While performing, the only things that should be going through your mind is your show and and how to communicate with the audience. If you have done your job right, then we all should feel at ease, but why don't we? Because you are human....and because you are throwing scary things up in the air and are supposed to be perfect when you catch.

The best way to have a great performance is to prepare, prepare, prepare. You know what you need to practice. You just have to do it. But what happens when you have performance anxiety?

Many famous people have performance anxiety. First, just know that you are in good company. It is very scary to be in front of people. Now, I want you to think about this stupid joke:

How do you eat an elephant?---------> One bite at a time.

Yes I know that was stupid, but if you take your show, one count at a time, you know you could do it. Another trick that may work is to pick one person out of the audience and perform just for them. Many people are hard to perform in front of, but one person is so easy to perform for. Think about it.

During a performance, you just have to remember that you must BREATHE....and you say, well, DUH! When we are nervous, we tend to breathe different. Just try to stay calm and take deep breaths.

If you have a story or a character, you must prepare ahead of time. You need to know "who" and "where" you are (if your show calls for it). If you do not believe yourself, then the audience will NOT believe you either. Think...we all know a bad actor when we see one on TV...the first thing we do is turn the television. So, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! Confidence in yourself is so important.