How can I avoid stage fright for a musical performance?

Pretend everyone in the audience is sitting totally naked. Also keep in mind they can’t do what you can do. Usually works for me when making business or creative presentations to large groups.

One more thing: any actor will tell you, nervous energy is a good thing. Keeps you sharp.

Don’t fight nervousness. Nerves give you energy.

Practice appreciation when you’re off stage. Notice how it feels, and notice that when you’re appreciating things, your attention is off yourself and on whatever it is you’re appreciating.

Before you get on stage, appreciate the audience just for being there.

As you get on stage, acknowledge the audience, appreciate them individually. Seek out eye contact with individuals. Appreciate them all, regardless of how they look or whether or not they’re responsive to you. Appreciate their presence.

As you start to play, focus on your material, on your music. Appreciate and enjoy what you’re creating.

When I played the flute regularly, I would get such bad stage fright that I would shake so severely that it affected my playing (both my hands shaking and being unable to draw/expel an unshaky breath). I did Certificate of Merit and the judge wrote that I would play beautifully if I could get over my stage fright.

If it were me, I would consider taking beta blockers. Actually, I probably will if I ever perform again.

I am always nervous the night before I teach a class. The nervousness doesn’t fade until the students start coming in and I greet them. You might want to plant a friend in the audience whom you can greet so that you are using your voice a bit before you have to sing. I do also find that as I start to teach, making eye contact with a few students and seeing their receptive reaction helps me to unwind further. By the end, I’m so high I’m ready to start all over.

I’d try to isolate yourself mentally from the rest of the world. I don’t play instruments, except for what I can remember from piano and trombone lessons, so I don’t have firsthand experience for this. However, as a high school student, I’m always poked fun at. Concentrating on getting to class and ignoring everyone that talks or does anything out of malice helps me get through the day.

Music is like talking only that it has melody that goes along with it.
When i sing on stage I don’t think of anything else other than enjoying what I do.
I keep in mind that I am giving a piece of me to the people sitting down in front of me.
And that leaves me smiling all throughout the night.

I think you will probably be more nervous before you get going, then during your performance. For me, I am always nervous before I get on stage, but after I get into my talk (or whatever) the nervousness melts away and it just becomes fun.

Play and sing in front of peole (family, friends) before you go on. Just practice singing in front of people.

Picture yourself doing the performance and succeeding.

Everyone being naked is a stupid theory. It doesn’t work. You get caught up trying to figure out what you’re meant to be doing and you lose focus and you never end up picturing them naked, you see them fully clothed as they should be. Don’t look at anyone in the face. Stare at the back wall. Do not move your eyes until you’re done. If you’re in a play, just keep your eyes on stage and on the person you’re talking to.

Just tell them about it. Talking to the audience during the show will help you feel more comfortable and telling them how nervous you are will help you feel better because you’ll know that if you mess up, they’ll know it’s because you’re so nervous. Also, talking to them helps keep their attention.

Many good suggestions here to deal with the psychological factors.

If you’re still extremely nervous, however, to the point where your fingers are trembling or your voice is quavering, then ask your doctor about a prescription for a beta blocker to take prior to going on—I’ve heard that even some professional musicians use this to deal with performance anxiety.

Picture yourself naked

If you’re worried about messing up, keep in mind 90% of them won’t notice if you miss something that you consider big. They don’t know your songs as well as you do, so they won’t notice a missing note or something you may make a big deal about.

And if you’re not afraid of messing up, what do you have to be afraid of?

Close your eyes.

It’s impossible to avoid stage fright. Everyone gets nervous before going on. Try working in a pre-recorded intro in to your performance (1 to 2 minutes). Possibly an ambient piece that builds up to your first song. This will allow you get situated on stage. Also, try meditating before you go on. Breathing exercises help. Some will recommend you have a drink or a “Chill Pill” but you want to avoid becoming dependent on alcohol or pills. I think that the instant gratification that you will get will be worth all the anxiety. Good luck!

drink drink drink!! haha..