Meaning of Stage Fright

Stage fright is a nervous feeling that occurs in the body before speaking in public or going on stage in front of an audience. Stage fright is the nervousness, anxiousness, fear and phobia caused by having to perform or speak in front of an audience. Such anxiety may precede or accompany participation in any activity. When you’re about to perform for the first time, Your knees starts to tremble, heart starts to pound fast. It is a real phenomenon, affecting both new and seasoned performers, not only on stage but in a variety of performance venues. Dancers, musicians, and actors may all fall victims to this fear that comes with performance. For example, a child accepting an award during a school assembly may experience stage fright getting up in front of the whole school to accept the award.

Causes of Stage Fright

Stage fright occurs primarily due to a lack of confidence and nervousness or fear. Stage fright may occur due to excessive adrenaline pumping in the blood stream. This adrenaline will cause stress throughout the body, causing high blood pressure, an elevated heart rate, and shallow breathing. Stage fright may occur in a performer due to following reasons as well.
When a performer imagine the presence of significant others who are able to judge me.
When a performer consider the possibility of  failure.
When a performer feel a need to do well to avoid failure.
When a performer feel uncertain as to whether he will do well.
When a performer focus on my own behavior and appearance

Symptoms of Stage Fright

Signs of stage fright vary from individual to individual . They are as follow : 

• Muscles contract throughout your body : Before the stage performance  vocal cords are stretched and  voice tightens, and there is start pain in the headache.

• Blood vessels in the extremities constrict :   This leaves you with a sensation of cold hands and feet and perhaps a cold nose and ears as well along with numbness and tingling.

• Blood pressure is elevated :  Just before the stage performance blood pressure start raising .Heat builds up in those areas where major organs are being primed for action—the head, chest and stomach.  Frequently, the body must begin sweating in order not to overheat, and you can often feel the heart pumping more quickly than normal as it maintains the higher blood pressure.  

• Breaths become rapid : Due to increase in blood pressure breathing rate increase rapidally.

• The digestive system shuts down : One of the symptom of stage fright is butterflies in the stomach, along with a dry mouth and nausea. This happens because of digestive system shuts down.

• Brain wave frequency increases : The brain activity literally speeds up , allowing you to think more quickly , process more information, and make accurate decisions.You try to get  new idea`s to say in the middle of your speech.You speak quickly, not even realizing that your pace is considerably faster than normal.