Archive for the ‘stage fright’ Category
Monday, May 17th, 2010
You Can Make the Change Happen Public speaking is the number one fear of humans; yet, since so many people do it so well, there must be an easy way for you to get up there on that podium just like the professionals: calm, relaxed, and giving the speech of your life. And that easy way is hypnosis. You have two options: you can do it the long way through self hypnosis, or the short way by hiring a hypnotist to help you.
The Typical Origin of the Problem At some point in your early schooling, you likely had to read in front of the class, give a book report, solve a math problem up at the blackboard, or some similar undertaking that resulted in embarassment for you. So you developed a fear of talking in front of a group. Another option is that your home environment as a young child was such that speaking out was, shall we say, not encouraged. Whatever the origin of your issue, please know that hypnosis does not undo the past, it upgrades how you feel about it.
The Solution What if you could go back and undo the impact of the original cause of your problem? You can. And that’s what hypnosis can do for you. For example, what if you at your current age could go back and help your younger self undo the hurt and pain of the original event? You can. After hypnosis, whatever happened to you all those years ago will still have happened, it just won’t bother you ever again.
Does It Work? Absolutely. I’ve helped lots of folks get over their fear of public speaking, and so have my fellow clinical hypnotists. Most do it in person, I do phone sessions all over the world as well. Here are the basics of hypnosis to help you understand how it can help you.
Hypnosis 101 Not believing in hypnosis is like not believing in Tuesday or February. You already go into trance every time you watch a tv show that you like, or read a book that you like, or see a film that you like, or, well, you get the idea. You already go into trance when you sit down to read your email for 10 minutes, and suddenly an hour and a half has passed. You already go into trance when you fall in love or make love. It is like daydreaming to the tenth power. No one can make you go there, just as no one can make you like a movie. When you do like a movie, you naturally enter into a light state of hypnosis. The state deepens when you love that movie. But when you do not like that movie at all, it is exactly because it does not entrance you. Point being, you already love hypnosis, my friend. You spend good money on it. Seen your cable bill lately?
What Hypnosis Is Not It is not what Hollywood has told you. Sadly, there has never been a single film or television show that accurately portrays how hypnosis actually works. No one controls you in hypnosis any more than they do when you daydream. Hypnosis is not sleep. You can hear all the sounds around you during trance, as you are neither unconscious nor asleep. Hypnosis can not make you murder anyone. Ask any mob boss or CIA agent, and you will hear how money works best as an inducement to criminal behavior; they don’t use hypnosis because it won’t work for their nefarious intentions. Hypnosis is not mind control. Ask the armed forces if they use it to interrogate prisoners, and their answer will be no. They do not use it because they can not. No one can force you to do anything, legal or otherwise, in trance. And you can come out of trance at any time by simply choosing to do so.
What Hypnosis Is Please understand that the feeling of being an individual is a necessary part of being human, and for that experience, we need a conscious mind. It works like the RAM of a computer. However, there’s another part of your mind, the far more powerful subconscious. The subconscious mind is the hard drive of your inner computer, it stores your files. Hypnosis simply sets aside the conscious part of the mind, and accesses the far larger, more powerful subconscious. This allows you to make real changes in how and why public speaking has frightened you in the past. And your fear departs.
A Relevant Bit About Me From 1984 to 2001, before becoming a fulltime clinical hypnotist, I worked on the road as a standup comic, touring nationally for decades. No speaker has a tougher job than road comics, who work in bars speaking to drunks. Back in the day, we developed lots of ways to do quite well under difficult circumstances because we had to; that was our job. This background helps me to help my hypnosis clients overcome their fear of public speaking with singular accuracy. I get it because I’ve done it. I can help you get it, too.
So Easy, You Do It with Your Eyes Closed Hypnosis is easier to do than you think. And your friendly neighborhood hypnotists, like me, are happy to help you. So what are you waiting for?
Michelle Beaudry, board certified hypnotist near Orlando, Florida, takes clients in person and by phone from all over the world. Email hypnofemme@aol.com.
Beaudry Hypnosis
Friday, May 14th, 2010
Stage fright is the term used to describe that tingling, burning, scratching,bubbling, semi-nauseating bubble of fear that attacks you right before you present. It is as natural as flowers in spring time. It is as obvious as white shoes with a dark suit. It is as common as gas pumps at a gas station.
It’s also unnecessary.
Involving the audience in your presentation or speech is a great way to eliminate this fear from the beginning. You dictate the mood when addressing an audience. Showing signs of distress will cause your audience to lose interest. An easy way to show comfort is to engage and involve the audience from the word go.
This article will discuss 2 types of questions that will ease your pain.
Broad Questions
Questions are always a good way to start a presentation or speech. Whenever someone hears a question their natural inclination is drop their guard and think of an answer.
Think about this for a second. We’ve all been in conversations where someone has asked a thought provoking question like:
- What is the meaning of life?
- What will you be doing in 5 or 10 years?
- If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?
- Why do you support the Democrats/Republicans?
- Is green investing a good idea?
Each of these are broad questions with no right or wrong answer. Each and every one of these questions forces you to free your mind and begin to think.
Wouldn’t you like an audience of open minded thinkers in your audience?
Direct Questions
The same theory applies to direct questions. Anytime someone is asked a question they begin to think of an answer. Direct questions invoke a stronger response. By answering these questions the right way you can quickly establish rapport with your audience.
The object here is to select someone from the crowd and ask them a question. You don’t want to embarrass someone or make them look incompetent. You want to show your audience that you are a warm and knowledgeable person worthy of their attention. If the person is wrong then acknowledge their error and elaborate.
Let’s walk through the best way of addressing a question when it is answered incorrectly.
Scenario 1 – The Wrong Way
You: “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?”
Audience Member: “You know, its interesting that you asked me that. I had a tootsie pop yesterday and I counted. The last official lick was 654. So it takes 654 licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop!”
You as the presenter have several options at this point.
You can sound an alarm, scream at the top of your lungs, or display a flashing ride neon sign reading “WRONG”. This approach alienates your audience and sends sliding towards the door.
Scenario 2 – The Right Way
You: “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?”
Audience Member: “You know, its interesting that you asked me that. I had a tootsie pop yesterday and I counted. The last official lick was 654. So it takes 654 licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop!”
You: “That’s very scientific and exact. I’ve never had someone answer that question with such razor sharp precision. I’d love to tell you that you are right but I can’t. Think back to the old tootsie pop commercial. The owl proved without a doubt that it takes 3 (and only 3) licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop.”
That answer was diplomatic, fun, and informative. It sets the tone for your presentation. If you want your presentation to take a different route then you can answer the question differently. You can choose to be serious, mysterious, fun, intriguing, or scientific. No matter the route you still need to be diplomatic and informative. Do that and the audience becomes your property.
Conclusion
Questions are a fantastic way to drum up interest in what you’re saying. Questions force us to think of an answer (right, wrong, or indifferent).
There are 2 ways to use questions as a lever to dilute public speaking fear:
- Broad- Broad questions are large scale and they involve your entire audience. You ask this type of question to wake up the entire audience and get their gears turning.
- Direct – Pointed questions are directed at one member in the audience. You ask this type of question when you want to set the tone for what is in store. Answer this question right and the red sea will part.
Don’t be afraid to involve your audience when you speak to the public. Getting them involved early is a way to make sure they are interested and engaged. Engaging the audience makes everyone in the room comfortable. When the audience is comfortable you can put your fear to the side and deliver the incredible presentation you were meant to give!
Marcus Smith is a creative force in the public speaking world who strives to meet the needs of each and every client. His experience as the Toastmasters President at a fortune 15 company will prove invaluable to you.
Visit his site at www.marcusasmith.com for more information
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Myth Number 1 declares that performance nerves are to be expected; everyone has them. Further, that they are necessary. They are what gives a speaker the energy to be exciting or interesting.
Let’s take a hard look at these assumptions. What happens to you, personally, when you have an attack of Performance Jitters? A case of Rollicking Stage Fright?
Your predominant emotion is that of dread. You want nothing so devoutly as to Get Out of Here!
You get tight around the chest and diaphragm. Your breathing–if any–becomes shallow and your energy wanes.
You sweat. (Icky!)
Your mouth dries up and you can scarcely swallow.
Your hands shake.
Your knees knock and are in danger of collapsing.
our mind goes blank; did I have a speech in there somewhere? Gone!
In other words, your body tries to shut down! Now why would such unpleasant body symptoms serve you? Do they really make you an exciting and interesting speaker?
It’s important to separate stage fright and the deep fear of speaking in public from excitement. Think of excitement, not as dread, but as pleasant anticipation. When you’re looking forward with pleasure to an activity your body does not try to shut down. It perks up. Your brain goes into high gear. What is about to take place feels good, fulfilling, gratifying, perhaps fun.
You may indeed be one of those people who has some of the good feelings, but still suffers from several of the nasty ones.
5 Tips that will stop your Stage Fright suffering:
1. Think about your responses to having to speak. Separate the actual fear-symptoms from the excitement feelings.
2. See how many of the negative responses you can shift to the excitement category.
3. Learn and use deep breathing in your daily life and certainly use it in your speaking life!
4. Check out your Self Talk. If it’s full of “I’m going to be a failure”, consciously change it to “I’m an excellent speaker and I enjoy speaking in public.” Never mind if that’s a screaming lie at this moment. Your subconscious mind, which has diligently followed your instructions to make you feel like a failure can change its tactics and, over time, alter your belief so that you do indeed enjoy speaking in public and you become very good at it. However, it takes considerable discipline to continually remind yourself to cancel your negative Self Talk and replace it with healthy thoughts. It’s worth it!
5. Various energy techniques and hypnosis can be very powerful in developing and fulfilling positive, healthy expectations.
During my thirty-some years as therapist and public speaking coach I’ve observed that these techniques work very well for many people. If, however, a person has underlying and deep feelings of insufficiency, counseling may be helpful in clearing out the personal debris to free up a person to be–and to feel–truly successful.
Carole McMichaels http://getridofpublicspeakingfears.com
Carole McMichaels: Speaker, Therapist, Musician, Coach, Author: “Fearless Public Speaking: How to Get Rid of Your Stage Fright and Prepare and Deliver a Winning Presentation”, invites you to to visit her website http://GetRidOfPublicSpeakingFears.com and download your free report, “How to Write a Mind-Gripping Speech”.
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
It’s not just actors who need stage fright tips. We all have to put on a performance from time to time – giving a presentation at work, going for a job interview, going on a first date and so on. These situations put us in the spotlight, and very few of us are naturally comfortable being there. Fortunately we can learn to be comfortable, and this step by step guide will show you how.
Step 1: Accept
The first and most important thing in any list of stage fright tips is the recognition that it is actually a perfectly natural response. Going on stage, whatever that stage happens to be, separates us from the group – and that’s something we have an inbuilt resistance to. For our distant ancestors, being separated from the group would have meant a swift demise, and we’ve inherited this feeling from them.
Although giving a presentation won’t literally kill us, our bodies react as if it will. All of the physical symptoms of stage fright – sweaty palms, racing heart, urge to vomit etc – are the result of the primitive fight-or-flight survival mechanism kicking in with a big hit of adrenaline.
Step 2: Take Back Control
Once you’ve accepted that to be frightened is normal, you can stop worrying that you’re somehow weird or deficient and get on with the business of taking back control. The following stage fright tips are practical ways to do just that.
The adrenaline in your system is urging you to get moving, so discharge it by going for a short walk, doing some stretching exercises, or whatever else is appropriate for your circumstances.
Combat hyperventilation by deliberately breathing slowly and deeply, ideally breathing out for longer than you breathe in, which activates your body’s natural relaxation response.
Be AWARE. This is a technique used to control panic attacks, which are just an extreme form of stage fright.
- Accept that you are frightened
- Watch what happens inside your body and mind
- Act normal
- Repeat these steps until the fear subsides, and
- Expect the best
Step 3: Turn It To Your Advantage
One of the greatest stage fright tips of all is that it is actually your friend. Even the greatest performers suffered at some point, but they knew that it was this surge of adrenaline which gave their performance charisma and edge.
You may not be playing Hamlet at the National Theater, but you can do the same. When the symptoms begin to strike, think of them in a new way – excitement. Exactly the same stuff happens in your body whether you’re excited about getting on a roller coaster or dreading it. It’s only your personal expectations which determine how you view the sensations you’re experiencing, and those can be changed. Learning to welcome stage fright as juice for your performance radically transforms the experience.
Follow these tips, step by step, and you’ll soon be delivering star performances in all areas of your life as you become a more confident person. It is a skill to control your thoughts and actions and you can learn more by CLICKING HERE
where you will find more information, a FREE report and a video that can only help you to feel better about yourself and stop you worrying about what others think of you http://www.destroythedemonwithin.com You owe it to yourself – so go on – take a look!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dian_Winter
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
The majority of people suffer from some form of stage fright, dread of public speaking, or even speaking phobia. Can a person reach a point where they never have these fears and feelings?
Let’s study experienced speakers for a moment. Do they suffer from nervousness and speaking fear?
Yes and no. Most look forward to speaking and don’t dread it. However, the majority do experience some nervousness, adrenaline rush, and a shot of fear before going on stage.
Why would a speaker with over 600 engagements feel this? Here are a couple reasons.
First, your body senses the big event and pours adrenaline into your system. This can cause the shaky knees, sweat, etc.
Second, no matter how many times a person has spoke in public, a speaking event still has the possibility for major failure. We could mess up, the audience may be hostile, or our voice starts to shake.
This of course causes your body to pour more adrenaline into your system.
You may be thinking, “If the experienced speakers still have some nervousness, how do they speak with such confidence and calmness?”
Or you may be asking, “Is there anyway I can cure my speaking fear?”
There is hope! Don’t get discouraged.
Experienced speakers have learned how to control their feelings and fear. They may feel nervousness and fear before going on stage. However, it does not effect their presentation, because they know the secrets to saying no to fear and yes to confidence.
Learn these secrets and you can conquer speaking fear and speak with confidence every time.
Do you dread or fear public speaking? Get a Free Video & Special report on how to reduce speaking fear. http://www.Fear2Confidence.com
Arlen Busenitz is the creator of “Speak with Confidence: How to Conquer Public Speaking Fear with 4 Simple Steps” Learn more on how to overcome speaking fear.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arlen_Busenitz
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