Hiya

Just wondering if anyone can give me any tips on getting rid of nerves. I have a really big concert next week and am wetting myself over it. My conductor says it sounds great but i look really scared. What, if any, herbal stuff could i take to concure this.

Thanks

Claire,

P.S it is in wells cathedral infrount of BBC Singers and Orchestra, so really need to get it right!!!!!

Eat a banana before the concert. They help to calm down your nerves!

Car Expert

Don't take any herbal stuff, my friend did that before her Grade 8 and went craaaaazy, all giggly and sounded like she was on drugs. I think everyone gets nervous, just try and enjoy yourself, if you're doing such a prestigious concert already, you must be amazing. What have you got to worry about?

Firstly - wow, well done you! What a fantastic opportunity.

Secondly, it would probably be a bit unnatural, under the circumstances if you didn't feel nerves. My way of working with performance nerves is to accept that there'll be there, and not try to fight the sensation of them. The adrenalin rush can be energising, if you don't fear it. It's when you get stuck in that pattern of tension that arises when you try to fight off nerves that you'll have trouble.

If you really feel you need some help, you might want to ask your doc about beta blockers - minimal side effects, they don't dry you out, they're not psychotropic (they tone down your physical response, but don't effect your mood).

If you do try something to calm you down - herbal or allopathic - do try it out in advance. Don't use it for the first time on the day of your performance, as you might have weird side effects (the giggliness CM refers to is not an unusual side effect of several herbal 'cures').

Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.

Jane

BANANAS!

Just one...about 30 minutes before you begin the performance!

Believe me, it works!

Thanks for all the advice, will take notice of bananas-strang one but will try anything.


Will do!!!!

Claire

A very helpful tip that my teacher gave me is to give yourself specific commands. If you tend to clench up and forget to breathe, tell yourself very sternly "breathe." Just short, specific commands that help you work through it even if you're panicking.

IF you want something herbal, try Bach Flower Rescue remedy. I've used it before and it appears to work, and does not leave your concentration impaired.

To a certain extent nerves keep you focused so if you can get them under control, rather than let them control you, thats the best thing.

I'd be careful of prescription drugs, they are more likely to make you groggy, and destroy your concentration.

Asthmatics shouldn't take Beta Blockers. So I'd be very wary incase they affect your breath control.

Another thing that might help may seem counterintuitive, and that's getting a bit of exercise. Fear stimulates all our flight / fight mechanisms, so for example, doing deep squats will exercise the muscles that the adrenalin is intended for, without you literally having to run away from the concert!

Asthmatics shouldn't use beta blockers because in a percentage of people, they can cause bronchospasm - harmless for most people, but harmful for asthmatics, and so not worth the risk. I'm not a doctor, and I'm definitely not recommending them. But should someone wish to use some kind of calmative, they're an option worth exploring with a doctor - better than a lot of other anxieletics which can have potent side effects. And as I already said, testing them, or any other method you haven't used before, before the performance day is incredibly important. I've known people have negative reactions to Bach flower remedies despite the claim that they can't have a negative effect. It's likely that this is psychosomatic, but it's an effect of taking the meds nonetheless,and so the person who's going to use it should definitely give it a dry run before using it in a circumstance when being adversely effected would be a serious problem.

I think it all depends on the magnitude of the problem.

I used to get panic attacks, and a bit of bach flower wouldn't have touched those. Taking a beta blocker helped. If we're talking crippling anxiety, panic, etc, then it's worth exploring the option. However, if we're just talking a bit of the wobbles, then I think that these kinds of remedies can be effective enough.

Oh, do steer clear of valerian root as a herbal remedy - it can have really strong side effects. It can cause breathlessness, drowsiness, etc. It's essentially a herbal form of valium!

For the present, just concentrate on being completely prepared. If you know your piece(s) back-to-front and inside-out, which you really need to, then this should help give you confidence. Take it easy on the day and in the final rehearsal, and keep your energies focussed for the concert. You could also try breathing exercise/meditation/yoga to calm down if particularly agitated.

Good luck!

A Banana about half an hour before you start, and an early night the night before!

Very best of luck with your performance, and I hope you really enjoy the occasion. If you think of your physical response to the adrenaline surge as excitement rather than fear, then that can help.



Amber
x

hi every1, just about to set off for the concert.

Took all your advice yesterday at the rehearsal and all went brilliantly, (appart from a slightly crocky voice due to flu), but not that many nerves.

Thanks ever so much!!!

claire

xxx

Best of luck SG. I'm sure it will go fabulously.

Good luck SG. Let us know how it went.

Good luck!

Car Expert

HI everyone,

just got back from the concert and everything went brilliantly. Had great reception from audience and was complimented by the bbc singers no less. Thanks so much for the advice, i dont think i could have done it without it. We're thinking of sending the cantata on tour, which would be fab!!!


Thanks again,

Claire

xxx

Well done Claire, sounds like you did brilliantly.

Sounds fantastic. Well done!