There’s No Shame in Stage Fright

The lights go on, the curtain pulls back. You lift up your instrument and get ready to play, but something won’t settle down. It turns out that imagining everyone in their underwear doesn’t actually work and now the music sheet’s blurry and the moments feel deafening and you’d throw up if you thought the conductor wouldn’t kill you. 

Whether this is your very first performance ever, or your first performance for a while or after a big life transition (like, we don’t know, a major pandemic that might’ve put you out of work for a while?) - stage fright or performance anxiety can grab the best of us. It isn’t childish and it isn’t silly, it’s human, especially if you’re new to performing or something about performing is new for you now. 

Even if you're 45 and have played shows for years, maybe it’s your first time as a new mom, or your family’s in the audience, or this is your first time with this group, or you’ve never played with this body, these people, in this place, etc, etc, etc. So many things can trigger stage fright, even if they don’t seem to make sense on the surface. 

So, in light of everybody’s favorite spooky season, we wanna talk about some ways to overcome that classic fear: stage fright. 

Sometimes the best way to overcome a fear is to name it and to see it for what it is: just a fear. A lot of times our fears are there because they’re trying to protect us and keep us safe. And fears can manifest in a lot of different ways. 

In a safe space, sit with your stage fright. Maybe imagine yourself performing or the first moment of the performance or whatever seems to trigger the fear, and let it talk to you. What exactly makes you so scared? What does it feel like? Where do you feel the fear? Does your stomach tighten, your palms sweat, your heart race? Or is it more like your mind goes cloudy? If imagining doesn’t help, maybe just recall your last bout of stage fright and remember all the details you can. 

Sitting with your fear and letting it talk to you- without judgment or fear of an actual audience- can guide you on what to do next.

You may discover the real trigger of your fear, and learn ways to cope with it or address it specifically. For example, you could notice that what really terrifies you is making a mistake- so maybe you need to work through that perfectionism and give yourself time and space to practice right before a performance. Or you just don’t have the same confidence in this new body after a surgery or aging, so taking the time to do some extra strength or breath training or building back that body confidence is needed. 

If your stage fright is rooted in a lack of confidence- either in your skill, body, or practice- it can help to build your confidence in these areas. And one easy way we know you can build confidence is by using our Original Breath Builder. If you’re afraid of messing up your playing or your instrument itself is giving you anxiety, the Original Breath Builder may actually be an effective way to improve your skill and face your performance fears without necessarily needing to perform or practice something you're dreading right now. 

The Original Breath Builder really feels more like a game as you practice holding the ball up in the tube, and while you do this simple exercise- you can build up your confidence in your lungs, your body, and your playing. Or simply help you focus on your breathing as you try to center yourself pre-performance. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic shut so many of us in, our playing confidence may not be what it once was, and our normal performance routines may have gotten shaken up. One of our loyal customers, a brass player and music instructor, Jonathan, told us about just that, “The Original Breath Builder is a fantastic breathing tool. Being in COVID lockdown now it’s helped even more since a lot of us have tended to lock ourselves in and may not give our lungs as good as a workout as we used to.” 

Other reasons for that heightened anxiety before performing could be as simple as too much caffeine, having too much pent up physical energy, or not holding space for your mental and emotional needs before a performance. Perhaps you find you need to practice some breathwork or repeat a mantra before you perform, or certain foods or exercises help you find a calmer, more clear space to play from. Whatever you need is more than valid as you face your own fear and cultivate your own musical career and practice. 

However, if you notice your symptoms are extremely severe and unusual- or perhaps due to a recent traumatic event or memory trigger- we strongly advise you to get professional help. There’s absolutely no shame in how anxiety, PTSD, or previous issues show up for you, and there’s no shame in getting help for being human. Even if you just think a listening ear and a professional opinion would support you, we highly encourage you to explore therapy, doctors, and support groups as an option. 

We here at Original Breath Builder believe stage fright is a perfectly normal fear you can overcome at any stage, age, or experience level, and we know with some attention, care, and curiousity- you can begin to hit the stage with the confidence you deserve to have.