How Can Musicians Cope with Performance Anxiety?
It’s common to experience anxiety when you’re in the spotlight, even as a professional musician. While it’s something that happens to many, that doesn’t mean you have to put up with it if it’s causing you distress or overwhelm – there are steps you can take to cope with your performance anxiety.
When all eyes are on you, you want to feel your most confident. Here are some of the most effective ways to cope with your performance anxiety, for great shows both you and your audience will enjoy.
Practice and preparation
Feeling unprepared or performing unfamiliar music can make many musicians feel anxious, but luckily, this can be remedied. Leave yourself lots of time to go over any music or choreography you’re unsure about, to feel more confident when you head out on stage.
Remember that you’re in control of your professional choices, and you don’t have to go ahead with any last-minute changes if you don’t want to. This can be difficult to navigate if you’re part of a group, but clear communication around your needs and boundaries can help the process to go smoothly.
Self-care strategies
There are certain healthy practices for mental wellbeing you can try, such as mindfulness, which can help to keep you calm. Mindfulness is all about staying in the present moment, and quietening your thoughts which can help to reduce anxiety. You may also want to try reframing anxious thoughts, by changing how you perceive your worries to interpret them more positively.
It’s also important to take care of your physical health – a poor diet or bad night’s sleep can exacerbate your performance anxiety. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and plenty of nutrient-rich foods that’ll help to keep your energy levels up throughout your performances, and ensure you get plenty of rest if you work in the evenings.
Seeking support and advice
By giving yourself time to practice and prepare and using self-care strategies, you’ll set yourself up to head out on stage confidently. However, if you’re particularly struggling, you may want to seek additional support from a mental health professional, such as a counselor.
A counselor will support you in working through your worries to reduce your emotional and physical symptoms of performance anxiety. Many musicians find that simply having someone there to talk through their thoughts and feelings can significantly help to lighten their mental load. The beauty of counseling is that you can take it wherever you wish – whether you want to learn a few simple breathwork exercises or dig deep into your psyche, your approach to therapy and the topics you discuss should align with whatever works best for you.
Take it a day at a time
Performance anxiety is normal and common. There’s no quick fix, and it may take some trial and error to figure out what works for you – but it is very possible to reduce your symptoms of anxiety and to feel more confident doing what you love best.
You may find it helpful to talk to other musicians about how they cope with their performance anxiety, as a good support network is essential in feeling your best. Just remember to take it one day at a time – soon enough, you’ll see your anxious thoughts decrease, and you’ll be able to focus on making great music.
