How To Overcome Your Stage Fright

Stage fright is not something you easily conquer. The kind of performance anxiety a lot of video masters deal with before shooting their content is very common, even among experts. It’s like before you even face the camera, you already know that someone will be heckling you – and it’s no other than your brain itself.

Unless you find a technique that works for you, working up the courage to just go up in front of the camera and delivery your script can be a daunting task. Whether you like it or not, you have to go do it. How can you convince yourself to turn off the negative thoughts and just conquer your fear?

There are a few ways that you can harness your performance anxiety into something to your advantage. Let me tell you about different techniques that can help you with overcoming your stage fright and doing your best at presenting in front of the camera.

Shift the focus

Prior to your production, your mind may be clouded by negative thoughts. You’re worried about doing well and making mistakes. You’re thinking about everything that could go wrong once the camera starts rolling. You’re paralyzed by the fear of not delivering your script well and having your message lost in translation.

What can you do to prevent these anxieties from ruling over you? You must learn to channel the energy from thinking negatively and start remembering your true purpose. What are you doing this video for? It’s to contribute to your audience’s lives. Bring your focus back to that. Remember that you’re supposed to add value to your customers’ experience, and let that help you power through as you face the camera.

Practice ways to relax

If it seems that your anxiety is overwhelming, you need to help yourself and do your best to calm down. Getting yourself to relax before facing the camera is easier said than done, but you can try. There are a few techniques that will give you some peace of mind to quiet down the negative thoughts. From breathing exercises to stretching, there are different ways to help you relax.

During those moments that you’re racked with anxiety before facing the camera, you should try to mind your breathing. Take a few slow, deep breaths at a time. This will help you relax your breathing and you’ll be at ease by the time you face the camera. You can also do some stretches. Stretch out your arms and back to ease up the tense muscles, which will allow you to be calm. These techniques will signal your brain to relax and help you deliver in front of the camera in a more composed way.

Prepare your material in advance

When it comes to video production, you can never come too prepared. It’s best to be ready in case anything comes up. It’s important to be prepared with everything you might need before shooting. Double check everything, especially your equipment, so you can have a backup plan in case anything goes wrong.

If you need a teleprompter to help you deliver your script, set it up before the shoot. Know your presentation by heart so that if you experience a glitch, you will be able to continue. Arrive early so that you can orient yourself well to the task at hand. Allowing yourself to get familiar and come prepared to the shoot will ease up your anxieties for a bit, knowing that you are ready.

These are just a few techniques that can help ease your worries before you face the camera. Being in a calmer state of mind and being prepared will really help you loosen up and deliver your script well. It’s all about managing your anxiety. Stage fright may never go away, but you can use it as a motivation to do great in all of your videos.

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