It’s fifteen minutes until showtime, and you can’t keep your knees from shaking. The routine you’ve practiced so often seems to have disappeared from your memory. These feelings of stage fright are common, and many performers experience this anxiety before the show. Use these tips to fight off that stage fright and put on an amazing baton twirling performance!

• Rehearse: Rehearsals are vital to avoiding stage fright. If you know the routine so well that you can do it in your sleep, then you don’t have to worry about forgetting a move on stage. Show up to as many scheduled rehearsals as you can and continue to practice your twirling at home. When it’s finally showtime, you’ll be confident that you can hit the moves.
• Visualize the show: Calm your nerves by imagining the performance in detail. Close your eyes and picture the music, your routine, the stage, and the cheering audience. Don’t think of making a mistake or dropping your baton! If you can imagine a well-executed performance beforehand, it will be easier to believe in yourself on stage.
• Improvise: Everyone makes mistakes on stage, even after extensive rehearsals. Don’t panic if you do the wrong move. The audience doesn’t know the choreography, but they will be able to tell if you pause or look panicked. Keep smiling and act as though your mistake is supposed to be part of the show. The audience will never know.
• Focus your energy: That nervous energy doesn’t have to be paralyzing. Take that sudden rush of adrenaline and direct it toward your performance. If you treat that energy as excitement, you’ll be more focused and put on an energetic show.

Stage fright may seem paralyzing, but keep these tips in mind to confidently perform your baton twirling routine. Please browse the rest of our blogs for additional tips for an amazing performance, and if you need baton twirling supplies, call us at 931-528-7829.

Posted: 6/20/2016