What are the most effective ways to manage stress during performances?

I fronted Ricky Nelson and Stone Canyon Band solo in Richmond, VA in 1979 in front of 10,000 people. . The crowd started chanting "Ricky Ricky Ricky" after my first song. My heart went through the concrete into the earth. Scared me silly. So I said "I'm not Ricky, I'm Stevie, and you're stuck with me for 45 minutes." I then played a pounding Richie Havens version of "Woodstock" on my 12-string. The engineer brought up the reverb and then the PA to concert level. The crowd loved it. Half the crowd went back to chanting Ricky, but the other half chanted "Stevie Stevie Stevie!" after every song. We all had a great time, and I have never had a single moment of fear onstage ever since. Just play the music, bring it, and they'll love you.

I had severe anxiety and stress whenever I performed . After trying many techniques and strategies, I came across EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique or also called Tapping) and it was the only thing that actually worked to release the emotional charge around the root cause events of what was causing extreme anxiety, body reactions and brain freeze during performances. Until EFT (Tapping) no amount of preparation, positive thinking made any difference. I now enjoy performing. It was so profoundly effective I was inspired to train to become an EFT Certified Practitioner and now assist others in releasing their performance anxiety (as well as PTSD, phobias, etc). Sometimes you need to dig a little deeper for a lasting change.

After performing in front of and serving small and large audiences for over 25 years, I've come to understand and now share that your thoughts are controllers. What you think about yourself or your source of power is vital. When I begin to feel anxious, fearful, less confident about my abilities, skills and talent and where it came from, those become triggers for my body to respond. If I can hone in on what I know to be true, trust in the person that I've become and also resolve that my Higher Power is flowing through me, then I am less anxious and stressed. I didn't say all of it will go away but I'm now using the energy I feel, pushing through the nervousness I am experiencing and flowing on another level. Practice it and be victorious!

Preparation is everything. If you know you have prepared well this will significantly reduce your stress. I regularly practice the BOX breath. This entrains me to relax the body and mind within a few seconds, when applying it before a performance. It is also beneficial to tune into feelings of joy and gratitude, this will connect you to your heart so that you can sing with true authenticity.

Check your stress... and get to know your stressors. Yes, there's negative stress but there's also positive stress as well. Reframe your stress - positive stress can help you elevate your performance up to 30% on stage after all. It gets you more focused and concentrated to give your best in that certain situation.

Always have your material well sung in. Understanding where to breathe for yourself to navigate the simplest and most effective route through any song is vital for familiarity and confidence.

?Cómo me preparo? Algunos nunca presentaríamos nada si necesitáramos asegurar perfección... Sin embargo, busquemos recrear en lo posible las circustancias que dan comodidad en los ensayos: rutina de calentamiento físico y vocal, estar hidratados desde el día anterior, haber descansado lo suficiente (muchos podemos quedar afónicos por haber pasado una noche en vela), haber comido en la justa medida y con tiempo suficiente antes de la presentación (no queremos que el proceso digestivo nos juegue una mala pasada), ensayar nuestras piezas con el movimiento escénico requerido, y, de ser posible, conocer el espacio de la presentación con antelación, porque temas como el aire acondicionado o la humedad son cruciales.

Turn the stress and anxiety energy into usable excitement and intention. Let it ground you. If your performance needs the anxious energy for the character- use it!

In my experience self confidence and win the audience is the real key to have a best performance, for example we had freddy mercury rest his soul. But as a professional this is just my opinion.

There are many ways to prepare yourself for a performance. First step is figuring out what works for you. You may need a day of vocal rest during which time you can go over the text in your minds eye. Or listen to recordings of that performance by a credible performer. A lot of times performers forget their lyrics, use flash cards. Sometimes performers have a hard time remembering melodies, color your score. Sounds silly but if you match a color to an emotion your brain will automatically remember that section, proven technique that works. While waiting before getting on stage ask yourself, is this an anxiety or excitement? The energy that moves through you is a build up to hold space for your audience.

La respiración es un aspecto fundamental de una presentación vocal. Tengamos una rutina de preparación, los ejercicios de respiración han demostrado ser de mucha ayuda para reducir la tensión y mejoran nuestro perfomance vocal. Una respiración lenta y profunda puede ser una excelente opción, mientras cerramos los ojos. Otras personas podrían sentir que se necesita activar el cuerpo, en este caso una respiración más rápida y rítmica puede llevar nuestro cuerpo a un estado de predisposición para enfrentar el esfuerzo físico que conlleva nuestra presentación.

Fluir con la respiración, fluir con tus emociones, aceptar tu cuerpo, conocerlo... Ensayar, saber el momento perfecto para respirar en la canción... No tener miedo a jugar con la canción, ni con la emoción tampoco... Fluir, fluir, fluir... Así de simple y así de complicado...

Breath is a very important tool for vocal expression. Understanding your breathing pattern before a performance and regulating it can help go a long way in managing the stress. So some of the breathing exercises I do before a performance are brahmari pranayam, smell the roses and blow the candle and take deep long breaths.

Si respiramos para conectarnos con nosotros mismos, la conexión de nuestro cuerpo con nuestra mente al momento de cantar se consolidará de mejor manera. La función de respirar para conectarnos con nosotros mismos será fundamental, no solo para cantar en un show, sinó para la vida misma.

Breathing is one authonomous function of our body we can "control". As we breathe out we activate the parasympathetic branch of vagus nerve so we signal our body that we are safe. Breathing slowly in, following our breath, and breathing out a long breath of 7 seconds contributes to slow down the activation of the sympathetic branch. A great functional way of self-regulation. But it might not always help if there's not a previous trained hability to identify with precision our body's responses. Our own responses, that are different to each person. Getting to know one's inner responses is like landing in a planet that has a whole different way of functioning, we have never learnt the language, the codes, and we have to live there.

Performance Nerves are Normal. Use the Nervous Energy to your advantage by Allowing this Ernergy as motivational Factor. In short, insert this into performance ??

Así como no podemos jugar bien mientras existan condicionantes externos en nuestra contra, también es necesario controlar nuestros pensamientos. Si tenemos el tiempo, una peque?a meditación puede proporcionarnos la paz que requerimos antes de salir a escena. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las veces no es posible tomarnos mucho tiempo nosotros mismos cuando ataca el estrés, por lo que es vital que siempre validemos nuestro arte y el esfuerzo que hemos invertido en prepararnos. Estamos realizando una actividad que nos ha tomado mucho tiempo preparar y que hacemos porque la amamos, además que si tenemos la oportunidad de presentarnos ante un público es para envolverlos en la magia de nuestro arte y trasmitir el amor por lo que hacemos.

Here is the thing, you can’t think positivity if you’re not ready! You can’t think positively if you become your own worst critic. If you think negatively you automatically self sabotage your performance, and sure enough will make a mistake. However, if you notice negative thoughts coming up out loud or in your minds eye say “cancel that thought”, and come up with three words that give you boost of confidence. It also helps to keep a list of positive feedback from professionals who you consider to be your support system. Reading it out loud before going to sleep the night before your performance will calm your nerves and will give you a peace of mind so you can get a good nights rest.

Pensar en positivo siempre. Pero también hay que aceptar que no siempre estamos y somos alegres. La tristeza también es vida, y forma parte de la vida. Pero tenemos que querernos, y hacernos valer. Y pensar que podemos con todo. Aunque también hay que pedir ayuda muchas veces... Así es.

One should always go on stage with the belief that your audience wants you to win :) Also think of your performance as a gift to your audience. We always give a gift with love, humility and hope that the opposite person with like it. Also the audience is giving the performer the gift of their time. So the performer can be grateful of that and present from that state of mind. Also affirmations and visualizations work like magic :)

Equity Actor, Director, & Music Educator here! One thing to remember is the audience is there to see you do what you do best! They know exactly where they are and what they’re there for, so you should remind yourself of the same thing! Give them a show. Give them a good time. If you didn’t trust yourself with that responsibility, you probably wouldn’t have the opportunity in the first place!

Always choose to sing and perform what you love and what showcases your talents in the best way possible. When you do what you love you connect with your audience on a deeper spiritual level. When your audience is moved by your performance it feels rewarding and you get inspired to share even more. Allow to challenge yourself a little as well. Because when you successfully perform a piece of music that was difficult for you in the beginning. When you master it and are able to deliver it, you will feel a sense of pride, it will boost your confidence, self esteem, and most importantly growth! For me, the role of Carmen was the most difficult role. Once I mastered it, it was and still is the best role I have ever played and performed.

Si no nos divertimos cantando estamos en el lugar equivocado. Cantar es expresar, es dejarse llevar, es contar historias y compartir con los demás. Un escenario es el lugar perfecto para fluir y ser feliz.

The same is true for singing and performing any other instruments, but if we manage to go into a state of flow during our performances it becomes much easier to overcome our performance anxiety. The joy of performing is an important factor in this process and is the reward we experience when everything works out. Reminding ourselves that the audience is there to enjoy the performance is also important to reach this state and make the stress work with us and not against us.

This is actually true. Choosing your kind of music for performance will allow you to enjoy it for your audience enjoyment! Whenever I played my kind of music or sing makes my performance more enjoyable because I love the music.

Being well prepared for your target audience is the foundation to a successful performance. However, if you are but still feel tension, make sure to shift your mindset. Make the audience your focal point. Think of how you can affect them and guide them to their goal. Don’t make yourself your center of attention. Then get out of your head and into your body. Use your muscles properly from breathing to articulating then your brain which will control all muscles. Breathe enough and at the right time. Don’t hold your breath. Pinpoint your task and go for it. Decide to give value to your audience and enjoy doing just that.

Unless performances are causing stress because of pressure caused by other people in major control, expectations built on illusions or maybe a stage identity which is not really resonating with the performer-which could mean struggle to act and keep going long term, there should be not so much pressure with exception of that genuine, natural excitement before the start. Being connected with the audience, staying grounded while doing nothing but what you have worked hard, practiced and refined should not cause that much stress to influence performances-unless there might also be something else going on on a different, psychological or health level. If so, please take care of yourself and do not hesitate to look for some qualified support.

Manage your Emotions. The stress we feel while performing should be understood in other to properly address it. Many times I feel the tension backstage about 5 minutes before going to perform and this could be because of so many reasons, sound check not properly done, massive audience like never before, information overload(best believe ??), and many other things. What I do is to pace back and forth and talk to myself that everything would be just fine and breatheeeeee. I have a beautiful memory of performing at an outdoor event then the rain started to fall, I was turned between stopping abruptly when I saw everyone scampering for shelter or ending the song professionally before the end of the song. I did the latter and it was beautiful

Often I feel what gets overlooked when performing and something that can make a huge impact on your sound and confidence is being aware of the sound in the venue. Acquaint yourself with the sound the Engineer communicate with them and have an understanding of what levels work for you? Having that knowledge can really show your level of competence, professionalism and differentiate you from others. Sound Engineers love it when you speak their language and when you build that rapport, in most cases they go that extra mile to ensure you sound great to the house but most importantly in your monitors. Its important to hear the mid low and highs of your voice. It helps to make your delivery effortless. That's Confidence.