Managing Nerves
Experiencing nerves doesn't always mean you're not ready.Â
Often, it simply means that what you're about to do matters to you.
Almost every performer experiences nerves in some form. A racing heart, butterflies, shaky hands, dry mouth or a mind that suddenly feels blank are all common responses before performing.
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The aim isn't to get rid of these feelings completely.Â
It's to understand why they're happening, recognise how they affect you and develop strategies that allow you to keep performing even when they're there.
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Over time, those feelings often become less frightening—not because they disappear, but because you learn that you can still do good work alongside them.
Understanding Your Nerves
Your body is trying to help you, even if it doesn't always feel that way.
Your body is preparing
Everyone experiences them differently
Notice before
you judge
 When we feel nervous, our body releases adrenaline. It increases our heart rate, sharpens our focus and prepares us for action. Those sensations can feel uncomfortable, but they aren't necessarily a sign that something is wrong.
Some performers become very quiet. Others become chatty. Some feel sick, while others simply notice a racing heart. Learning how your body responds is the first step towards managing it well.
Rather than immediately deciding,
"This is terrible," simply notice what's happening. Becoming curious about your nerves often reduces the fear
that comes with them.
Feeling nervous doesn't tell you how well you're about to perform.
Working With Your Nerves
You don't have to win a battle against them.
Prepare thoroughly
Focus on the job
Give yourself permission
Good preparation doesn't guarantee confidence, but it gives you something reliable to return to when your thoughts begin to race.
Instead of asking, "What if I get it wrong?" ask yourself, "What am I trying to communicate?"Â Shifting your attention from yourself to the story, the song or the character can be incredibly helpful.
You don't need to feel perfect before you begin. Many excellent performances have happened whilst the performer
still felt nervous.
You don't have to feel fearless to perform bravely.
A Personal Thought
One of the biggest changes in my own performing came when I stopped trying to get rid of my nerves.
For many years, nerves affected my own performing to the point where they were beginning to stop me performing altogether. It was only when I began to understand those physical sensations didn't always mean something bad was happening that things started to change.
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Instead of thinking, "I'm nervous," I started asking myself, "Could this also be excitement?"
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The feelings hadn't changed overnight, but my relationship with them had.
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That simple shift helped me stop fighting my nerves and start working alongside them.
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It won't be the answer for everyone, but it completely changed the way I approached performance—and it might be something you find helpful to explore too.