The article, “Petrified,” was about actors having stage freight, the symptoms, and how to overcome it. I found it very interesting because I have either seen others, or myself have these symptoms. It has helped me learn more about what goes on when somebody is about to present, and also how to improve on my presentations. They talked about people going on stage, and while on stage their body locks up, or they can’t speak. One of the reasons being is that they are self-aware.
In the article, they used a good example about the 50-foot wave, explaining that as soon as you realize that your doing something crazy, you wipe out. People tend to think too much about it, instead of just trusting all your preparation you have done. I have found my self-doing this a lot, even in the last speech I gave. In my next speech I plan to be relaxed and concentrate more. I have never had stage freight. The most that happens to me, is that my heart rate may go up. It is because I have danced in talent shows in the past with an audience of more than one hundred people.
My past experiences have prepared me for today. To help out my heart rate, I think ill try to stop thinking about it so much. This article points out that stage freight can be avoided if you take control. In the article, it says if you are a people pleaser you are more worried about whether the audience is going to like you, or if the person is feeling like what they have to say isn’t good enough, which can then cause stage freight. Ways to take control consist of using a visual, or practicing in front of a mirror. Using a few of these methods will increase courage.
A great thing to have when public speaking, according to the article, is confidence. Courage generates more courage to help you get through your performance or speech. This article emphasized that practice will ease stage fright. Practicing in front of the mirror will surely help with you stage freight, to make you more confidant with your speaking and body language. Also, it would help to practice in front of family or friends. Another thing is becoming self aware of your surroundings, and try to make eye contact.
It may help to look in between people, so it may look like your looking at someone. I actually got taught in high school to pick out a picture on the wall, and always go back to looking at that if you get too nervous. I feel as if you have stage freight, it may always be there in the back of your mind, but you can do things to help with it. You will always feel some sort of way because it is out of your comfort zone, just like trying to new things. Overall this was a good article and it will help improve my presentations in the future.
