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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
I consider myself lucky that I pretty much never suffer from stage fright. I do know what it is though, as I experienced it when I was 3 years old - terrifying! I'm well aware that it can strike even the most experienced performers unexpectedly, many years into their careers.
I think the most important ways to combat stage fright are avoiding toxins such as coffee, alcohol, and other drugs. Also, plenty of practise so that you know EXACTLY what you're doing. As this came up on another thread, I thought it would be interesting to ask if anyone here has had this problem, and any thoughts for overcoming it? Potty |
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Futureal Inner circle 1695 Posts |
What show were you doing at age three?
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adamferrucci Regular user Newfield, NJ 169 Posts |
Yes I have extreme stage fright. I've had it since I was little. I'm 31 now and finally taking steps to overcome it. I found that I can read in front of people and that if I memorize something word for word that I'm going to say it makes speaking in front of groups much easier. I find that stage fright hit hardest when I'm put on the spot and unprepared in what I'm going to say. I freeze up suddenly and feel as though I can't even speak. I have also started going to a counseling center to help me become more outgoing. Each time I meet with the counselor we set small goals that I have to accomplish before the next visit. So far that has been a tremendous help in building my self confidence. I don't use alcohol or drugs at all. I do drink coffee every morning though. I don't think I'll ever stop doing that.
Counseling is something I would highly recommend. My health insurance covers me for it as well so there's really no cost for such a great service that is provided. Another thing is to do things that make you are afraid to do. I joined SAM a few months ago and was so scared that when I went to the meeting people would not be friendly towards me but I went anyway and everyone is extremely friendly there. Although I didn't approach many people a few people approached me and made me feel welcomed. I also joined a bowling league last year which forces me to be around people that I don't know(which is scary for me at times) but you get to know these people and it makes it easier to talk with them. I think all of these things will help me overcome my stage fright. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
20 years ago I would stutter, and stammer on stage, some times I would forget to do several tricks, and wind up doing a 45 minute show in 30 minutes. I have since learned to channel that adrenelin rush to keep me at the top of my game. It was a slow and steady learning curve that I guess most of us go through.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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jackturk Elite user 463 Posts |
Probably the best thing I ever to make myself utterly fearless in front of crowds was to run for office back in 2007. Having to attend public forums and respond to
nit-picky questions about a issues that affect about 10 people out of 1 million cured me totally of any fear I could ever face before a crowd of children, family, and friends. Not sure I'd recommend this approach to anyone though... --Jack Turk
"59 Ways To Recession Proof Your Entertainment Business -- FREE!"
http://www.GetLeadsLikeCrazy.com "How To Make $25,000 a Year Doing Birthday Parties Part-Time" http://www.magicmarketingcenter.com/birthdayPT |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
I unconsciously worked my way into having a "mantra" that focused me where I needed to be.
To tell it sounds stupid: hum a tuneless little tune of just a few notes as I approached the stage or thwe birthday kid's door, finishing with the silent thought "let's give 'em hell." I think anything would work, if you did it long enough to let it embed itself into your conscioisness. |
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
Preparation is key. I avoid doing things in my show that are too risky. I may add those things at a later date, but if a new effect or gag makes me nervous, I leave it out until I have confidence in it, or I can manage the risk.
One of my favorite books is "Outs", Precautions and Challenges, For Ambitious Card Workers by Charles H. Hopkins. It will get you thinking of how to handle situations that the audience will throw at you. |
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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-05-17 03:50, Futureal wrote: I wasn't performing a show, but on holiday I was taken to a famly show where all the kids were invited on stage to "do something". I was going to sing a song, but when I found myself standing there on a stage in front of about 500 people, I totally froze. The host was great, and gave me every opportunity to do my "bit", but I was literally terrified. I just kept saying "I'm scared....I'm scared". In the end, they let me leave the stage. I was very upset that I didn't get the lollipop that all the other kids got. But a year later I discovered magic, and every time I saw a magician, I approached him after the show and asked for help and advice to take me on the road to becoming a magician. Throughout my childhood I performed magic, and sang before larger and larger crowds - and I never really felt that fear again. Somehow, that first experience (possibly because it was SUCH a big stage, and a BIG audience), made me immune to stage fright. These days, I can easily remind myself that I've done MUCH scarier things than performing (Hang Gliding, Bungee Jumping, and lots of other crazy stuff). Standing in front of a large crowd now seems so normal to me, my problem is that I DON'T get the adrenalin rush, or feel ANY kind of stress - I need to be sure to deliver my show the best I can. Potty |
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MagicJac Regular user 166 Posts |
Yes I stil hve it but for me its been about 40-50 shows in total - this past weekend was my 51??? lol but my first show in two years and my first show all alone no clown as assitant - I'm wondering - well I had the fright in this weekends show it was a kids b-day at a park - but I did the show went through the routine - had them laughng at points also amazed - they seemed super exited at but yes Al I feel I don't have my script packed down yet not memorize and sometimes il foret to do somethings but I do have them written its ust sometimes ill skip a trick or something.... for this weekends show I had rehersaed and it seemed to be thirty minutes but when I did the party at one point I knew I was close to the end about 5-8 minutes left ...i chekd clock and only 14 minites had passed soo somehow it was about a 27 minute show then the rest close up and helped with pinata.. but anyhpow what I'm wondering is how many showsyou did before totally comfortable and postiteve that all parents having a blast as well??
lol this is my summary I'm 32 started shows when I wsa around 24? more or less - I used my wife as the clown assistnat - any how we did about 40 shows for around 2 years ..so a few shows a month only, as I worked doing other things she did as well also we had kids I mean I stil have them lol but it was a bit tuff with baby sitters on weekends - anyhow .. for me its been two years but just did one this weekend "Magician only but just wondering after how many shows more or less I should be a lot more confortable - I don't know if my sweat will ever stop though lol I'm in Miami ?? but yes so main question here -after how many shows have magicians in here felt they were a their peak I their shows??? I'm back |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Jac
You will feel a little more confident after every show. I still pace the floor, and my wife tells me that I am grumpy before every show, but I love the action.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Mr. Pitts Inner circle David Pitts 1058 Posts |
When I was starting out I was too young and dumb to know enough to be nervous. I thought I was really good. When I went back to performing as an adult after a hiatus of a few years, I was still pretty confident, but somewhat more nervous for a while, and much more aware of my limitations. I don't know how many shows until I felt confident. I think I still rely on my familiarity with the act, my character, even the puppet characters to feel not so 'out there'.. alone on stage. I know, logically, that I am in fact alone onstage, but I feel at home in the act and character. I will say that when I add something or change the act, it takes me about 20 performances to feel comfortable again.
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Preparation is key to keeping me relaxed. Not just the preparation for the tricks but the preparation for the props, the setup, etc.
Now I just work out of a briefcase and my setup is just a few seconds. When I do my stand-up comedy magic act I am relaxed enough that I can even watch and enjoy the opening act. It's a much better feeling but took years to get to that point. Like Al, I also used to be very grumpy before my shows.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
I don't get stage fright for children or family shows anymore (the adrenalin still kicks in though)
Doing adult stand up still makes me nervous occasionally. It makes me quite impossible to talk to before I go on stage but doesn't seem to do the act any harm. Also it's only before I go on. As soon as I hit the stage I'm peachy. |
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Tonight John Carney is on David letterman. Let's see how he does.
Last night's guest seemed a bit nervous.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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SilvaAce Regular user Fargo, ND 156 Posts |
I have found that creating my shows character around my own personality makes it so much easier on me. Everything about my show is the real ME, just a little more exaggerated. Doing this makes me feel more comfortable, so my humor and timing comes out more natural. I don't use gag lines that someone who knows me, knows I would never say.
Years ago I would get really nervous and shy away from performing even for friends. My character back then was more mysterious and had a great deal of confidence in himself. This is probably why I would get so nervous, the magic trick wasn't the only thing I had to pull off.
All you have to do to change your life, is to change your daily habits!
Carlos Silva |
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MagicOfDamon New user 48 Posts |
I get nervous beofre any kids or adult show but mostly for adults.
When I first got started I would find myself sometimes talking too fast and unclear at first and skipping tricks due to the bad nerves. To this day before any performance I get a little uptight because I want things to be just right but I have paced myself and always keep an index card with a list of my routine to keep me in order. I also have found that doing open mic nights here and tehre and just going to the local mall or store and just doing tricks for strangers to build confidence greatly helps. |
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Cyberqat Inner circle You can tell I work on the net from my 2209 Posts |
I think anyone gets nervous before performing live. What many performers learn to do, is to turn that nervous energy into performance energy.
I don't do much magic performing, but do a lot of professional speaking. I actually prefer performing in front of larger groups. My favorite speech to date was one I did on a huge stage in front of 3500 people. The hardest one I've ever done was in front of an audience of 2.
It is always darkest just before you are eaten by a grue.
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seadog93 Inner circle 3200 Posts |
I'm scared until I get the first laugh or the first gasp. At the point I realize, "hey these are just people ...I like people, this will be great.
"Love is the magician who pulls man out of his own hat" - Ben Hecht
"Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says 'I am nothing'. Between the two, my life flows." -Nisargadatta Maharaj Seadog=C-Dawg=C.ou.rtn.ey Kol.b |
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billfromoregon Special user 608 Posts |
I also agree that being prepared is absolutely key. The only times I tend to get nervous is when I am debuting a new show, or performing new tricks for walk-around. When I first started performing, I could be terrified with stage fright - my first stage performance, I was so nervous I was tempted to cancel (I knew I couldn't do that, but the thought did cross my mind). And while I read various bits of information and suggestions from performers, nothing had much impact, other than experience - things happen, tricks don't always go as planned, spectators may react in completely unexpected ways, but once I realized that I could roll with whatever happened, then I started to relax and have fun. I had a bizarre thing happen yesterday at a show - while performing with flashpaper and a magnetic [, the [ portion of the coin popped off the inner coin like one of those rubber toys that you turn inside out and it launches itself into the air - I caught the [ in mid air, and continued on as though nothing was amiss (I don't know if the heat from the flashpaper caused it to react or what, as I have probably performed this trick hundreds of times without incident). I'm not sure if anyone caught it, or what they might have thought if they did catch it, but ultimately it made no difference to anyone's enjoyment of the show. Had that happened earlier on in my career, I may well have been flustered, but I have learned that the audience wants us, as performers, to succeed - indeed, they want whatever show they are at to be the best show they have ever seen, and so they are rooting for you 100%. That helps quite a bit, knowing that the audience is on your side (unless you have a confrontational personality, then all bets are off). So I sympathize with those that suffer from stage fright, having experienced it myself, but know that it is possible to move beyond it (or at least manage it) -
Bill |
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Whitewolfny Loyal user 216 Posts |
I feel very nervous leading up to the beginning of a show. I'm always afraid I've forgotten something or I'll forget something during the show. I've calmed down a lot since I started using index cards to routine the show. I have them on my table and I find being able to look at those notes calms me down a lot.
I also use the cards as a check list to make sure I have everything I need for each trick I'm going to perform. Being prepared and knowing that you are prepared goes a long way in defeating stage fright.
Braxton Mannar
<BR>Just an old dog trying to learn new tricks |
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