they are confronted by the audience. Help them know the tricks to learning their lines, explain how to hold for laughter, even give them tips for regaining their composure after a "flub-up."

Funnel that energy! My voice coach in Grad School, Miss Creed, had it drilled in us that "you aren't NERVOUS-- you are EXCITED." Take that negative, destructive, passive way of thinking (nervous) and turn it into positive, creative potential energy (excitment)! When you're nervous, you're just along for the nerve-racking ride-- but if you look at it as being excited, you see the potential for fun, creativity, positive interaction!  Yes, it's a mind-game-- but isn't that what acting is all about??

• STAY IN CHARACTER - Assuming you are well-rehearsed, as long as you are "in character," you will NEVER have a problem. Keep your focus on your character, your character's "inner monologue," and the fact that you are telling a story.
• WELL-REHEARSED - Make sure you know your lines and blocking inside and out. Most Stage Fright is the result of ANXIETY-- fear of the unknown. Make sure you KNOW your lines and blocking and there's less chance of losing your concentration.
• NO EYE CONTACT - Oftentimes, eye contact can mess up your concentration. Perhaps someone will smile at you when you don't expect it, or worse-- you may find someone nodding off.  Instead of looking your audience members in the eye, keep you gaze just inches above their heads. Look at the wall behind the last row or along the outside aisle. From their perspective it still looks like you're looking right at them, but not.
• RELAXATION - Getting your body and mind to focus when it is under a lot of stress is a difficult thing to ask. This is why relaxation training is among the first things acting coaches cover. If you wait until you're completely freaked out over something-- THAT is not the time to try to learn to relax! Find out what works for you.
• CONCENTRATION - 99% of the time, if an actor gets stage fright, loses character, or drops a line -- it is because of lack of concentration. Learn to focus your concentration. It's a skill just like anything else.

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