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Stage Fright Is Not a Thing

By Brian D. Taylor 

Brian D. Taylor is a former middle school drama teacher and a member of the Pioneer Drama editorial staff.  Working with K-12, college, and community theatre groups, he has a theatrical background with experience in directing, acting, and technical theatre.  When he’s not working on a production, Brian writes children’s and young adult fiction. 

It’s not.

It’s not real. 

It’s not really a thing.

Before I lose you completely, I really believe this and I used to tell this to my drama students, because it’s the truth.  If you can learn to make it the truth.

Stage fright is not a thing.  Or, it doesn’t have to be.

Really, I’m not crazy.  I have a point.  Go with me here...

Stage fright is not a thing.  Let’s start there.  Think about that.  It’s not a real thing.  Forget about it.  Just forget it exists at all.  That’s nice, isn’t it?  Simple, right?

Okay, it’s not so simple.  But it’s true!  It doesn’t have to be a thing.  The only reason why it is a thing is because you’re making it a thing.  But it’s not a thing.  Or rather — and better — it’s not the thing you say it is.  So, let’s go through the steps I would talk through with my drama kids and talk about what it really is.

Stage fright is nerves.  It’s anxiety.  It’s stress.  And those all sound like bad things, right?  But, truthfully, those are good and right feelings and experiences.  It translates to, “I want to do my best” and “I hope they like my performance” and “I really hope I don’t screw this up!”  These are natural feelings, ones that some actors use as a part of their acting toolbox to help them be better.

Of course, if you insist on looking at it in a negative way, it can also mean things like, “I can’t do this,” “They’re going to laugh at me,” or “I’m not good enough.”  All very real feelings, too.  But those feelings aren’t useful for anything, and they aren’t tools that can help you.  So get them out of the toolbox, because they’re just taking up space.  Instead, choose to look at it differently.

Let’s break it down:

“I can’t do this.”  But...  you can.  You really can.  You did the audition.  You got the part.  You’re in the play.  You can do this!  And you’ve been practicing and rehearsing this role for weeks.  You’ve been doing this.  The next step is to go out there and do it again!

“They’re going to laugh at me.”  Well, if it’s a comedy, that’s the point.  You want them to laugh, right?  But I know what you mean.  There’s a difference.  Laughing at you and laughing with you isn’t the same.  But this is really putting the cart before the horse, because the audience simply isn’t out to get you.  They’re not there to eat you alive.  In fact, they’re rooting for you!  They want you to succeed.  They didn’t come to criticize you.  They came to escape and enjoy a night at the theatre.  They came to enjoy a story full of characters.  They came to enjoy your performance.  They need you every bit as much as you need them!

“I’m not good enough.”  Sure, this one hits much deeper.  And it’s not really about whether you are good or bad.  It’s about self-doubt.  It’s that, no matter what you do, you worry you won’t be good enough.  I’ve felt this way a lot of times.  Still do a lot of the time.  But I’m pretty sure everyone else does, too.  It’s hard to live up to other people’s standards, and that’s really what this is all about.  If we’re being honest, it means:  “What if I’m not good enough for them?”  We all want to be liked and we all want to be appreciated for our work, but there are never any promises.  We can’t control how others feel or react to us, so there are no easy answers, except to do your best and keep your head up.  You know who you are and if you’re doing your best, well, that’s all you can do.

So, yeah, those nerves, that anxiety and stress — that “stage fright” can get to you, and it can be overwhelming.  But it can also be used in a powerful and positive way if you can get your head around it and call it by its name.  It’s not stage fright.  That’s a fake name for what is really going on.  It’s energy.

Those nerves, that anxiety, that stress — it’s all energy.  And it’s natural.  Every performer has it, whether on stage or on a field or court.  Whether you’re acting, playing an instrument, or shooting a free throw, it’s a desire to do your very best, to feel your hard work paying off.  Those nerves can be channeled as positive energy that you can use to go out there and knock ’em dead.  It’s good to feel that stress, because it’s good energy that you can use to enhance and rocket-fuel your performance.  Far better than being indifferent and not caring about the outcome of your performance!  So don’t label it fear — it’s ambition.  It’s passion.  It’s your drive.  So use it!

Those nerves?  Those butterflies?  They are not to be feared.  No.  They are your tools that force you to focus and put forth your very best effort.  See them for the positive force they are and fully embrace them.

Stage fright?  Pssh!

I call it stage might.