Acting on stage is a whole lot different when compared to giving a presentation.
I’d dare say much of the actual anxiety and fear has more to do with attitude than the actual presentation
or performance.

You see, in college and University, when doing a presentation in front of an audience, your levels of
anxiety range depending on the public.
If you are a teacher or a professor, it doesn’t mind if you fuck-up.
You have the knowledge and experience to correct your mistakes.
You are not being judged by peers or authorities in your respective field.
As a student giving a presentation, you are being judged by peers, you are being judged by authority
(fellow class-mates, teachers and professors).
Your anxiety and fear of fucking-up will be THAT much higher.
But it can be lessened by:

• Knowing your subject and the limitations of your knowledge
• Knowing you are surrounded by people you actually KNOW and already talked with.
• Having the correct mindset of knowing “I made a mistake, admit to it, and continue”.

As an actor or artist (on stage), things start to differ.
Unlike the student or teacher, most of your audience are “strangers”.
They are not your peers.
They are people who want to be entertained.
Some of these people are so much into entertainment they’ll be visiting different venues and even made
a name for themselves as “reviewers”.
Your audience, in this instance, are the biggest criticasters you may encounter and won’t hesitate to tear
the performance apart when it is REALLY BAD.
Now I should admit the latter won’t be happening (except in movies) as most people have the inbred
“dignity” of not daring to confront the actors in person and mostly await the opportunity to do it
anonymously or under the cover of group-think.
Anyway, in both instances the performer will ALWAYS have anxiety.
You are being judged no matter how you turn it.

Having experienced these situations, on multiple occasions, I learned mindset and attitude are big.
People seek ways to cope with anxiety.
Professional artists and actors have “rituals” before getting on stage to have their anxiety not overcome
their focus.
I’ve read about artists meditating and fasting. Others who go walking or running for a few miles before
the performance, taking hot showers, yoga sessions….
It all depends on the person.
As for me, I like to take a straight shot of whiskey BEFORE taking my first step on stage.
The initial strong taste and alcohol relaxes my mind and gives my brain temporary release of
overthinking everything.

In cases where no whiskey is available I do some box breathing/ four squares breathing to become more
relaxed and focused.

Now these are mainly physical “interventions” and not mental.
As mentioned a few times, mindset and attitude trumps all.
As a matter of fact, that breathing (or shot) I do, the running and taking hot showers,… all relate and
result into an altered mindset.
One of focus and grounding.
Grounded, or being aware of your surroundings, is the key to successful performance.

A mistake many make, and it must be pointed out this is due to education, is to be overly prepared.
I noticed this during my formative years in High School, college and University (and even professional
life).
People having their PowerPoints “on point”, fidgeting with papers and notes on which their entire
presentation is written down, trying to memorize by heart in order to look natural.
They are “prepared” and on point… up until the moment they forgot something, start to stutter, “err” and
fuck-up royally.
I have seen this happen on multiple occasions and had this happen to me two or tree times before
adapting a new approach, i.e. mindset and attitude.
The problem with the “overtly prepared” people is intense focus and not being grounded.
They are so focused on the performance they laid out a series of events in their minds on how it should
happen.
There is no place for deviation. Strict boundaries and the mental scene must be respected.

Bullshit.

Each and every time I went on stage, each time I gave a presentation, each time I gave a lecture, I did
not have any notes.
I wasn’t prepared at all in the eyes of others.
But each and every time I NAILED IT.
When doing my thing on stage people have complimented my by saying “you are a natural”.
I’m not.
I had training through rehearsals when performing on stage.
I learned and mastered the subjects I gave lectures about.
I informed and learned about the subjects I had to do a presentation about.
And by all means, the PowerPoints I made were actually VERY BASIC when compared to my peers.
But I come off as knowledgeable and natural because of my mindset and attitude.

I have anxiety like anyone else.
All great performers have it.
But it’s their mindset, combined with a trick, which makes them great.
There is no escaping that “peak” as soon as you know it’s your turn.
That little “peak” when you set foot on stage and things get rolling no matter how well you are prepared.

But it’s mindset which results in success.
It’s important to be knowledgeable.
It’s important to be authentic.

People that are overtly prepared are way too much focused on the performance itself.
NOT on the subject itself.
In the group I play with I have the luck of being directed by a great director.
He is the type who gives you the script and few guidelines about “the type” you are being casted in.
He is NOT the guy who demands to follow the script by the letter nor learn your lines by heart (like some
others who demand it).
You have to “know” your role, play the key-actions and say the key-words or sentences.
All else is pure “improvisation” (which I am extremely good at).
To the autistic and overtly prepared, this is a nightmare.
To me, and professional actors, this is heaven.

What does this have to do with stage fright?
By getting this “freedom” you are more open to suggestion.
By being grounded you can make better judgments and work your way around tight situations.
By being knowledgeable you can “spin it” and get back on track without breaking down.
By doing this you become more confident.
And with increased confidence will anxiety and fear subside.
“Whatever happens, happens. Moving on”.
That little peak of anxiety ANYONE has before setting foot on stage.
Will become a peak of excitement.
And you will start LOVING playing for a big audience.