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Subject: stage fright - cured!!! From: Susan-Marie Date: 08 Nov 05 - 02:40 PM I've been a reader and contributor of many of the threads on stage fright over the past few years. Nothing was really helping though, so I decided to try something that seemed "drastic" - hypnosis. Well, it worked, and it was different from what I thought it would be so I thought I'd share my experience in case anyone else might benefit. First, the hypnotherapist did NOT promise to eliminate all the nervous energy I feel when performing. She pointed out that a certain amount of excited energy is good. SO much for my fantasies of being 100% cool and calm, but she was right. Second, she did not do the "you're feeling veeery sleepy" routine I was expecting. Instead, she had me imagine myself performing (and being nervous) while she moved a finger in front of my face. I was to follow her finger with my eyes while imagining myself performing. We did that a few times. I have to admit I left her office skeptical. But that weekend, performing at my first real Celtic festival - no stage fright. I thought "OK, it worked that time, but will it last?" Last weekend I sang in church and then at a wedding reception - no stage fright. It was SO GOOD to be able to focus on the songs and not my shaking knees and sqeaking voice! ANyway, for anyone who has thought nothing would help their stage fright, you might want to give this a try. It cost a few hundred bucks, but it was worth it. |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Date: 08 Nov 05 - 03:42 PM Susan-Marie, your hypnotist's technique sounds a lot like EMDR , a rapid-eye-movement therapy that is often used to treat those with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. I found it very helpful after a harrowing experience. And although I've never had "stage fright" I certainly get that nervous excitement your hypnotist describes as helpful. So, CONGRATULATIONS on overcoming your fears! |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Susan-Marie Date: 08 Nov 05 - 03:52 PM Thanks Animaterra, and congratulations on overcoming your harrowing experience. The info on EMDR was interesting (though I understood but a fraction of it!) |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Kaleea Date: 08 Nov 05 - 05:43 PM This can be a terrifying experience for some fine Musicians. It sometimes stems from teasing they got from family members. I'll never forget when my college Piano Professor asked if I had an older sibling who played Piano. I wondered how he knew? My older brother played Piano, & since the piano was in my bedroom, could not throw me out while he practiced. I sat on the edge of the bench watching, & he once clobbered me for playing his recital piece when I was 3 years old. Needless to say, I had always felt quite intimidated playing Piano in front of anyone. AFter talking about it with my prof, I was able to work on it, & over a period of years it became much easier. I have to admit that it's still hard for me to play piano in front of my brother, but singing & playing any other instrument for any size audience was never a problem. The other philosophy of how to not have stage fright, practice makes perfect: We never allowed by our mother to have stage fright. My brothers & I were simply required to perform on demand. No crying or hesitation allowed. When I was a very young child, my mother had me on a chair singing "Fairest Lord Jesus" for the relatives, and then the church. In our family, gathering around the piano for a "sing" was the norm, so when we were placed in front of a congregation or crowd, we simply sang as usual. As we learned instruments, ditto. So, when teaching, I did my best to ready my classes for performances by having the other teachers & students stop in, taking them to nursing homes and practicing entering & exiting the stage several times. For some children it was difficult. I tried to help them understand that their feelings were completely normal, it takes every single one of us to complete the ensemble, and that we would all encourage each other, & sing/play together & have a fine performance. |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Stephen L. Rich Date: 08 Nov 05 - 05:49 PM That's a very inventive and creative solution to a very old problem. Well done!! Stephen Lee |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Celtaddict Date: 08 Nov 05 - 11:41 PM Kaleea, I love your description that you were never "allowed" to have stage fright. We tend to think of the whole pattern as natural and automatic, but only the nervous energy of the new situation likely is; the reaction to it, which includes the squeaky voice and shaking knees and sweats, is our response to it. That is the part that can be learned, and therefore can be unlearned (as well as not learned in the first place). This reminds me of something I was told once by a fellow participant in a songwriting workshop. I observed in conversation with her that I was confident in speaking to people, and in knowing songs, and in singing along in a group or alone with the stereo, but not in singing alone to people, as my voice would go all weak and wobbly on me. (Philosophically I am of the "if you can talk, you can sing" persuasion but alas came to that realization too late.) She responded with neither sympathy nor judgment, "That is a bargain you have made with yourself. I would renegotiate it." |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Dave Hanson Date: 09 Nov 05 - 04:04 AM WHISKY, works every time. eric |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Date: 09 Nov 05 - 05:49 AM Oh, eric... |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Dave Hanson Date: 09 Nov 05 - 06:57 AM I don't really get stage fright anymore, a long time ago the band I play in were entered in a competition which took place in a pub and the organiser asked us to arrive at 7.30pm for a sound check, no problem, but it was 10.30pm when we went on stage and I was so drunk I managed to fall over, but I kept on playing OK. I could play well enough, I just couldn't stand up. eric |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: MuddleC Date: 09 Nov 05 - 07:49 AM that's why they invented chairs........! |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Susan-Marie Date: 09 Nov 05 - 08:23 AM Eric - Tried whiskey. At 10 AM in the morning no less (for church services). Just made me sing like a drunk. But it was fun trying ;-) As for "oh, just get over it" tactics - it's very nice that those work for some people, but they don't work for everyone. Why should someone suffering from stage fright also be made to feel somehow emotionally or mentally deficient because they can't cure it on their own? You wouldn't tell someone with a debilitating fear of snakes that they should just "not allow" themselves to be scared of them. |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 09 Nov 05 - 09:21 AM "I was so drunk I managed to fall over, but I kept on playing OK." As far as you could tell, you were playing okay. Unfortunately, your judgment was far from reliable by that time. Forget the whiskey. |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: GUEST,Janice in transit Date: 09 Nov 05 - 01:07 PM Alcohol should never be used to overcome stage fright, nor should it be used to deal with other social-situation phobias. You might think it helps, but there are simply too many downsides that much to your regret you may not be aware of until later. |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Les in Chorlton Date: 09 Nov 05 - 01:45 PM I am extremely sceptical of alternative cures. Either they work or they don't. If they do they are cures. A fiend of mine had a form of hypno-therapy for his fear of flying and it worked really well. So, who can hypno away my stage-fright? |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Ferrara Date: 09 Nov 05 - 07:00 PM "Either they work or they don't. If they do they are cures." Implying, I guess, that they would no longer be described as "alternative"? Les, not even standard med-school-type cures work every time, for everyone. If they did we'd live forever. Susan-Marie, sounds as if you found someone whose style of hypnotherapy worked really well for you. That's wonderful. I am glad you mentioned it here, not because of stage fright (which I have, but not several hundred dollars worth!), but because one of these days I'm going to need a cataract operation. You have to be conscious for it, and that scares the dickens out of me. I will definitely consider hypnotherapy, that's very encouraging. Used it once before in a minor surgery situation. At the hypnotists's suggestion, I was able to put myself back in a mild semi-trance during the surgery, stay peaceful, and get through the whole thing without panic or too much anxiety. BTW some people won't get any benefits from hypnotherapy because they just aren't good hypnotic subjects. The therapist told me I'm a great hypnotic subject but I think it's because I spend most of my days in a trance anyway, :-) So thanks. Rita F |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Bobert Date: 09 Nov 05 - 08:48 PM (Bobert, just watch my finger...) ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..................... Aww, jus funnin'... Hey, anything that gets ya' feelin' better about yerself 'er thru difficult stuff is great.... What ever it takes... Congrates, Susan-Marie... Bobert |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Dave Hanson Date: 10 Nov 05 - 02:51 AM Guest Leenia, the other band members told me I never missed a note OK. eric |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Susan-Marie Date: 10 Nov 05 - 07:40 AM Just to clarify the cost - it only took two sessions, each costing $120 each. Good luck with the cataract surgery, Rita. |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Artful Codger Date: 10 Nov 05 - 12:32 PM As a practicing hypnotist, I too am glad that you mentioned it. The profession is much overlooked or discounted--people simply don't realize that hypnotism has been repeatedly shown in clinical studies to be effective (and such studies, for consistency and repeatability of results, use outmoded, non-individualized techniques.) No other "alternative" method has been shown to be as effective, as consistently, or for such a wide range of applications. I agree that just "getting over it" doesn't work for all people. But I disagree that you should be let off the hook because you're unwilling to try other methods that might, and probably would, work. Can anyone guarantee success? Only if they're foolish. Hypnosis requires the will and cooperation of the client to be effective. Many people come to hypnosis wanting it to fail, because then they can avoid changing, saying "Everything I tried, failed," when in reality they weren't sincere in their efforts. And as with psychotherapy, success or failure may hinge on how well you "click" with the practitioner and what approach he or she uses. Hypnosis should not be dismissed wholesale because you picked the wrong hypnotist. There are, sadly, a number of charlatans and flakes in the profession (as in psychotherapy.) For instance, for stage fright, my general first choice would be to regress the client to cause, using things like NLP, EMDR or EFT--if at all--only as reinforcing techniques after the cause was dealt with. This is not as quick an approach, but it is far more likely to produce permanent results with the average client. A side-note to Susan-Marie's post: An added benefit of using hypnosis to prepare for surgery is that the hypnotist can not only help you deal with the fear of the surgery, but implant suggestions to reduce the risk of complications during surgery and to help you heal more surely and rapidly afterwards--the mind has far more influence over the body's functions than we generally acknowledge or exploit. At one hospital, they tried an experimental program where nurses hypnotically prepped patients before surgeries. The program was discontinued when it became apparent patients were going home days earlier, causing significant shortfalls in the hospital's revenues! |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Les in Chorlton Date: 10 Nov 05 - 02:42 PM Sounds good to me Codger, sounds like therapy. 'At one hospital, they tried an experimental program where nurses hypnotically prepped patients before surgeries. The program was discontinued when it became apparent patients were going home days earlier, causing significant shortfalls in the hospital's revenues!' Can you share any direct evidence for this? |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: FreddyHeadey Date: 12 Nov 16 - 10:57 AM BBC Archive on 4 November 2016 "So you think you're bad at public speaking?" Well worth listening to in full but there is one particular section talking about stage fright. "...Dr Gillian Forrester and Dr Catherine Loveday will explore stage fright." adrenalin...cortisol...parasympathetic nervous system...goup ostracization ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081jnp1 skip to ~37:50 (On my tablet the time slider didn't work but updating the media player sorted it out https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bbc+media+player ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Breathing exercise "... inhale for a count of two… hold the breath in for a count of one… exhale gently, counting out for four… and finish by holding the breath out for a count of one. Keep your breathing even and smooth..." http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4386/A-Simple-Breathing-Exercise-to-Calm-Your-Mind-Body.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ elves, ...more related threads thread.cfm?threadid= 43295 thread.cfm?threadid= 122758 thread.cfm?threadid=14851 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Jim Carroll Date: 12 Nov 16 - 11:24 AM As a newish singer, I was invited to become a member of Ewan MacColl's Critics Group. The method used by the Group was to ask a singer to bring a number of songs and perform them in front of the members, who would then discuss them in detail, poiunt out where they worked and where they could be improved, then suggest ways in which they might be improved. The technique was revolutionary (applied to folk song) and extremely helpful - still works when I can find enough volunteers. The first couple of times I experienced this were terrifying, the third time easier.... after this, a doddle. Since then, I have never suffered from nervousness in front of an audience. Jim Carroll |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Jack Campin Date: 12 Nov 16 - 01:35 PM The link to EMDR given earlier has died. Here's a more recent one: PDF about voice teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland In general, it seems to be a more heavyweight approach for more intractable problems than anything MacColl's crowd would have had to deal with (though it can work fast if you get lucky). Lots of links on the web about it. If the RCS has put its weight behind it, I'll believe there's something to it (though presumably there are also a lot of "therapists" in the business for a quick buck). |
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Subject: RE: stage fright - cured!!! From: Thompson Date: 12 Nov 16 - 01:59 PM I've read about EMDR being done by shining lights alternately in one eye then the other, and also about pressure on the palms being used for people who can't deal with flashing lights because of epilepsy. It's said to be helpful for those recovering from the trauma of war or a vicious childhood. |
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