Stage fright!

[hellymelly]

Not sure if this is the best place to post,but I'm in a small a cappella group,and we are performing in a couple of weeks in front of a small theatre sized audience.Even writing this down is making me feel shaky and sick!! I am not used to singing in front of an audience much,especially a paying audience and with such a small group (I've sung a little bit with a larger choir and didn't find that so stressful). I am frankly terrified and when anxious my voice closes up and becomes wobbly,thin and shrill.Although others in the group are also slightly nervous,it doesn't affect their performance so its less of an issue.
Does anything help with this? I was wondering if there is something like a hypnosis CD that might help me calm down.Or something herbal? Help,or I might wee myself/cry/be sick/all three in front of a hundred paying punters.

Rescue remedy works well for some people. You can get rescue remedy pastilles, too. Obviously you can't suck them and sing, but you can have them beforehand.
If you can eat bananas, eat one or two 20 minutes beforehand. It works! Stress uses up the body's stores of potassium very quickly; bananas replace this which helps to regulate the heartbeat. I've got a good few pupils through music exams and auditions on bananas.

Do not allow yourself to visualise the scariness of it all! The minute you start thinking like this, stop! Go over in your mind how well it is going to go, how well you can sing (you can, or you wouldn't be there in the first place) and what a success it will be. let yourself daydream about all the people who will congratulate you afterwards and how you will sing better than you ever have before. If when you go on stage you start to feel scared, remind yourself of this scenario. These kinds of things really are about mind over matter.
It might help to read The Inner Game of Music or another similar book.
Remember that a certain amount of nerves are your friend. The adrenaline will help you perform at your best. The key is to keep it under control.

Hope this helps - don't even let yourself start to think you will cry/ be sick etc. It will go well and you will be a success. Have fun!

books ordered,and thanks for the banana tip,that is something I'd never thought of.Last time (the first time) we performed it was to a much smaller audience, but two of us were ill so we were down to four...I was so nervous I had really bad palpitations and thought it might turn into ectopic beats (which I've had when very exhausted and stressed generally).So anything that also helps with the heartbeat will be great. I sing far better when really relaxed and I find it easier to focus too,I am hoping that it will get easier the more we perform.Its an a cappella festival,and we are in between two really great groups so that is adding to the pressure for me..I am going to really think about what you've written. I'm not normally a shy person, I will happily chat to anyone or even a large group,but even the thought of having to introduce a song is making me shaky,on top of the singing,and I don't even know why I'm so nervous,I know logically its really silly and unhelpful but I feel real panic whenever I think about it at all.Thanks for taking the time to reply,I really appreciate it.

Definitely the more you perform the easier it gets. In the interim, make anyone and everyone listen to you. Practice the introductions along with the song. The more you do it, the more confident you'll feel for the real thing. Never mind if you are on your own singing only your part (even if it makes no sense alone), just get people to listen.

The more nervous people are, the less they tend to play/ sing in front of others, and that makes it worse when they actually have to. Sing to your family, your friends, as much as you can.

I've had some very nervous pupils and I usually gather them together a few times before festivals and exams to play to each other. Initially they hate it - but it does get easier and make the real thing better.

Also, try to think of the fun it will be and the entertainment you will give, regardless of what the other groups are like. They could be world famous professional musicians or they could be singing for the first time in their lives, and you would be just as good either way. It is easy to get fazed if you know other people are good, but it's a red herring, really. And remember, no one is unbeatable. They may be brilliant, but they may not have come up against you yet :)

Glad to be of any help I can. Do try to relax and enjoy it because these things can be great fun, and as you say, being relaxed is key :)