Chickens all want to stay in the doorway!

[fionne]

I'm a bit sad today cos I belong to an operatic society and it was pre audition practice last night. I was so excited cos I had learned all the words and put lots of expression in to it and its one of my fav musicals and then I stood up and shook from head to foot which made my breathing go all wrong and made me forget expression an everything. I know I could do the part so why can't I stop being nervous? Any ideas to help?

[Guest]

well, I felt exactly the same when I first performed my poetry to an audience. I told myself that it's the things in life you don't do that you regret, not the things you do do. I tried to forget everyone else was there and once I got into it, I felt more relaxed.

 

Maybe you could try a herbal relaxant from the chemist, Kalms or something?

 

don't focus on everyone around you, just tell yourself that you know you can do it and you'll regret it if you don't and what an achievement it will be when you perform beautifully and get a standijng ovation!

 

good luck, you CAN do it!

[Cinnamon]

Hi Fionne,

 

Any sort of social event or big event makes me weak with nerves.

I HATE going to an airport & cannot bear parties ar anything like that (until I have had a G&T that is )

I hate any situation that I feel I cannot get out of, & have to sit on the aisle at cinema events & so forth.

 

The thing which has helped me most is breathing exercises - in & out slowly & calmly,really concentrating on it.

Rescue Remedy is slo really good & for the travelling I have prescription Diazapam,which I rarely take but just knowing its in my bag is enough.

[surferdog]

I've had this happen sometimes when I've had to do presentations to a big audience. Rescue remedy is a great suggestion. I've also used St John's Wort and Gingko Bilboa (don't know if they help or if it's the placebo effect). It's also worth imagining yourself actually doing it and succeeding - after a few minutes you kind of slip into what you imagined. It's apparently how athletes get through - they imagine themselves winning.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Can't help with advice - just wanted to say good luck and I'm sure you'll do really well . I sing in a choir but thankfully they don't do auditions! I would have been wobbly with nerves too if they did .

[lisa33]

Definately Rescue Remedy.

 

I use it for all sorts of occasions.

[Tessa the Duchess]

Hi, I do sympathise. I suffered terribly from stage fright which I think is what you are suffering from, which is why I ended up as a dance teacher and not a dancer I second the suggestions about Rescue Remedy and also herbal Kalms, take two about half an hour before the performance or audition and they really do calm you right down. Breathing exercises are good too, but sometimes when you are really anxious it is difficult to control your breathing.

 

Tessa.

[fionne]

Thank you all so very much.In a way its good to feel I'm not alone I just feel so stupid cos its not as if I haven't prepared or anything cos then I would deserve to feel nervous. I might try some rescue remedy or kalms beforehand, possibly not both or I'll be too laid back and possibly horizontal!! Maybe not a G&T cos heaven knows what I'd sing then!! I keep practising at home or in the car and its fine then!! I might not bother with the rehearsal next Tuesday cos if it goes badly it will make me even more nervous for Thursday (D day!!).

[Willow]

Lots and lots of people swear by the rescue remedy, that will work. You're definitely not alone and better to get stage fright before the big night so you know you can do something about it. You are so lucky to be able to sing and it would be lovely to share that with people.

 

I love Poet's words

'it's the things in life you don't do that you regret, not the things you do do'

 

Just keep remembering that. You must tell us how it went.

[fionne]

I love poet's words as well - so very true. I will try and go for it and tell you what happened maybe after a triple G&t!!!!!! Lots of deep breathing, rescue remedy and a big smile at the London director who luckily is a very nice man!!! He did give a lovely part once so at least he has had faith in me before!!!

[Seagazer]

Good luck for next week.

 

I also use Rescue Remedy, Kalms etc. What about hypnosis as well? I used that for my fear of flying. It helped, well, big glasses of wine help as well but you don't want to be drunk for your audition.

[Egluntyne]

Best of luck, and remember that many famous performers have stage fright/nerves so you are not alone.

[Crooked Chicken]

Sorry - I haven't any good advice, but certainly worth trying the remedies suggested above.

 

I suffer from emetophobia (a fear of myself/others being sick). My phobia is at present all consuming and I am in an almost permanent state of anxiety. Sadly I can't run away from my 'thoughts' of illness. It's the first thing that comes into my head in the morning, my last thoughts at night, and I even dream of illness. A living hell.

 

Not sure why I'm telling you all this. I'm probably trying to say that no matter what anxieties we all suffer from, we really do need to try and conquer them so that we can live life to the full. You obviously have a wonderful talent and it would be a great shame if your nerves got in the way of your performance. All the very best of luck and do let us all know how you get on.

[Olly]

Definitely recommend the breathing exercises, and also visualisation - picture yourself doing the audition and doing it really well, and keep repeating this. Focus on detail - see yourself standing up, think about what you're wearing, what you can see, and how it feels. Repeat it as many times as you can, and it really helps.

 

I don't think there is anyone who doesn't have a phobia of some sort, whether it's spiders, heights, or something less common - and we are so good at concealing them or going out of our way to make sure that we don't have to come across them. I'm sorry to hear that your phobia is so consuming, CrookedChicken - I hope you can get some help with it.

 

Good luck for next Thursday!

[Lesley]

I love Poet's words

'it's the things in life you don't do that you regret, not the things you do do'

 

Just keep remembering that. You must tell us how it went.

 

I have a similar quote as my sig. on another forum - I do have to remind myself of it sometimes when things seem so scary

[Trish]

Along with others I suggest rescue remedy and breathing exercises. And her I go again with my Aromatherapist's hat on but there are many oils that help promote relaxation.

[Cinnamon]

Aromatherapy also helps me.

I bought a travel help set from This Works which has gorgeous little roll on pulse point aromatherapy oils & lovely balms too

[fionne]

Hi guys,

I am just so touched by all your help. I have been practising and doing lots of deep breathing and will definitely be using some rescue remedy and possibly some oils beforehand. However it works out I'm going to really enjoy singing the music and pretending that I am really singing the part(which I will be for about 5 minutes!!!!). I promise I will let you all know and hope I don't let you all down! I feel kind of responsible now! Everyone keep fingers crossed for Thursday night 7pm onwards!!

[Guest]

if all else fails, picture them all naked!

[fionne]

Genius thought!!!

[chickenanne]

I was really scared of flying, and always found myself imagining the plane crashing, what it would be like, how hard it would be getting to the emergency exit, etc etc all through take-off. As you can imagine, that didn't exactly help me feel calmer! I'm sure it muist be the same as imagining yourself being overcome with stage-fright again.

 

It's pretty much impossible to stop yourself from thinking about something; as soon as you go "right, I'm not going to think about plummeting toward the ground ina giant fireball", or "I'm not going to think about all those people looking at me" it's already in your head. So if that kind of thought comes to you when your auditioning or whatever, just let it but jsut try to let it wash over you - don't grab it and play with it!

 

A much much better approach is instead to go somewhere you feel relaxed and imagine your performance in detail going really really well. Don't block out the fact that people will be there, but don't focus on it either, just imagine as clearly as possible you doing a really succesful audition. You know you can do it, you've trained your voice etc, so all you need to do now is train your mind to accept that you will do it well and succesfully. And you're already most of the way in to doing that becuase you already know in your conscious mind that you are good at it.

[Cinnamon]

Quick heads up - Bach resue Remedy - the whole range - is on 3 for the price of 2 in Boots.

I got the night time one which tastes nowhere near as nice as the day one,but stops those 3am paranoid feelings

[superjules]

I agree with chickenanne - I think you need to visualise yourself doing it well and hold on to that thought and feeling.

 

During a karate tournament, I was asked to do a kata that I'd been dreading. I knew it was highly likely I'd be asked to do it so I'd practised and practised. I've got diagrams of it blue-tak'd to my kitchen door and I rehe"Ooops, word censored!"d for hours because in my mind, this kata is my weakest. Anyway, I was called up first in the individual event and the judge asked me to perform the kata. I totally froze, my mind went completely blank, because I'd blown it up out of all proportion and in my preparation I'd just been focussing on what could go wrong rather than being positive about it.

[fionne]

Hi guys!!

 

Well I did it and that Bach rescue remedy really is good. I wasn't nearly as nervous as before and even though I didn't get the part apparently it was very close and a split decision which unfortunately didn't go my way!! It was commented on that it was my best audition yet!! (The person who got the part is always very good and will be excellent)I think another time I will take a bit more rescue remedy and take it earlier but it really is brilliant, calmed me right down. Thank you so much to all of you

[Willow]

Yhay ! well done. A shame you didn't get the part as well but sounds like you did wonderfully.