One of the top concern shared by singers the world over is how to be more confident on stage. Maybe it’s the new venue, someone special in the audience or just the fear of the unknown that has you distracted from enjoying performing. Regardless there are a few things you can do to minimize stress and nerves and own your show.
1. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse
Not just your words, but your arrangement, where you’re going to add trills, how you’ll move around the stage during the song and the transitions between songs. Just like songs follow format, your show should have a map so you know where you’re going. Having a plan for your show doesn’t make it less spontaneous, it makes you a pro. And the more comfortable you are with the flow of your show, the more confident you will both appear to your audience and be.
2. Train, Train, Train
If you have things about your voice that you’re not solid on, get lessons from a qualified instructor. If you find you’re distracted by trying to find the next guitar chord, get help. Whatever it is that’s diverting your attention away from where it should be, training and experience will help to remove it from the equation.
3. Stop Stressing on Stage
The time to stress about vocal strain, reaching the high note, if you look dumb taking the mic off the stand, etc., is when you’re not on stage. That stress is there to drive you to take control and work those things out ahead of time. But once your foot hits that stage, give NONE of it another thought. Audiences may not know much about what you’ve done to get here, but they can spot nervous and self-conscious a mile away; and it makes them uncomfortable too. Once you hit the stage it’s time to enjoy what happens and give your audience a good time. Let the chips fall where they may; you’ll have until the next show to fix whatever you don’t like.
4. Don’t Draw Attention to Mistakes
Most of the mistakes on a stage that the audience knows about are the ones you tell them about. Really. They’re there to have a good time and they expect to enjoy what you do (with very few exceptions). If you forget the words, fill in with another line or make something up. If you completely blow that vocal trill, pretend you didn’t and chance are, they won’t even remember it. But tell them you’ve messed up, either by saying something or just by the look on your face and both you and your audience will have less faith in you. Confidence comes from taking control. Don’t let your own opinion give you away.
5. Perform with Authority
If someone let you get on that stage, you have been given permission to be in charge. Understand the responsibility of that and rise to the occasion. Look people in the eye. Tell them what to expect by introducing yourself, telling something about yourself and letting them know you’re all going to have a good time. Take them along for the ride. YOU are in charge. If you don’t take the reigns, regardless of your nerves, they know they’re in for trouble. A world of mistakes and mishaps are forgiven for the artist who knows how to perform with authority.
Confidence comes from being prepared and taking charge. You’d be surprised how many major artists get horribly nervous at the start of a show. Nerves are just part of the game many times. But when they hit, you’ll know you can fall back on all of the work you’ve done to get there, take the stage and just do your thing.
Are you confident on stage? What’s your secret? Share it below and help everyone.
