Many famous performers have suffered from stage fright and overcome it.
Donny Osmond suffers from stage fright to such an extent that he once had a panic attack on stage. Barbra Streisand stopped singing in public for 27 years after experiencing a bout of stage fright during a concert in Central Park in 1967. If you're prone to stage fright, you're definitely not alone. If you panic while you're performing or speaking, try a few tips to get past the moment.
Practice
If you have your performance down pat, you'll be more likely to recall it and pick up the pieces even if you do experience a moment of panic and your mind goes blank. In an article for "Psychology Today," Lybi Ma cites practical advice from Joseph O'Connor's book, "Free Yourself From Fears." Rehearse each minute of your performance or speech five times. Do it aloud and tune into the sound of your own voice. The better prepared you are and the more familiar your routine is, the more likely you will be able to pick up the reins again if you have a moment of stage fright and lose your place.
Deep Breathing
The American Seminar Academy recommends tapping into your parasympathetic nervous system. This is the calming part of your psyche, in contrast to your sympathetic nervous system, which starts pumping out stress hormones when you panic. A few deep, even breaths should kick your parasympathetic nervous system into gear and calm you down again. The downside is that you'll have to stop speaking or performing for a few seconds to do it, and it may be noticeable to your audience.
Defocus
Defocusing your eyes is another way to use your parasympathetic nervous system to get you past a stage fright attack. This may take some practice, however, because it involves using your peripheral vision. To get the hang of it, place your hands on either side of your face, near your eyes. Try to look at your hands as you practice your speech or other aspect of your performance. Avoid looking straight ahead. After awhile, you should be able to decentralize your vision without your hands to guide you. If you begin panicking on stage, mentally imagine that your hands are there and focus on them. The audience itself will go fuzzy and recede.
Eye Contact
If the size of the crowd out there beyond the stage overwhelms you, you can also try the opposite from defocusing. Concentrate and narrow in on just one person and pretend that the others aren't there. If that person begins to appear uncomfortable with your concentration, move on to someone else.
