Conquer Your Performance Anxiety: Tips for Auditions and Concerts
Are you gearing up for an audition but feeling the anxiety creeping in? Don't worry, you're not alone. Performance anxiety is something that every musician experiences at some point in their career. Trust me, this has happened to all of us.
But what about audition anxiety? How does it differ from the anxiety we feel before a concert? Let's dive into it.
The Roots of Anxiety
Before we get into the differences, let's talk about where performance anxiety comes from.
Essentially, it comes from a fear of failure. We want to do well, impress the judges, and ultimately succeed. But that desire to succeed can lead to anxiety and negative self-talk. It's important to acknowledge these feelings and work on strategies to combat them.
Now, let's talk about audition anxiety. Here are the top five differences between audition anxiety and concert anxiety:
1. The stakes are higher: In a concert, you're performing for an audience, but in an audition, you're performing for a panel of judges who will ultimately decide your fate. This added pressure can increase anxiety levels.
2. The environment is different: You're likely auditioning in a room that you're unfamiliar with, with unfamiliar people. This can be intimidating and add to the anxiety you're feeling.
3. You're being judged on specific criteria: In a concert, the audience is there to enjoy the music. In an audition, the judges are looking for specific things and evaluating you based on those criteria. This can make you hyper-focused on small mistakes and increase anxiety.
4. The outcome feels more important: While a concert is important, an audition feels like it could make or break your career. This added weight can lead to more intense anxiety.
5. You have less control: In a concert, you're in control of the music and the performance. In an audition, there are external factors at play (like the judges' preferences and opinions) that you have no control over. This lack of control can increase anxiety levels.
So, how can you cope with audition anxiety? Here are some tips:
1. Prepare thoroughly: The more prepared you are, the more confident you'll feel. Make sure you know the music inside and out, and practice in a variety of settings.
2. Visualize success: Imagine yourself acing the audition and getting the job. Visualizing success can help reduce anxiety and increase confidence.
3. Stay in the moment: Don't worry about what the judges are thinking or what might happen if you don't do well. Stay in the moment and focus on the music.
4. Breathe: When you feel anxiety creeping in, take deep breaths and focus on your breathing. This can help calm your nerves.
Consider your “why”…at the end of the day, you're doing this because you love music.
Remember that and let it fuel your performance.
Chris @ Honesty Pill
