Nervousness

'Research' says that children who learn performing arts at a young age (music, drama, dance etc.) supposedly become more confident as they develop, and yet, I've played the piano since I was 6 and I've always, without fail, become shaky and clumsy on stage! :S

Mandatory primary-school plays were the worst. I recall many Nativity plays where I've just stood on stage and forgotten my lines completely, or become so clumsy that 'baby Jesus' had a few accidents before his time. I'd give anything to be a confident performer. My current music course requires a 5 minute continuous performance at the end as part of it.

I was always nervous before going on stage, also through the whole performance, but I never had any fiasco... Can't say I enjoyed myself - bloody classical ballet!
I'm also always nervous when I have to talk before a crowd. I was shacking and stammering all through my first presentation at university. Had to speak before some 120 people. After a couple of presentations it becomes better...

black_magnolia wrote:

I was always nervous before going on stage, also through the whole performance, but I never had any fiasco... Can't say I enjoyed myself - bloody classical ballet!
I'm also always nervous when I have to talk before a crowd. I was shacking and stammering all through my first presentation at university. Had to speak before some 120 people. After a couple of presentations it becomes better...

I can't do presentations either, which is just great because I have to help pitch a product to many companies throughout this year as part of a Young Enterprise group I'm in. My mind just goes blank, or I'll speak too fast, or I'll drop all of my notes and trip myself up whilst trying to pick them up - Something along those lines. I always feel inadequately clumsy compared to others around me.

I never had issues with presentations. Before hand I would just write down what I wanted to say and have some cue cards handy in case I forgot something. I always did perfect.

SkieShauphen wrote:

I never had issues with presentations. Before hand I would just write down what I wanted to say and have some cue cards handy in case I forgot something. I always did perfect.

Were you just born confident or did you have to learn it? O.O Because if you were born with it, damn, I'm jealous. :woohoo:

SkieShauphen wrote:

I never had issues with presentations. Before hand I would just write down what I wanted to say and have some cue cards handy in case I forgot something. I always did perfect.

I also make cue cards, but I very rarely use them, almost never. They're more of a \"comfort blanket\" then real help.
\"Perfect\" - hmmm... you could say my presentations are very good, near perfect because the professors are always thrilled and a lot of my colleagues come to compliment me after I'm done. The problem is I know I'm nervous, I can feel my hands shacking, maybe others don't see it, but just the fact I know that I'm nervous makes the presentation for me a dreadful experience...