1 Gary Plaag Performance Anxiety VeteranBarbershop Butterflies Bite The Dust: Dealing With Performance Anxiety In Barbershop Harmony Performances Gary Plaag Performance Anxiety Veteran
2 Imagine… …You’ve been kidnapped, your hands and feet are bound, you’ve been forced into a wooden barrel and sealed inside. The barrel has been rolled and finally pushed off a ledge into the Niagara River upstream of the falls. You hear the roar of the falls as you get closer to the edge. Any anxiety?
3 Now imagine… …You have the opportunity to sing and perform for 10,000 people who love the music that you perform and are eager to be entertained. You have rehearsed your act regularly and feel very confident in your skills and abilities. The curtain is about to go up as the MC announces you. Any anxiety?
4 What Is Performance Anxiety?Normal – most people experience it Somewhat automatic/unconscious Participatory anxiety Often in advance of a particular event Learned behavior Fear of being evaluated
5 What Is Performance Anxiety?Three parts of PA Cognitive structures Beliefs we have about ourselves Self-talk (negative) What we do to ourselves before, during and after the event Physical/psychological/mental responses How we feel – butterflies, nausea, sweats, etc.
6 What Is Performance Anxiety?Cognitive structures Beliefs we have about ourselves – abilities/talents, skills, etc. Often developed when young Supported by parents and other adults Difficult and time-consuming to change Tendency to look for confirmation of these beliefs
7 What Is Performance Anxiety?Self-talk (negative) More negative self-talk = more anxiety “Catastrophizing” and “Awfulizing” Employing perfectionist schemas What others will think
8 What Is Performance Anxiety (PA)?Physical/Psychological/Mental responses “Fight or flight”, desire to escape Tightened muscles, weak in knees Stomach aches, nausea Dry mouth, sweaty palms, shaking hands Rapid/shallow breathing Rapid message delivery Irregular sleep pattern, gain/loss of appetite
9 Dealing With PA It’s not about you…it’s about the audienceNervousness is NORMAL Practice performing, often Think positively - use positive self-speak Visualize success Re-evaluate any perfectionist schemas you may have
10 Dealing With PA Get into “character”Employ “the moment before” strategy Eat and sleep Try deep relaxation drills Deep breathing Muscle contraction and relaxation Practice WITH realistic distractions
11 Dealing With PA Rehearse like you perform and perform like you rehearse Have numerous dress rehearsals Rehearse in a venue similar to the upcoming performance venue Eliminate potential surprises
12 Dealing With PA Concentrate on the joy of performingKeep focus on the audience and performance…not on your nerves Avoid caffeine, alcohol, drugs, etc.
13 What About Beta-blockers?Block action of noradrenaline at certain receptors in arteries and the heart Noradrenaline transmits messages between nerves and muscles Cause arteries to widen and slow action of the heart – decreasing heart’s force of contraction Reduce blood pressure and reduce work by heart
14 What About Beta-blockers?Common side effects: Cold hands and feet Tiredness and sleep disturbance (nightmares) Impotence Dizziness Wheezing Digestive tract problems Skin rashes Dry eyes
15 What About Beta-blockers?Other side effects: Alopecia Bronchospasm Cardiac arrest Diaphoresis (profuse sweating) Dyspnea (air hunger resulting in labored breathing, sometimes painful) Pharyngitis (inflammation of mucous membranes and lymphoid tissues of the pharynx; throat pain, fever, painful swallowing
16 What About Beta-blockers?The WORST problem: Risky and dangerous, even if prescribed People give their medications to others to “help” People take some one else’s medication Prescription medication is unpredictable in another person Potential hidden health issues in recipient are often not known
17 Suggested Readings Audition – Michael Shurtleff – ISBN: 0-553-27295-0Never Good Enough – Monica Ramirez Basco, PhD – ISBN: On Singing Onstage – David Craig – ISBN: Overcoming Stage Fright In Everyday Life – Joyce Ashley – ISBN: Stage Fright: Its Role In Acting – Stephen Aaron – ISBN: Stage Fright in Music Performance and Its Relationship to the Unconscious – Michael I. Goode – ISBN: X The Inner Game Of Music – Barry Green & W. Timothy Gallwey – ISBN: The Power of the Actor: The Chubbuck Technique: The 12-Step Acting Technique that Will Take You from Script to a Living, Breathing, Dynamic Character - Ivana Chubbuck – ISBN: