Topic:- STAGE FEAR
Presented by :-
Harshit Nadda
CSE 1st Year
13529

“The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts working the
moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to
speak in public.”
George Jessel

WHAT IS STAGE FEAR?
Stage fright is the anxiety, fear, or persistent
phobia which may be aroused in an individual
by the requirement to perform in front of an
audience, whether actually or potentially.

THIS USUALLY HAPPENS!

Why do we get stage fright?
• The body is flooded with energy (adrenaline)
because we sense an emergency situation.
• We don’t like to be judged.
• We don’t think our ideas are worth listening
to, we don’t think we can express our ideas
well, or we fear the audience won’t like us
while we are speaking.
• We don’t feel prepared.
• Negative past experiences

Symptoms Stage Fright
• Redness to face or neck
• Rapid heart rate up to 2 times normal rate
• Dry or Wet Mouth
• Headache
• Upset stomach
• Cold hands/feet
• Wobbly legs

Symptoms Stage Fright Cntd..
• Hot face
• Sweaty palms
• Squeaky voice
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Urge to use the restroom

HOW TO OVERCOME?

Building Confidence
Content
Organization
Notes
Friendliness
Impression
Dedication
Empathy
Newness
Conviction
Enthusiasm

• Know the room - become familiar with the place in
which you will speak. Arrive early and walk around
the room including the speaking area. Stand at the
lectern, speak into the microphone. Walk around
where the audience will be seated. Walk from where
you will be seated to the place where you will be
speaking.
• Know the Audience - If possible, greet some of the
audience as they arrive and chat with them. It is
easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group
of strangers.

• Know Your Material - If you are not familiar with
your material or are uncomfortable with it, your
nervousness will increase. Practice your speech or
presentation and revise it until you can present it
with ease.
• Learn How to Relax - You can ease tension by doing
exercises. Sit comfortable with your back straight.
Breathe in slowly, hold your breath for 4 to 5
seconds, then slowly exhale. To relax your facial
muscles, open your mouth and eyes wide, then close
them tightly.

• Visualize Yourself Speaking - Imagine yourself
walking confidently to the lectern as the
audience applauds. Imagine yourself speaking,
your voice loud, clear and assured. When you
visualize yourself as successful, you will be
successful.
• Realize People Want You To Succeed - All
audiences want speakers to be interesting,
stimulating, informative and entertaining.
They want you to succeed - not fail.
If the fear of public speaking causes you to
prepare more, then the fear of speaking
serves as it's own best antidote.

• Don't apologize For Being Nervous - Most of the
time your nervousness does not show at all. If
you don't say anything about it, nobody will
notice. If you mention your nervousness or
apologize for any problems you think you have
with your speech, you'll only be calling attention
to it. Had you remained silent, your listeners may
not have noticed at all.
Gain Experience - Experience builds confidence,
which is the key to effective speaking. Most
beginning speakers find their anxieties decrease
after each speech they give.

• Concentrate on Your Message - not the medium -
Your nervous feelings will dissipate if you focus your
attention away from your anxieties and concentrate
on your message and your audience, not yourself.
Turn Nervousness into Positive Energy - the same
nervous energy that causes stage fright can be an
asset to you. Harness it, and transform it into vitality
and enthusiasm.

Things you shouldn’t do
• Read directly from notes, except
glancing at
• Reading directly from screen,
except the points
• Turn back on audience
• Slouch, hands in pocket
• No um, ah, you know

• No nervous gestures
• Give any bad comments about your audience / insult
them
• Talk too fast
• Talk too quietly

Things you should do
• Eye contact : starring at people, there’ll be a
relation/connection of feeling that will arise.
• Can glance at notes
• Appropriate gestures
• Speak about what you are passionate about
• Mind your language, tone and body language.

• A prompt is always good
• Jokes are good – but don’t become a joke.
• Rhetorical questions to involve audience
• Use a strong opening and a strong closing.

– Strong opening :
• A story
• A quote
• A question
• An interesting statistic
– Strong Closing  depends on your purpose of
speaking :
• Tell your audience to do what you want
them to do clearly
• Make an appealing expression
• Say impressive and motivational words

“Great speakers aren’t born, they
are trained”