Stage Fright! Nervousy! HELP ME!?

Question

I've been thinking about auditions this fall for the musical that we do with lots of other schools. I'm FREAKING OUT! Actually, I'm just fine now, and I keep telling myself that I will be fine. But then I think about past auditions and how I couldn't hold a note because I was shaking so hard - and it seems uncontrollable. I don't think its as much singing in front of other people as it is the pressure to do well. But what confuses me is that the only pressure to do well is for myself! Any ideas about how to solve or at least lessen my stage fright/ breaking under pressure problem?

Answer 1

I don't know if this will help you or not but here goes, if your singing or doing an acting piece (monologue) for your audition make sure you know it extremely well, so well you can do it in your sleep (this is what i do), and when you enter the audition room smile and introduce yourself make sure you look friendly and then the panel wont look upon you harshly, i don't know if this helps with your fear of auditions i just know it worked for me, but i hope this helped slightly :)

Answer 2

Try to pick a spot on the back wall, just above everyone's heads and sing to that spot.  That way you don't get nervous about where to look.  The only other thing I can think of is to remember you're singing the song, don't wait to follow the accompanist or you'll get more nervous and loose the words.  And if it helps, one time I forgot probably half the words to my audition song, and I still got into an opera program a few years ago.  They mainly want to hear the tone of your voice, it's okay if you mess up a little.