How to get rid of pre-performance nerves

{ How to get rid of pre-performance nerves }

Getting Performace Ready…

So whether you have just got your foot through the door of the acting industry or you have been in the game for a while you will probably be aware of that nerve-racking feeling before a show! Now, guys in my own experience I can tell you the feeling doesn’t go away, however, it does get better with time… as of course, practice makes perfect.

In this branch blog, I will share some of my favourite top tips and tricks to ensure the lead-up to your performance is as least stressful as possible.

1- Learn your lines and cues

Take the effort to learn all your lines and cues as soon as possible, as soon as you’ve got this done you, of course, may have the nerves of not wanting to forget them, but you won't have the stress of not knowing them and having to learn them a few nights before.

2- Be comfortable with your castmates

Acting in a friendly confident environment is the best, getting along with your castmates will certainly help as if you are all comfortable with each other you can talk to someone in your cast about your anxieties and in sure you guys will have similar things in common and therefore you guys can help each other.

3- Always be prepared

Similar to “1” always being prepared is important. If you're doing as much rehearsal and practice as you can you will become more comfortable and confident with your lines which will result in you losing nerves. Another little tip that I have found has always worked with my cast is ensuring a backup, in the majority of plays I have done if a castmate I was in a scene with was nervous we would create a backup plan for them … ( if you forget this line… we will say this instead). Although you don’t want to get into a big habit of this it is a great way to calm your own or someone else’s pre-show anxiety.

4- Have positive energy

Instead of focusing on what could go wrong focus on how great the performance is going to be. Try to give yourself and your peers as much motivation as possible.

5- Breathe

Practice your breathing, this is also a great way to calm your nerves down pre-performance. Here is a great method that works great for me, It is called the 4-7-8 breathing method and it goes as follows; breathe in for ‘4’ seconds, then proceed to hold that breath for ‘7’ seconds, and then let go and exhale for ‘8’ seconds.

I hope this branch blog helped, good luck in any performance you may have now or in the future… Break a leg! - AAJ Xx