Imagine you are standing on a stage. You have been prepping for this moment for weeks, practiced with the accompanist for hours and really know the material. As the lights shine down warmly on your face, the music begins. Suddenly, you feel your knees start to shake and palms start to sweat. Then, you start thinking about how many ways you can mess up. What if I forget the words? Start singing at the wrong time? What if my voice cracks when I have to hit the high notes?! Panic sets in, and now, there is no telling if you are even going to finish your song or not.

Getting nervous when singing in front of people is a common occurrence for most people. No matter how well a person knows the material or how much they practice, there are still jitters and symptoms of nervousness that seem to take over and render the speaker speechless. There are symptoms of nervousness that can happen when a person gets in front of a crowd, but there are ways to get through it.

One thing that is quite common when people get nervous is the shakes. When a person has the shakes, there knees could be buckling or the person's hands seem to have a mind of their own and will not stop moving no matter how much they think to keep still. For some, it is as extreme as their whole body shaking with no control. The shakes can take over at any time. It is extremely evident when standing on stage and can be extremely distracting to the audience. Fortunately, you can help yourself to get over this if you find yourself in front of an audience. Pick a focal point and pretend like you are in a safe place you are used to singing in. If you can't get over the shakes with imagination, there are physical things that help, too, such as resting your fingertips lightly on your thighs or cover it up with some gestures. Deep breathing is always helpful, especially if it is prior to the show. Doing some form of meditation can help to calm down the senses in an effort to calm yourself down. When you walk on stage take a deep breath and dive in!

Sometimes, on stage, mistakes happen that tend to cause panic. However, you must never panic on stage. For starters, the only way the audience will know you made a mistake is if you make a face or squeak. If you make a mistake, make it with confidence. Be loud and proud! Another thing that really helps when you make a mistake is having a good accompanist. They usually know where you tend to mess up and probably have a back-up plan for if you miss your entrance, don't know the notes or just forget completely. Usually, they will be right there with you to help get back on track!

This advice about getting over stage fright also can apply to giving an important speech or presentation in front of a class. It happens to everyone. If you go with confidence and a plan to get over your nerves, any solo or public speaking can be conquered!