How to Overcome the Fear of Performing in Front of an Audience

It’s common for musicians to have performance nerves. This tip came from The Inner Game of Music. You need to ask yourself what’s the best thing that can happen and what’s the worst thing that can happen. This question puts your fears in perspective.

I’ve found that when students do this, their fears will usually be extremely bad but not very likely. (Such as having a meteorite hit them as they perform – I kid you not.) Or it can be possible, but not very bad, like making a mistake.

I start by having my students tell me their biggest fears. Then, I tell them my Top Ten All Time Favorite List of Student Fears:

1. A meteorite could hit me as I play
2. I could die
3. An airplane could hit the recital hall
4. The audience could boo and/or throw tomatoes
5. The recital hall could catch fire
6. I could throw up on the audience or the instrument
7. A light could break off the ceiling and hit me on the head
8. I could fall over and break my leg and/or the instrument
9. Somebody could burgle the place
10. I could have a bathroom accident

Note that any of these things could happen but none would be likely to happen.

When we go through the student’s mundane fears, they usually revolve around making mistakes. I’ll ask the student:

• Will your parents stop loving you?
• Will your friends stop being your friends?
• Will the Earth open up and swallow you whole?

The students always answer, “no,” and they’ll usually be laughing by the end of our talk. Once students start laughing at their fears, that’s half the battle. This helps them overcome the fear of performing in front of an audience.