Drama (club) nerves?

Question

Hi there =)

I'm a junior in high school and at the end of last year, I decided to join the drama club.

Tomorrow, we have our first pre-tryouts practice, and I'm super nervous because I've never been in drama nor do I have any acting experience, what can I do to calm down and know that everything will be okay?

I know most of the kids in drama already (through marching band), but that doesn't seem to help me that much. =\

Help?!

Answer 1

I just gave this same advice to someone else, I even copied and pasted some of it.

As far as calming down, like you said, you already know most of the kids in drama. So try bringing up some joke that happened in marching band, or just talk to the people you know, or even better, the ones that you don't. New experiences are always a little scary, maybe even give you a little bit of an adrenaline rush, so just go with it and have fun.

As far as knowing everything will be okay just think of the worst that will happen, and know what you would do and that you will live through it. My advice laugh it off, or act like it didn't happen, don't freak out over it either way.

Like it's your turn to read and you trip up the steps to the stage (this happened to me). So you fall. Laugh it off, and get up and do what you wanted to do.

Or your reading through, and everything is going fine. (This also happened to me, really embarrassing, but I got through it.) And instead of saying the flag it comes out the f*g. Switch it to flag and keep going. That's part of what they look for. Someone who can recover when they make a big mistake.  

Start out by trying out for a supporting role, instead of a lead. That way it won't be a large amount of lines to memorize, and you won't be counted on by the other actors too much.

If you do okay with your stage fright (which is what it sounds like you have) try out for a larger role for the next play, maybe even a lead if you like doing it.

However, if acting (or being up in front of people isn't your thing) that doesn't neccessarily mean there's nothing for you in drama class.

They also need set design and construction, technical, props, hair and makeup, and costume.

Now I don't know how your school has your drama class set up, but most likely they will need help with at least some of these things, which I'm sure at least one of your interested in.

If your creative, try helping to make some of the set.

If you get a lot of compliments on your hair and makeup and/or like doing your friends, volunteer to help out before the show.

If your good with lighting and sound effects, ask if you can help out with the tecnical stuff.

Or maybe you like sewing, offer to help mend old costumes, alter them to fit, or maybe even come up with some new ones.

Answer 2

If you're in a public school, and most private schools, if you want to be in a school sponsored organization--ie: club--they HAVE to let you in.  This isn't a college sorority or anything like that, if you want to do it, they have to let you do it.  My daughter was in her high school drama club, they had auditions, made it out like it was this big, serious thing.  The leaders/seniors even would make it tortuous for the freshmen/newbies and make them think they wouldn't let them in the club.  It was all done in good fun, because at the end of the process, they told everyone they were in anyway.  

So, just be yourself, do your best, and don't worry about it.  Unless you're at an unusual school, they have to let you in anyway. (but don't play like you know that--because that ruins the fun too!)  Just have fun with it!

Answer 3

I just finished typing this out about stage fright the other day for someone else.  I'm just going to copy and paste it...

Here's a few suggestions students, fellow troupe members, and I have come up with.

1. I ask myself what I'm scared of. I run down the various things that could happen, address any that don't actually have basis in reality (like if I do poorly-I'll be a failure) and put some positive statements out there that are contrary to the original ones. This seems to diffuse the fear a bit. Then it's just about going out there and finding out that I'm not going to fail, explode or be attacked by a critic I can't handle.

2. I come from the direction of status and power. The audience is there to see me. They're the ones that should be nervous.

3. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. Stage fright happens when you forget that.

4. It's not a fear of the stage itself, obviously. It's a fear of looking foolish in front of strangers. Go act foolish in front of strangers.

5. Deep, relaxed breathing is a very useful thing when you are worried on stage. In fact, focusing on breathing is one thing a player can do to calm down in front of an audience if they're experiencing nervousness.

6. The other useful thing is to touch something or somebody. Sometimes just feeling an object in your hands or a person's shoulder will suck all the fear right out of a body.

Overcoming stage fright is on a personal individual level. Method will change from person to person on contolling it. Preshow gitters is something you'll probably never get rid of only learn how to control.

"Even though I used to make my living doing theatre and the like-I got gonzo nervous. It was kind of nice. It reminded me that the work we do never ceases to be challenging-no matter how long you've been doing it."

Answer 4

Relax is number one :) especially if you've been in marching band, you've had an audience. I've been doing plays for years and i still get a knot in the pit of my stomach right before an audition or stage time. Just remember that once you start the audition, it flies by and it gets easier. Just remember one mess-up won't kill you, be exciting, and make eye contact. Break a leg!