🎭 Audition & Performance Season: How to Manage Nerves and Anxiety Like a Pro
It’s audition season! Right now, I’m working with a ton of singers preparing for everything from:
🎓 Drama school auditions
🎭 Local theatre productions
📹 Self-taped professional castings
🎤 Even open mics and karaoke nights!
Whether you're stepping into a West End casting room or onto a karaoke stage, performance pressure is real. And if you’ve ever felt your stomach twist before singing in public you’re not alone.
🎯 The Big Question: How Do We Prepare for Performance Without the Panic?
Understanding what kind of performance stress you're dealing with is the first step.
There are two main types of performance stress:
🤯 Performance Anxiety vs 😬 Performance Nerves
Let’s break it down:
🔥 Performance Anxiety
A deeper-rooted issue where:
You avoid performance situations altogether
You feel no joy when performing, only dread
Negative thoughts dominate, even when you’re vocally prepared
Confidence doesn’t improve, even with training
This is NOT just being nervous. It’s a more intense psychological response that requires a different toolkit.
🌊 Performance Nerves
The normal jitters that come before a show. You might feel:
Butterflies in your stomach
Mild self-doubt
Slight trembling or dry mouth
But here’s the good news:
Performance nerves can be reduced with proper preparation and mindset work.
✅ What Can You Do? My Top 3 Suggestions for Each Type
📌 If You're Dealing with Performance Anxiety:
Work with a Psychotherapist
Especially someone trained in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), performance psychology, or creative arts therapy. They’ll help you manage the internal monologue that triggers anxiety.Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness helps you notice the unhelpful thoughts without following them. Over time, this can retrain your brain to focus on what’s useful instead of what’s scary.Anchor Yourself in Your Values
Ask yourself: Why do I sing? What matters more than being perfect?
Let your values (not your fears) define what “success” means for each performance.
📌 If You’re Managing Performance Nerves:
Preparation Is Power
Know your material cold. Run it under pressure. Simulate the audition or performance experience. The more prepared you are, the more automatic your technique becomes under stress.Rehearse in a Realistic Setting
Practice:In front of people
In the outfit you'll wear
With the same mic or space setup if possible
This builds familiarity and lowers surprise/stress triggers.
3. Use Breathing Techniques
Try a 4-7-8 breathing pattern:
Inhale for 4
Hold for 7
Exhale for 8
This calms the body’s stress response and refocuses the mind.
💬 Final Thoughts
Every performer feels pressure. That doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.
What matters is whether your response to that pressure stops you or fuels you.
If you're experiencing crippling anxiety, know that you're not a lost cause. With the right support, it’s possible to reclaim the joy of singing.
If you're just feeling the jitters- embrace it. Nerves mean you care, and with the right tools, you can channel them into something powerful.
💡 Want to Feel More Confident on Stage?
Whether you need audition coaching, confidence-building exercises, or strategies to master your voice under pressure, I’m here to help. Book a lesson now to see how we can prepare you for success
And why not watch my class on this subject for more top tips, ideas and strategies you can use to help with audition and performance nerves- click below to get started now!
It's totally normal to feel nervous about a performance or an audition but how can we manage those feelings so they don't interfere with our success as a performer? In this course you'll learn how to frame your fears around singing and how to find ways to reduce those negative feelings.