Is performance anxiety ever a problem? If so, when is it most likely to
happen and what do you do to deal with it?
You better believe it that performance anxiety has been a problem! I've had more bouts of nerves during auditions, performances, & just thinking about performing than I can take. For me, it's been trial & error as far as finding a way to work with it. My optimum performance is when I imagine being alone with no one there to judge me. Thank god for my therapist who's helped me duplicate this experience under extreme stress.
Good for you Lisa & Catface! You're both using mental skills to deal with bouts of nerves. While Lisa reminds herself during a solo that she can perform difficult roles, Catface "reframes" a scary audition into a simple class. Smart thinking!!! There are other techniques that work as well. Just be aware that you're already doing something to help!
Anxiety is rarely a problem. However, auditions or solo parts are a different matter. Even the best performers have bouts of nerves. It doesn't mean you can't do, it's just that doing it under pressure can result in a mess. You just have to steel yourself against getting nervous & try to MAKE yourself perform the way you know you can.
Luckily I don't suffer from performance anxiety before a performance. Nerves, yes, but anxiety, not usually. However, I do suffer from it when I go to auditions. When I perform I am usually confident that I know the steps and have done my best to perfect them, but in auditions it's the opposite. I become very nervous about not being 'good enough,' not picking up the combinations, not being perfect, not wearing the right clothes/make-up etc - the list goes on. One way I try to deal with this is to think of the audition as a class. In class I am there to work on my technique, and it's ok if things go wrong. That's why I take class. Such a mentality has helped, but not completely. I wonder what helps other people?
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