How to Speak Confidently in Front of an Audience Without Freaking Out

It’s time for you to get up and show your best. But sweat is pouring down your face  and you don’t have time to be afraid. You need all the confidence you can muster because this is your chance, this is your day and this is your moment to shine! So you need to know more now than ever, how to walk on that stage and instead of freaking out - totally own it. That’s what we teach at the New York Acting School for Film and Television with our coaching and classes and we want to teach you too. So check out what we have to offer and in the meantime here are some simple ways to help you get on that stage more confidently than ever before.

Be properly prepared. This one is so important because when you’re properly prepared, you won’t be thinking about what you might have forgotten. Caroline Goyder, a former acting coach at the Central School of Speech and Drama who helps business leaders to communicate effectively says, "Writing it down tempts you to just read it out, which gives a dead, impersonal delivery."

Cheat as needed. Whether you’ve got it right there with you or if just behind the curtain, it’s good to have  some notes in bullet point form to help keep you on track. Additionally, if you’re a presenter, it’s good to use visual tools or storytelling to help make your point, keep you focused and keep your listeners engaged.

Make it personal. When Anthony Hopkins was playing serial killer Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, he used a technique called personalization  that helped him convey the inner anger of Hannibal by reaching into his own experiences of anger that he actually felt like killing someone. (we're all glad he didn't, right?) But you can use this technique and tap into your own emotional experiences to bring their impact and authenticity into your performance and presentation.

Use a slower pace. There’s no need to rush. Rushing only increases anxiety. So when you are reaching a point of importance or dramatic climax, be sure to slow down or pause. The silence or change in flow gives the presentation contrast and dynamics; a must for all performance and art. Also try to imagining you are delivering to one member of the audience and wait until you can see from their face that they have got it. This is a technique used by stand-up comedians.

The New York Acting School for Film and Television loves supporting you as you pursue your dreams. For more information and guidance, call us today!