How to manage stage fright?

The time has come, you're about to step onto the stage, but as the lights gradually dim and silence falls, stress kicks in. This isn't your first rodeo, yet every time it's the same: stage fright appearing before you even start. So you're probably wondering how to get rid of that knot in your stomach, how to manage this stress and tension before the show? We'll tell you everything in this article.

What is stage fright?

Stage fright is not a weakness, but a normal bodily reaction to a situation perceived as stressful. It's a remnant of our survival instinct: when faced with danger, our body secretes adrenaline, which speeds up the heart rate, increases alertness, and prepares the body for action. In short, if you have stage fright, tell yourself that it's a sign your body is working well! But it reacts as if it were facing danger, and since in an artistic context your life isn't on the line, it can become debilitating. Physiologically, this rise in stress can manifest as sweaty palms, shortness of breath, trembling, or memory blanks—all things that don't help when you're performing, especially a magic act!

The goal here isn't to eliminate stage fright, but to tame it and channel it positively so that this energy causing stress transforms into strength. Let's see how we can concretely deal with it.

Before the performance

✔️ Practice and rehearse

Self-confidence comes from preparation. The more you've rehearsed your act or speech, the more comfortable you'll feel. Working on your performance under different conditions (alone, in front of a mirror, in front of loved ones) to reduce the element of surprise on D-day is essential to reduce your stress levels and, consequently, your stage fright. We'll even go further: it's almost essential to practice more intensively and with difficulties so that it seems "simpler" during the actual performance. Have you tried practicing and redoing your routine with your eyes closed? If you can manage it with this handicap, then it's highly likely that you're starting to truly master it. By deliberately putting obstacles in your way during practice, the D-day performance will seem all the easier.

✔️ Visualize success

Top athletes use visualization to prepare mentally, so why shouldn't you? Imagine yourself successfully performing, feeling the applause and satisfaction. This technique conditions your brain to adopt a winning attitude and prevents you from starting out defeated. Another tip, if you play sports, is to push yourself during your workout while imagining yourself succeeding in your performance. You'll have the satisfaction of having pushed yourself physically, and you'll have associated it with the success of your performance.

✔️ Breathe deeply