Stage Fright Help Centre

Anne

I found your website and was thrilled!  The only problem, I live in Atlanta, many miles from you.
I am a singer, and majored in voice in 1973.  By the way, colleges don't teach this therapy, isn't that a shame?

I've been singing all my life and have a terrible, terrible bout with this disease called stage fright!!!

I'm a soloist in my church, a very large one here in Atlanta.  Not to boast, but to let you know how they respond to me, I get standing ovations almost every time I sing anywhere, but I'm dying inside.  My heart beats so fast that I can hardly control my breath, my hands shake, and I'm miserable, but singing is my first love, and most importantly, my ministry. Also, I'm visually impaired, no sight, which may contribute to the response I get from the audience.

I'm trying to search the web and find some help for this problem.  I'm overwhelmed at the amount of material out there on this subject, however, there seems to be no one here in Atlanta that specializes in this "disease".

Do you have an 800 number?  Could you possibly help me, or is distance a factor?

Please let me hear from you.

Thank you very much.

Anne

Hi Anne,

I'm glad you got in touch with me. I'm going out for a few hours and when I get back I'll respond to you.  I think I CAN help you, but I'll explain when I get back. If you get this message first, tell me:

How visually impaired are you? Does someone read to you  what's on the computer screen?

Art

I have no physical sight, but obviously, that doesn't stop me.  I have a computer that has a speech synthesizer and reads what is on the screen to me.  It read your e-mail to me.  It also reads your web site to me.

I'm very involved in my church (choir, soloist, singles and everything else).  I went to Germany with my choir a year ago where we gave concerts in several cities.

As I told you, music is my first love.  I have given concerts in the past, but now, after my parent's death, I mainly want to sing for church services, along with any other engagements I might receive.  I made a
recording about twelve years ago, and would, at some point in time, like to make another recording.

I've been singing with beta blockers for many years, but would like to do it naturally and put down my crutch.  I would appreciate any help you could provide for me.

Thank you,

Anne

Hi Anne,

I would very much be interested in helping you through correspondence. Although this is a rather unique situation, I think I'm up to the challenge. I hope that you are.

We all have impairments in one way, shape or form.  Yours is just more visible (if you pardon the expression) to people.

It's interesting that you would see stage fright as a "disease".  Do you think of blindness as a disease? Because I see "stage fright" as an impairment.

A lot of the answers that you're looking for are contained within the pages of my web site.  I have been corresponding with a number of people from all over North America through e-mail.  I have edited the correspondence with each one and put them into sections.  One section contains four months worth
of correspondence with an aspiring singer from San Diego, and others are four to six weeks worth.

It's a matter of how to get you to navigate through it smoothly, So I'll take you through it a step at a time.

What I want you to do is read every word contained in the "Stage Fright Help Centre" section of my web site. I want you to treat the contents as a kind of "text book"  and report back to me (everyday if possible) on how much you've read and what you learned.  When you get to sections that you feel
may not apply to you, (for example, I talk about making eye contact), I will address it, add to it and customize it for you.

Instead of you trying to navigate through all the links, what I will do is give you a list of addresses to look up in order one page at a time.  Before I give you the list, I have a few comments to make.

At this point I can only read what you've told me and I have to trust my instincts to "read between the lines".

Often, one of the causes of stage fright comes from the fear of judgment. I'm not sure if I sense that this could also apply to you.  However, you mentioned that your lack of sight may be partially why the audience responds to your performances so favorably.  I wonder if a part of you thinks that the audience is being "nice" and not actually applauding you for your talent.  Just in case you are thinking that the audience is in any way giving you some kind of "sympathy" applause, I very much doubt it.  However, it's possible that part of that applause  does come from the fact that it's inspiring to see someone get past obstacles to do their thing.  But I'm sure that most of it comes from how you make them feel when you sing.

If you do admit to having a fear of judgment, I would have to suggest that you read your bible again.  It seems to me that there is only one that you should fear judgment from.

I had a conversation with one of my students some time ago.  She wanted to sing for the church and was concerned about whether it was the direction the Lord wanted her to take.  She wondered if she could do a good enough job for the "Lord".

Let me take a shot in the dark and ask you this.

You say that singing is your ministry.  Do you concern yourself that you may not be living up to God's expectations... that you may not be serving the Lord "properly"?

If this is not the case, that you're singing from the heart without any fear of judgment in those respects, then we're just going to have to figure out why you get terrified.

So, start reading.   Take notes and then get back to me as soon as possible.
Hope I can help.

Art

Subject: Stage fright

Art:

Thank you so much for your response to my e-mail.  I've been reviewing your material and find it very informative and encouraging.

No, I definitely do not think the audience is giving me sympathy when I sing.  They seem very inspired and say they are very blessed every time I sing, and I do think they are encouraged and inspired to see someone with obstacles perform or appear before any audience.  It is my ministry, and I want to glorify the Lord and spread the gospel with the voice He has given me.  They say that's what they feel when they hear me sing, so I want to perfect my ability to present myself in a way that I can be freed up of all
this anxiety so I can accomplish what I'm setting out to do in ministering and encouraging people with the voice that God has blessed me with.

Yesterday, I read the material on Ann.  If I understand it correctly, it seemed that you were trying to divert her attention from anxiety to something going on in the audience; incidentally, I am violently afraid of dogs!!!  Isn't that ironic?  I don't even like to get near them, let alone, touch them, you can forget singing to them.  I know my attention can't be diverted through eye contact with the audience, so let's think of something else.

Well, I'll go read the material on Patricia again and get back to you.

Thank you,

Anne

From: Art
To: Anne
Subject: Re: Stage fright
Date: Mar. 26 1998

Hi Anne,

The purpose of "eye-contact" still applies to you, although in your case, we're not actually using eyes.  Eye contact is not so much of a diversion as it is a focus. The idea is to communicate fully with your audience and take care of their needs, rather than monitor yourself on how you're doing.  The trick is to sing "to" the audience, not "at" them, to allow them to hear you.

I want you to become totally aware of your audience.  Use all your senses. I want you to be able to hear your audience breathing as you sing.  Use your senses and intuition to "feel" the presence of your audience.  It's really the same thing as eye contact.  The focus is on THEM, not just to take your
mind off your singing, but to let them KNOW that you are doing it for THEM.

Here's the thing.  With sighted people I have them making eye contact in my classes.  But most of the time in an actual performance, the spotlights are so bright that the singer can't see the audience anyway.  The point I make to the class is, although you can't SEE the audience, they don't KNOW you can't see them.  They can see YOU fine.  You must at least show the audience that you are making an effort to communicate soul to soul, not just sing out and "let" the audience listen to you.  You have to let them KNOW that you are listening to them and that you are doing it for them.

This is not just to improve your performance, but essential for helping you overcome your stage fright.  You must realize your real purpose for singing -- not to show them how good you are, but to make them feel good.

There is always pressure in trying to be good.  There is no pressure if the priority is doing the best you can do to make people feel good, because, if it comes from the heart, they will accept anything (faults and all).  If a child makes a drawing at school for mother, she will love it and hang it up on the refrigerator for everyone to see.  Who cares if it doesn't look like a house?

Why do you suppose you have this fear?  Are you generally hard on yourself? Do you think you're a perfectionist?  Do you worry about what people think?

I haven't pinned down yet WHY you experience this fear.

Art

From: Anne
To: Art
Subject: Re: Stage fright
Date: Tue, Mar. 26 1998

Art:

I have a question for you.  A friend told me about a psychologist who hypnotizes which he says helps in solving the stagefright problem.  Please give me your thoughts on this.

Thank you,

Anne

From: Art
To: Anne
Subject: Re: Stage fright
Date: Mar. 26 1998

Hi Anne,

I have no comment on hypnotizing to help handle stage fright.  I don't know if it will or will not work.  It probably wouldn't hurt, because it deals with how you look at things and seems like a more natural process than drugs.

One thing I will say though.  I believe in eliminating the root of the problem, not treating the symptoms.  It's covered in the correspondence with the others.

You have to be aware that there is no quick fix.  Perhaps reading everything I told you to read and then trying hypnotherapy would make things easier.  I don't know.

I do know that just reading about what I have to say and then intellectualizing over it won't work.  You have to also apply action.  So maybe the hypnotherapy can also be a step.  I just really don't know.

Art

Subject: Stage fright

Art:

I decided to try hypnotherapy.  I am also continuing to study the information in your pages on Patricia.  If I send you my address, would you send me an audio and/or video tape of your class as you did Patricia.

Please e-mail me if you have put something in the mail to me.

Thank you,

Anne

From: Art
To: Anne
Subject: Re: Stage fright
Date: Apr. 6 1998

Hi Anne,

Before I send you anything in the mail, you must read everything on the Stage Fright Help Centre as I asked and report back to me on how far you've gotten and what you've learned so far.  I'll be glad to help you, but you have to show to me that you're doing your homework.

Art

Note:  I never heard from Anne again until approx. eight months later.  After a few brief exchanges she finally decided to overcome incredible obstacles and challenges by flying to Toronto to attend my Intensive Weekend Performance Workshop Aug 6-8, 1999.  At the time of this writing, it is now a week after the workshop.  Here are the letters she wrote to me and the rest of the participants following the workshop.

From: Anne
To: Art
Subject: Awesome Workshop
Date: Aug. 13, 1999

Hello Everyone!

First of all, I enjoyed meeting every one of you.  We all share a common bond in that we love to sing and express ourselves through music, however, stage fright has stood in the way and kept us from having the freedom that we needed.

I live in Atlanta and have  been following Art's web site for about two years.  I think I became obsessed with the subject, stage fright.  If I needed a confidence boost before singing somewhere, I would go read some of the instructions he gave his students and try to apply them to my situation.  I thought I could make it work, but I needed to attend a workshop in person so he could work with me individually.  Well, I was privileged to have that opportunity last weekend.

At first, naturally I was a little skeptical, being that I found it on the internet.  But after a few conversations with Art, I knew it was something I needed to pursue.  I stepped out in faith and called the air lines and found an affordable ticket.  I knew then the opportunity was mine!

Being that I have no visual sight, I didn't know exactly how this could work for me since I cannot make eye contact with my audience.  Art is an incredibly perceptive teacher who knows how to get past those obstacles and bring out the performer in you.  By the end of the workshop, I was singing with more confidence and freedom and feeling more comfortable on stage. (view video)

Thank you Art for your help in making this experience happen for me.

Sincerely,

Anne

Date: Sun, Aug. 15 1999 
To: Art
From: Anne
Subject: Sang Successfully

Hi Art,

Well, I made it this morning!  I sang two songs.  My director was astounded!  I thought he had heard me sing before, but maybe not.  He said I had been hiding behind the piano all that time, and he didn't know I had a voice that powerful.  My friend, Gail, came in to hear me and said she thought I looked more relaxed, but that she would be glad to help me with my hand motions.  They were not stretched out enough, partly because I was cold from the air conditioning.  When I got up to sing, I did feel somewhat out of breath.  I just made a few shorter phrases and kept going.  I raised my hands a couple of times which I thought might help relax me.  I told them about the workshop, and they thought it sounded really neat.  Several people told me they needed something like that and asked where it is held.
When they told me they can't sing, I told them that by the time you got through with them, they would be belting it out, and they could hardly believe it.  Several people told me I needed to be on stage somewhere.

Once in a while, someone will tell me now they know where to come to get voice lessons, and I just sort of blow it off because I guess I don't have the confidence and/or the materials to teach.  So today, I heard I need to be on stage somewhere, and I need to be teaching voice lessons.  I don't quite know what to do with all of this.  Also, how can I get rid of the out of breath feeling before I sing?  What do I need to do now?

Thanks for putting up with my stage fright problems.  I guess I'm a hard nut to crack, especially through phone lines now, when it comes to this subject.

Thanks for all your patience with me and for all your help!

Anne

Date: Sun, 18 Aug 1999 
To: Workshop Discussion Group
From: Anne
Subject: Sang Successfully

Performance Workshop Discussion Group

Hi Y'all!

I can hardly believe it's been over a week since the workshop.  I think it's so neat how we can all keep in touch and hear about all the exciting experiences that are happening with each other.  We're having conversations with each other, but through email.

I sang two songs Sunday morning at church.  I tried to remember everything that Art told me and tried to relax and have fun doing it.  I felt a little anxiety before getting up there, but once I began to sing, I felt like getting into it.  The first song was one where you could respond by expressing yourself as you felt comfortable.  I noted that I needed to get the ball rolling.  So midway into the song, I began clapping to the beat of the music, and that got everyone into it with me.  That helped relax me for the second song that I sang at the workshop.    I shared about the workshop in-between songs and what a neat experience it was for me.  During lunch, several people came up to me and told me I should be teaching voice lessons and singing on stage somewhere.  Then they asked me about the workshop. When I told them about the workshop and how liberating it was for me, they wanted to know how they could tap into it.  We all have to make some type of presentation in life, be it in a business meeting, within a small group, or on stage, therefore, this is really something everyone needs whether they are willing to admit it or not.  I am definitely convinced that everyone would benefit in some way from Art's workshop.

Sincerely,

Anne

Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 
To: Art
From: Anne
Subject: Song without A Beta-Blocker

Art,

Well, I did it again yesterday morning.  I sang for my class without a pill!  I had just learned a new arrangement and told the class I wanted them to be my audience for a trial run for a wedding I'm singing in next weekend.  They said I'm ready.

I think it went well, if I do say so.  I felt very little anxiety before getting up, but once I started singing, it seemed to just flow.  I got to the last line of the song and couldn't quite remember how the words fit in
this arrangement, so I just made up some, and they fit perfectly.  A mistake, but so what, I made it, and it worked.  You're convincing me. That's a new win for me in that I didn't get upset over fitting some
different words into the space.  It fit, so that's all that matters.  After I finished singing, my hands felt like they could possibly be a little bit shaky, but it didn't show, I just felt it.  I think you would have been
pleased in that I made it through another one without a pill.  That's really a tremendous win for me!  That takes a lot of guts for me to step out and do that, but you've encouraged me to just do it, so I decided to try it, and it worked!  You've encouraged me to just get out there and do it, so that's what I did.

Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and into a new terrotory. I'm taking one step at a time, but I'll eventually get there.

Sincerely,

Anne

 Art!

 I'm speechless!  That was an awesome experience this morning.  It's like I opened my mouth, and the song just fell out with virtually no effort, if  you can believe that!  My voice was warmed up, and I sat down with the visualization part of the video this morning which I'm sure must have  helped.  It felt a little bit like my knees could shake, but they weren't  shaking.  It's like I was able to transform the energy that would normally  be anxiety into singing.

 I can't believe I was so apprehensive about it all week.  I even had nightmares last night, and it was something about having stage fright at your place, but I don't remember from my dream what you did about it. Whatever you did must have worked, huh?  Now, the next thing we need to do is to build my confidence enough to get me away from holding onto the podium for dear life.  Ha!

 I know, I just need to sing more to build that confidence.  Maybe once you get the Talent Bank up and running, that will help give me some opportunities to sing more often.

Thanks so much for encouraging me along the way as I build my confidence, and hey, for just being there for me, and most of all, for caring!

Anne