Expert: Phil Nemy - 8/10/2008

Question
hey i would just like to ask a question about being nervous how can you overcome being nervous in situations like auditions????
thank you

Answer
Yolanda,

Thanks for writing. Here's two ideas: first, try doing some breathing exercises. Sit in a chair, close your eyes, place your hands palms up on your knees/legs. Then breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you breathe in, count slowly to 5, then breathe out slowly to five. Do this 15 times and try and concentrate ONLY on your breathing. Clear your head.

After you've done this, then isolate areas of your body by contracting, tightening, and squeezing body parts. Start with your head/face. Scrunch up your face and hold it like that for a count of 5. Then open your mouth wide and expand your face stretching it the max. Hold it for 5, then raise your shoulders to your ears. Hold it for 5, then release them. Do this with each part of your body starting at your head and working your way down to your shoulders, chest, arms, hands, abdomen, butt muscles, thighs and calves, feet and ankles. End the exercise with 15 more breathing in and breathing out to a 5 count. This is one relaxation technique.

Another thing you can do is when you are in front of a large group of people, like in an audition, imagine that the people in front of you are naked. They are all sitting in front of you naked. Imagine how silly they would look, how vulnerable they would be, and how you, clothed, have the power and control. That might help.

Hope this works for you. Good luck!

Phil