Dose anyone have suggestons on getting over stage fright :shock: I love clowning but it seems like it takes a long time for me to get warmed up and come out of my shell I thinks its because mabey people will think I am not a very good clown dose confidence come with time or should I worry

1) A certain degree of nervous energy is good. It shows that you are human and not taking things for granted. You can even build off it. The biggest and best people around get some semblance of stage fright. If you lose that entirely, it is time to quit.

2) Just try to get comfortable/confident with yourself and your talents/abilities. Then you'll worry less and feel like you're in control over them.

3) The more regularly you do, the less you'll worry.

4) At some point you just have to say, "The hell with it," and jump all in; not worrying about what anybody else will think/say. Enjoy yourself, have fun, be your best under the circumstances. You can save the critique for later. But, for right now, you just need to choose to live in the moment.

I dont think there anyone who was more afraid of standing up in front of people than me
But a clown named B B said something that changed that
WHEN YOU ARE IN MAKE UP NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHO YOU ARE
This plus doing it will make it easier as you go along now I do things even when not in costume just keep working at it
I met a clown that had such a problem that he turned that into his character and it worked great

Jodakrs,
I used to get HORRIBLE stage fright. The kind that makes you totally freeze up and not be able to move at all. As near as i can figure this is how i got past it:
Its kinda what Tim and Jamz have already said.

1. Don't worry so much about what everyone is gonna think! Confidence in yourself is reflected upon other people. If you have a defeated attitude when you start to perform, it will show. If you are strong and shining even if you start slow, they wont notice.

2. Just do it! The more you "clown" the easier it will become. Your comfort level will increase in huge amounts once you start to learn what is gonna work for you !

3. Dont be afraid to try out new tricks or props or routines on your family and friends, even when not in character. This is a great way to practice, and get feedback before adding something into your "offical" act.

4. Learn how to --channel , i guess-- your nervousness and make it help you in your act. It can give you an energy boost to help your slow starts go away.

I have more trouble practicing in front of people without my make up and so do my little joey's so we started putting on the big foam nose on during practice, they help. I think every one is nervous, but once you get that first laugh it gets easier.

Like the others said you could make it part of your act, be the nervous, stiff, bumbling type?

I'm not really one to give advice (I only dabbled as a clown, a few years ago), but I completely agree with Jamz.

It is true that if you're unrecognizable, you'll be much more outgoing. I suffer from terrible stage fright, but was totally fine as long as nobody knew I was me. In fact, I even surprised myself a few times.

It's sort of the opposite of what you're *supposed* to do -- which is not let the makeup be a mask. But as a starting point, I think it's your best bet.

how about Hava Nagila or the theme from Zorba the Greek?

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I just wanted to say hi and welcome to Twiglet. :) Please feel free to jump in wherever you like, even if your clown skills aren't recent!

Ok people, carry on... :wink:

I find that as I get into makeup and character, I actually
take on the persona of "Ashes" and leave my own
persona behind.

Now "Ashes" isn't too far off from my real personality,
and, being a tramp means he isn't way over the top
on goofiness, but my voice changes slightly and I don't
have the problems working the crowd that I would as
my normal (did I just say normal?) persona.

Ashes

Stage fright has never really been a problem. The most nervous I ever was happened in college. A group of us played a few tunes Bluegrass style infront of the student body which at the time was around four thousand students.
Once I got started, it was no ptoblem. Remember that the makeup does offer you some anonimirty , and to try to concentrate on having fun.

I understand about the stage fright, although for me I think it was more a fear of what the adults might think rather than the children.

I personally just had to do it, and like the others have mentioned not worry about the consequences. Confidence will be displayed in your actions, and with time this will continue to grow and make you a better performer.

You can do it. The children believe in you, and that personally helps me to believe in myself.

I think the most scared that I have been was my very first birthday party and then there was a stage show at a large city ampitheatre (sp?) that I did about 6 months ago. I physically did not feel well, I was so nervous. Both of them went fabulously even though I was scared. I get a little nervous now and then, depending on the venue but not like those two events. I'm really glad that I didn't let the fear hold me back from doing something that I really wanted to do but was afraid I couldn't. I definitely would have regretted it. There was a book that I read just after I graduated high school. The title was "Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway!". I don't really remember the details of the book but the title always stuck in my head.

GiGi :D

I been preforming on Stage since my Sophmore year in High School when i first started out i concentrated on what i had to do & not so much the people in the Croud its good to intertane them but try not to worry alot about what they think cuz then you will dout your self then you will mess up

If it helps other newbies, I'm still learning to overcome stage fright. Besides making kids smile and feel happy, the second biggest reason for becoming Sassy was to overcome my tendency to be shy and introverted in front of people.

It's hard because I tense up and forget that I'm Sassy instead of my usual self. If I'm relaxed and with family, I can goof off pretty well. But put me in front of people where I'm aware of the attention and my mind goes completely blank. It's going to take some time to get used to this.

Im shy as well but when i become Willace i open up with or without my grease paint I open up exspeculy when i have a Balloon in my hand

As a child, I endured a great deal of teasing and put-downs for my natural ability to clown around. The other kids were always making me feel really small and ridiculous, so I'm very, very self-conscious about goofing off in front of others.

I know while I'm Sassy it's good to let go, but it's taking time to learn to do that. The fear is still there that I'll be ridiculed again, even though I know it's not too likely.

yea i was messed with alot till middle school & Slamed a book into the back of a kids head but im not saying to go Slam books into peoples head who are mean

heheheh. Sometimes when your a pint-sized target, you have to take drastic measures.

There was a guy in my elementary school who wouldn't quit beating on me, so I took my fingernails down the side of his face. He yelped like a whooped puppy, but at least he never laid a finger on me again.

yea you gotta do what you gotta do