Stage is your Playground.

The idea of being embarrassed in a crowd is the core of stage fear which inhibits us from numerous things in life. It not only stops us from expressing ourselves publicly but also hurdles our progress professionally as well as in our private life. 


Now that we know the causes of stage fear and what is holding us back from what we really want to do, the next step is take the bull by the horns. Once you have overcome that obstacle of self inhibition there is an ocean of opportunities to discover. Open your horizons to new possibilities. Make the stage your playground and conquer your audience like a pro. One good example is of the legendary Steve Jobs in his presentations. By utilizing techniques of good presentation, Jobs was not only able to accomplish the zenith of his profession but also inspire his audience and leave a long lasting impact on his listeners.  
Know that you are not alone.  Stage fright is normal and there are sustainable solutions to deal with it.  By learning to conquer your fear of public appearance, you can tap in your potential opportunities and be a successful presenter.  


Reference:
 Analuizaff, ( November 15, 2009) Make presentations like Steve Jobs. http://youtu.be/RHX-xnP_G5s

Helping Organizations

Moderate degree of stage fright can be overcome by following some of the basic techniques mentioned earlier. However in more severe cases there are a number of programs that can be helpful. Some of the more renowned ones are

Toast Master International.  http://www.toastmasters.org

• Power Talk International and  http://powertalkinternational.com/

•  Association of Speakers Club http://www.the-asc.org.uk/   e.t.c

The main aim of all these clubs are to give its members the opportunity of speaking in front of a live audience, and master the skill of public speaking without the pressure of its consequences.

The Challenge is the beauty of it.

Its the challenge of public speaking that beautifies the performance on stage all the more. The idea is to thrive for excellence and  emerge a better speaker out of us.
The only way we can overcome this fear is by addressing it and using it to our advantage. We are not in this alone, even the most apt performers were at one time sweating and shaking in their boots by the  thought of being under the spotlight. They only mastered this art by conquering the fear of public performance and by embracing the fear itself and making it their friend. You can do it too. Consider the lyrics of this song as an optimistic tool to encourage you.




As the famous author and developer of various courses in self improvement; Dale Carnegie says "If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."  (Alcock, 2012).


Reference:

Alcock, J (2012)Over coming your fear of public speaking. Retrieved from
http://www.dalecarnegiewaynl.com/2012/01/17/overcoming-your-fear-of-public-speaking/


Mcgarth, B.(n.d.). Stage fright  http://youtu.be/T0_Hs0eIrxg

Celebrities with Stage fright.

Several celebrities have stage fright and resorted to different solution to counter the problem.  Some examples are:

Barbara Streisand

According to an article by Shyness and social anxiety treatment Australia (n.d.), 
American Singer/actress/director Barbara Streisand's social phobia prevented her from singing in public for twenty seven years. During a concert in Central Park, New York in 1967, she forgot lyrics to her song.  From then on, she avoided public appearances. 

Streisand learnt to cope with her stage fright and gave a comeback tour in 1994. She gradually overcame this problem by starting with a smaller warm up shows.

King George VI suffered from stage fright and stammered. Being a king, he couldnt really avoid public engagemnets and turned to hypnotherapy for help.

© PA Images / Gorassini Giancarlo

Eva Green  has also suffered from severe stage fright. 
"In an interview with Weekend Magazine, the actress recalled having a breakdown on stage while appearing in a Paris theater production, an incident which made her feel like she wanted "to die"" (Hearst Magazine UK, 2011, Para.2). 
"I had suddenly developed stage fright and lost all my self-confidence on stage. In my last show, in Paris, my mind kept going blank on stage. I just wanted to die each time"  former Bond Girl admitted.(Hearst Magazine UK, 2011, Para.3). 


There is no doubt that performing on a stage is a pressurizing task.  Take solace in knowing that you are not the only one battling stage fear.  Celebrities and famous political figures have also gone through this and mange to cope with it.  If they can do it, so can you!


Reference:


Shyness and social anxiety treatment Australia. (n.d.). Famous People. Retrieved fromhttp://www.socialanxietyassist.com.au/famous_people.shtml


Still, J. (2011).Eva Green: 'I wanted to die from stage fright'. Hearst magazine.http://www.digitalspy.ca/celebrity/news/a322245/eva-green-i-wanted-to-die-from-stage-fright.html

Use your fear to your advantage.

According to Joan Curtis (2009) of How to stay cool in public speaking, even though speaking one on one can come naturally to people, public speaking is a whole different ballgame. Realize that fear of public speaking can be a good thing; as a matter of fact if you are too relaxed you might not perform well enough. It is a secret that all seasoned orators know. Use your fear to propel you not paralyze you.


Identify your Fear.


Know what are you afraid of. Think of the worst consequences that you are most apprehensive about. For e.g What impression will you have on the audience? Will I be able to convince my audience?


Segregate you Fears 


After you know what you are afraid of, convert your negative energy into positive energy. If you are apprehensive about your audience, believe that you are going to convince your audience. Have faith in your subject.


By identifying and segregating your fears, you have now pinpointed the root cause of the issue.  Even though public speaking can be daunting, but by putting a positive spin on the act, you are better able to cope with the problem and overcome your stage phobia. 


Reference:


Curtis, J. (2009). How to stay cool in public speaking. Retrieved from http://www.speaking-tips.com/Articles/How-To-Stay-Cool-In-Public-Speaking.aspx

The psychological factor of stage fright (Case studies)

Stage fright is a term describing "an at times debilitating anxiety- rousing emotion on an account of an uncomfortable social situation" (Hendrikson, 1948). Influencing factors are:

Shyness vs. stage fright

• Shyness is a personality trait whereas stage fright is more situational and a short term characteristic. Similarities are of anxiety or embarrassment, feeling of awkwardness, tendency to say  nothing and intense desire to escape.  

Audience

• Increase audience size produces increased estimate of nervousness and tension

Task performance and perception of anxiety

• Findings that "under evaluative settings, an individuals' level of performance anxiety has a tendency to fluctuate depending on individual perception of audience" (Seta, Crisson, Seta, Wang, 1998).

Other variables

•       Study by Yondem (2007)- studied the relationship between anxiety and general dysfunctional attitudes …"the results revealed there are significant positive co-relation between anxiety and total score of dysfunctional attitudes and the need for approval” (Yondem, 2007).

Alternative Explanation

•   Stage fright is a learned emotional response that can be unlearned. 

It is imperative that we understand the problem of stage fright from a psychological point of view.  By looking at studies of  Seta, Hendrikson and Yodem we can better understand the phenomenon of stage fright and overcome its negative psychological effects. 

Reference:

Hendrikson, E. (1948). A study of stage fright and the judgment of speaking time. Journal of Applied Psychology, 32(5) , 532-536.

Seta, J., Crisson, J., Seta, C., & Wang, M. (1989). Task Performance and Perceptions of Anxiety: Averaging and Summation in an Evaluative Setting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 56(3) , 387-396.

Stage Fright. (2010. June 29). Retrieved February 28, 2012, from Psychwiki:http://www.psychwiki.com/wiki/Stage_Fright 

Yondem, Z. D. (2007). Performance anxiety, dysfunctional attitudes and gender in university music students. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 35(10) , 1415-1426.

After your presentation

The conclusion is an important part of your presentation. You should finish your presentation in a way that is memorable for your audience and give them a take away thought as they exit the presentation. 


In concluding your presentation, summarize your main points and leave a designated slot of time for questions and answers.  Distribute any handouts and be courteous in repeating the questions asked by audience for clearance and use your points to reinstate your primary ideas. Make sure you encourage new questions,  keep the entire audience involved.


End with a summary and appreciation. Indicate the end of session before you take the last question by saying " we have time for just one more question" (Guffery, Rhodes, & Rogin, 2011, p. 510). 


Finally,  a presentation must be wholesome enough to not only present your important ideas to the audience but engage them until the end with vital information and keep them interested in the subject.  The conclusion wraps up your main points and leave your audience with a complete understanding of what is it they came to hear.  


Reference: 

Guffey, M.,  Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business Communication: Process and Product (6th ed.). Toronto: Nelson.

During Presentation

Stay in control of your speech by building credibility and engaging your audience in your presentation.There are some established guidelines to weave your path for success during your performance.  These guidelines are as follows:

• Memorize your opening to establish eye contact with your audience. Gives people the feeling that you are talking to them rather than at them
• Maintain eye contact: If the size of the audiece intimidates you then "pick out two individuals on the right and two individuals on the left and talk directly with them" (Guffey,Rhodes & Rogin, 2011, p. 508)
• Control your voice and vocabulary by keeping a moderate tone and  avoid verbal static.
• Do not speak too rapidly, try to make pauses in the middle to slow down and listen to what you are saying.

By following these few pointers you are definitely going to gain confidence of your audience and establish a good rapport that will keep them interested till the end.  

Reference:

Guffey, M.,  Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business Communication: Process and Product (6th ed.). Toronto: Nelson.

Before Presentation

Following are some relatively simple and common tips to handle stage fright before the presentation.

• Preparation. Be prepared for your presentation by thoroughly researching your topic
• Know your audience.  Try and find out the mind set of people you are going to speak to  and be prepared to answer any question that the audiences might have for you.  
• Rehearse extensively. Practice your entire presentation before friends and family to build confidence. Also practice with slides to harbour any last minute surprise.  
• Stress reduction- Breath deeply and take a sip of water to calm your nerves down, convert your fear into excitement. 
• Be confident. Your confidence will not only help you feel sure of yourself but also make you appear composed on the stage and will be less likely to fall a victim to stage fright.
• Believe in your cause. You are here for a reason and you have something worth talking about. 
• Everyone feels it. Most of us feel nervous and you're definitely not alone. The only difference between them and you is that they overcame it, and so can you.
• Be inspired by others. take inspiration from other avid speakers preferably by someone who has spoken on the same subject. Observe their demeanor, how they moved, what they wore. How they engaged the audience and how did the audience react to them.

By utilizing these simple steps of ample preparation, knowledge of your audience, rehearsing, breathing exercise, confidence, and thorough knowledge of your subject, you are bound to be on the right path for a confident presentation that will fully engage your audience and make you the star of the show!!

You are not alone!

Every individual experiences some degree of nervousness before speaking in front of a large audience.  That happens because our body undergoes some physiological changes when we gain the attention of a large crowd. "Research has shown that more than 40% of people say their top fear was speaking in front of other people. According to one survey, fear of public speaking came before heights, death, illness and other common phobias" ("overcome fears", 2004). one can overcome this fear by mastering some of the techniques,  and applying the following strategies of before, during and after the presentations.


The Stage fright graph





The stage fright graph explains the relationship of our perceived distressful consequence and actual projected negative performance (Stage_fright_graph, n.d.).  As a presenter, our underlying fears of what our audience might think (negative evaluation) of us, effect our actual performance by negatively impacting it on stage. As the graph shows, our stress level of stage fright increases with our presumption of what our audience might be thinking and in doing so, deteriorates our actual performance on stage.  Now that you see how vicious this psychological cycle is, we must do everything in our power to understand the problem and avoid it in order to win our audience.


Reference: 
Public Speaking Tips. (2004). Overcoming your fear of presenting. Retrieved from http://www.speaking-tips.com/Articles/Overcome-Your-Fear-of-Presenting.aspx_


Stage_fright_graph, (n.d.). Yahoo Canada. Retrieved from http://ca.images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDodh5PU1P9n4AzRftFAx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?

The Symptoms.

So what really happens when we have stage fright? Well, there are obvious physical and chemical manifestations. Our bodies react to excitement or fear and adrenaline is pumped into our bloodstream in order to help us cope. 


Adrenaline is also know as Epinephrine,  it is a hormone used by our bodies in a high stress situations to give us that burst of energy, when we have the "fight or flight" response.This is also called adrenaline rush which can cause our body to experience side effects such as:

•  
• shaking, trembling, 
• vomiting and 
• shortness of breath.
• accelerated heartbeat
• cold sweats/stomach pain

This gives us an insight of why our bodies respond the way they do when we are having theses uncomfortable feelings. But everyone's experience is different. Some might feel more severe symptoms than others. They might feel like the room is closing in on them, the throat may tighten making it harder to breath, the heart can sometimes race to the point of making them believe that they are  having a heart attack. In extreme cases they may freeze and be unable to speak. "The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops, until you stand up to speak in public."--George Jessel. 


We are all born with the fear of heights and loud noises. The rest is what we learn in the course of our lives.  These fears are learned from experiences. Have you ever experienced stage fright? What effects do you feel when you are in a unique situation like that?

Reference:


Fear-of-Publicspeaking.net. (n.d). Causes of Stage Fright. Retrieved from http://www.fear-of-publicspeaking.net/stage-fright.html

Definition

What is stage fright?  The online dictionary defines stage fright as "acute nervousness felt by a performer or speaker when appearing before an audience" (Dictionary.com, 2012). 

Even famous people regularly experience what you experience. Elvis Presley said, "I've never gotten over what they call stage fright. I go through it every show." There is comfort in knowing that even "The King" always had  stage fright (Boyd, 2010). 

Now that we know what stage fright is, we must be prepared to deal with it by taking an in-depth look into the problem and finding a solution for it.  

references: 


Boyd, stephen. (2010). Public speaking tips: The mental part of public speaking. Retrieved from http://www.speaking-tips.com/Articles/The-Mental-Part-of-Public-Speaking.aspx


Stage fright. (n.d.). Dictionary.com. Retrieved from  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stage+fright