For context I an know a school play and I have a big solo in a song and I am very nervous I was gonna look at my friends that stand around me onstage while I sing but the director told me to look at the audience. I know all the words by heart but I just need more confedence to sing louder. Any tips?
If it helps, there are two tricks I have that have worked for me in the past. First, find one person in the audience that you know, and focus on them. There can even be more than one person, and you swap between them.
Second, find a spot in the back of the room to focus on, preferably towards the middle, and easy to find so you can always draw your eye back to it.
Of course you don't want to be starting in one spot the whole time, but the gist of it is to not focus on the crowd, but rather on doing your best to perform.
As someone with anxiety who had to play a main role in my own school play, I totally understand. I found practice was the key to having more confidence. If you could do the performance in your sleep, backwards and forwards, you feel more comfortable. Right before performing is one of the most anxious, nerve-wracking moments in my life, but once you get on stage, it's just like practice.
Another thing that helped me was getting into character! If I could feel like it wasn't me on stage, but my character, I felt much less nervous. Really get to know the stage. It might feel a little silly, but if you think of it as your stage, a place where you can command, it gives you so much more confidence!
Just some stuff that helped me!
Something I just remembered, if you can, day of the performance, make sure you've eaten something that's going to sustain you through the whole thing. Preferably a comfort food of some sort. And stay hydrated! So many people forget those two things, along with sleep, but honestly if you're tired/hungry/sleepy AND nervous, not a good combo.
You might not be able to get rid of the anxiety, but you can manage the other things.
Also! Plan a reward for yourself for after the play. Whether that be a chocolate bar or playing a game for awhile, make sure you have something good to look forward to after, as a reward for doing the thing, regardless of how well it goes.
Thank you. Those re some great ideas. I will be trying those. I ma let you know how the show goes! Thanks so so much