How do you get rid of stage fright? is there a pill I can take to relax me?

Question: How do you get rid of stage fright!? is there a pill I can take to relax me!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Wow!!! I used to ask this question a lot, but now I don't even have to!. I have been doing theater for two years, now, and have gotten over my physical stagefright!.

Okay, now, physical stagefright didn't help me much!. I used to be onstage and the second the curtain rose, my legs began to wobble and shake furociously!. I was so embarrassed, and whenever I asked anybody if they could see it, they said, "No, dear!. You look wonderful!. You were the best"!.!.!. I knew this wasn't they because I was a background character - an extra!. - How an I the best!?

I began to go on my asking hunt!. Every single person who greeted me after a show, before a show, and even my friends & family & teachers were the prey!. So I asked and received similar responses, but never the one that actually helped me!. I heard picture the audience in their undies!.!.!. got me even more nervous!!! I pictured my teacher in a speedo running with sponge bob!.!.!. that helped on some nights & put a smile on my face - it didn't permantly help because it wasn't funny anymore after a while!.!.!. it became sickening, causing me to feel nauseated and less on my feet!. I tried taking deep breaths, napping before, slapping myself, holding my under water, and many other odd things!.

But then!.!.!.
I finally realized it after doing my second stage musical!.

IT COMES WITH EXPERIENCE!!!!
You have to get to know yourself through a process to see what helps and what doesn't!. also, the more experience you get of any type on stage builds up your confidence as a performer causing you to shake less!. Even if you don't do well, as long as you have proper etiquite as a performer or of a developing professional in your trade, and the audience sees that you can easily cover up the mistakes by continuing to just play along with the production or concert - everything will have a positive feed back on the sensation of performing on a stage!.

also, you have to picture yourself as another person and another character other than yourself!. This one is not a suggestion it is a must!. I need to do this more in auditions, because I am very personable/ crazy/ eccentric when you get to know me!. The probelm is that when I frist meet people, I am usually very quite and serious and create awkward silence!.

(Like that)!.!.!.!.!.!.

Anyways! lol!. You have to see yourself in the eyes of another, because you, yourself, have morals and goals - things that you want to do and don't!. Like in an improv!. I was told to be the conceited person and the other was a hill billy!. I am neither of those personalities, but when our teacher says, "And go!"!.!.!. YOU BETTER DO SOMETHING!!! So in like 5 seconds of being rushed, all I could hear in my head was Paris Hilton, so I went along with it!. And let's just say the results were hilarious!. (To all Paris Hilton fans out there, I say this in no mockery --- I personally think she rocks!) Sometimes you have to go with what you are not comfortable with!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.
(Scratch that)!.!.!.!.
You always have something you're uncomfortable with, but you must also realize in the realm of marketing, if you are yourself on stage and not the character!.!.!. you may have a sense of humor/ flavor of your own that you bring to the stage and others as a majority may not think it's funny/ enjoyable!.

Another thing!!!
The stagefright you get which is controlled and you have a feeling of butterflies in your stomach (aka about to throw up or tinkle fairies or random spazz attacks) is GOOD!!! You need that to keep your acting/ singing fresh after every performance!. Without it you MAY (---Notice I say MAY!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.) actually become too conceited to do a good job!. I call this feeling a reality check!. Sometimes, I SAID SOMETIMES okay SOMETIMES!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!., I get a little too conceited before a show and think I'm better than everyone or think I should have their role!. When the butterflies start-a-comin' I know that I was being a jerk!. Of course this is all hilarious to by-watchers because this all goes on inside of my head!.!.!.!. (need I say more)!. This gets me sincere again and realize what I'm here for!.!.!. To have fun, praise God through this talent he has given me, build up my reputation with local theatres, and build up myself to be ready for Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!.!.

And last of all -----------------------------*I hope!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.
You should take a pill!. Do you know how many performances that would be!? Your body could grow accustomed to having that pill for every performance, gaining a dependecy to a certain amount and each time wanting more!. You could start with one pill, next two, next four, then who knows how many!!!!! Sorry for making you feel like a druggy!. My apologies!. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was a nice "Conversation"!.!.!. I hope it helped!

long Live THEATRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Sometimes you can allow the character to utilize you as it's voice!. You are the only way that this character will be heard!. It's not you on the stage, try to forget about yourself (the person filled with anxiety) and be the person who must speak as if it is their only chance to voice their perspective!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

NO! THERE IS NO PILL AND YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY PILLS ANYWAY - YOU NEED TO BE ALERT AND READY TO GIVE YOUR BEST!
FIND A QUIET PLACE ( EVEN IF IT'S JUST IN THE BATHROOM) ABOUT 10 MINUTES BEFORE YOU GO ON AND JUST TAKE DEEP SLOW BREATHS IN AND OUT AND RELAX WITH YOUR BREATHING!.
THIS TAKES SOME EFFORT AND CONCENTRATION BUT YOU CAN DO IT!.
THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH FUN IT IS TO PERFORM!
THINK ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER AND WHAT YOUR CHARACTER "WANTS" IN THE SHOW ( EVEN IF YOU ARE SINGING AND NOT ACTING - THINK ABOUT WHAT THE WORDS TO THE SONG (S) MEAN)
DOES YOUR CHARACTER ( OR SONG) WANT LOVE!? ACCEPTANCE!?
TO SHAKE THINGS UP!?
TO SUCCEED!?
TO GET REVENGE!?
TO FIND HIMSELF/HERSELF!?!.!.!.!.!.
WHAT EVER IT IS - CONCENTRATE ON THAT - NOT ON PEOPLE SEEING YOU OR JUDGING YOU!.
PERFORMING FOR A PERFORMER IS THE MOST FUN THING IN THE WORLD! -
RELISH THE MOMENT - YOU GET TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO! HOW COOL IS THAT!?
USE YOUR NERVOUS EXCITEMENT TO GIVE YOU ENERGY FOR THE PERFORMANCE - TO BE REALLY "ELECTRIC" ONSTAGE - THAT'S WHAT MAKES A STAR!!!!!!
HAVE FUN!
GOOD LUCK!

Www@QuestionHome@Com

Did you seriously just ask if there was a pill to take!? Absolutely not!. If there was a pill to take I'm sure there would be billions of people who were famous because they finally had the guts to get on stage!. Your best bet is to not even think about it!. Just think about how awesome the show is going to be!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

its pretty easy for me here are a few things i do to get rid of SF i breath carefully, imagine everyone is in their undies, shake it off, and i also remember it doesn't matter if i make a mistake they won't even notice and last!.!.!. Stay calm at ALL times!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Practice!. Exercise!. Relax and FOCUS!.

And when you perform, you give it your all you forget everything, even stage fright!.

In all our performances, giving your 100% and forgetting everything else ALWAYS works for us!.

=) =) Www@QuestionHome@Com

well obviously you cant take a pill but like people say picture the people watching you in their underpants

sry its not a good advice
but i wish you luck
go and knock umm dead
break a leg!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

DON'T take a pill! Do try taking deep breaths and maybe meditating, you may think it's silly, but it really relaxes you and helps cure the stage fright!.Www@QuestionHome@Com