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Hey guys I was wondering is there a good way to calm yourself before going on stage or just a good way to escape and sit down and kind of relax? I am not talking about scaredness or nerves I am talking about just being to excited so you act normal and not jumping up and down on Oprahs couch like Tom Cruise if you understand me. I just have alot coming at me by september and I was wondering if there is some good tips just to calm yourself? Because I think this past couple weeks i would be jumping up and down running around naked because my best band is back so yeah. Plus I will be doing what i love hopefully by September i was just curious if there are tips to calm the excitement so I don't look over the top or to much in a good mood if ya know what i mean? Thanks if anyone can answer my question.

If it’s the “Bad “nervousness then I would suggest looking at your show rundown. Is there a new trick your not totally comfortable with? Maybe a few more weeks of practice before putting it in the show would help calm you down.
If its the “I’m Excited’ kind of nervousness then get out there and do it for free, for family, friends or even kids shows for a while until it becomes such a part of you its like not even a thing anymore.

As for me, I enjoy the rush of excitement so I just go for it.

Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

A lack of performance is probably an issue. The first few performances you have to just grin and bear it, deal with the nerves.

Once you've performed well whilst being nervous, you will realise there is no need to be and your body should adjust accordingly.

Saying that, the old Cardsharps used to have a stiff drink before playing, to calm the nerves.

Use it. In fear of being patronising, what you're feeling is an adrenaline rush and you've got the "excited as hell" symptoms rather than the "bricking oneself" symptoms. It's good, because you'll give a more energetic show and you'll love it more

Stage fright is perfectly normal even for an experienced performer - Laurence Olivier suffered from it, for example.

Try this as a simple relaxation technique:

http://relaxationresponse.org/steps/

Barry

1. Eat a banana
2. Belly breathing - in through the nose and out through the mouth, filling the diaphagm first. Count slowly to three on the inhalation and to five on the exhalation. Repeat breathing pattern until calm.

Here's a breathing exercise that can even calm nervous fliers before take off. With a little practice, it's as good as popping a tranq.

Take a couple of deep breaths. Now, breathing deeply but naturally, and allowing yourself to physically relax with every breath out:

Breathe in, mentally count 1.
Breathe out, mentally count 2.
Breathe in, mentally count 3.
Breathe out, mentally count 4.
:
:
:
Breathe in, mentally count 9.
Breathe out, mentally count 10.

Pause until you feel like continuing.

Breathe in, mentally count 10.
Breathe out, mentally count 9.
Breathe in, mentally count 8.
Breathe out, mentally count 7.
:
:
:
Breathe in, mentally count 2.
Breathe out, mentally count 1.

arrive early, set up , then give yourself time to chill before going on.
( thinking time)

most often, really bad "stage fright" is caused by the panic you go through getting to the gig.

my own personal thinking time when doing shows,( not magic ones.. full blown shows) is sitting in my dressing room and applying my make up.
then after ive done, it's sitting back and watching all the others, who arrive after me getting into a blind panic, because they get there "on time".

I can never keep calm before a gig, no matter what I try I go through a whole range of emotions. I start getting very excited when I'm getting my things ready, this get worse when I'm in the car on the way. I get on a real high, I don't stop talking and singing. Then about 10 minutes before I'm due to start, it all changes and I feel so nervous that I feel sick. As soon as I start performing however it all clams down.

I get there early. Have everything set up then I sit down and read a book. Works great!

Here's where I say "one stiff drink", and everyone gets all "On no account have ANY alcohol before performing, ever, EVER, in your whole life, ever, it NEVER works, it ALWAYS ruins EVERYTHING, anyone who says that knows NOTHING."

And yet, I find just one small drink does help. After that, have a glass of water readily available, because you will find you sweat lots and dry out quite quickly, and a dry mouth can make you feel a lot more nervous than you are, if that makes sense.

hmmm.
in our buiseness, many of the greats started off by having just one to steady the nerves.

Its a very slippery slope, and i would always advocate avoiding the swifty snifter before the show .



Remember,It killed Tommy cooper in the end.

EDIT: The following is addressed to F and was written while Dale was writing his

I'm not saying you should never... but there is a small danger that if you drink every time before a performance you may start to think that you can't perform at all without a swift half first. Then, in the worst cases, you develop a dependence.

In real life, for most people, I'm sure you're right. It just seems responsible to point out that some people handle alcohol differently to others. If you use booze to repress an emotion regularly then you're abusing it, in my opinion.

Ted wrote:It just seems responsible to point out that some people handle alcohol differently to others.

Me, for instance!

i always have one of two reactions to booze.


happy

or

Miserable.

what governs this mood swing, isnt the alcohol it's self.

It's wether it's my round or not