Whether it's a school play, a business report, or Friday night karaoke, stage fright is a very common fear. The very idea of talking or performing in front of an audience can make some people break out into a cold sweat and pass up the opportunity at fame and fortune. How is it that some people bask in the limelight, and some people fear the idea of being on stage? How exactly do you get rid of stage fright?

All the World's a Stage: Stage Fright at a Glance William Shakespeare, in his comedy entitled “As You Like It,” once wrote: “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women are merely players.” Everyday life involves a lot of interactions with people, which is very similar to theater performances. The only problem is that when audiences watch you for their entertainment, you may get quite intimidated or even scared. Stage fright is also known as topophobia, or performance anxiety. People who suffer from stage fright are extremely anxious or nervous to perform for an audience, or to perform in front of a camera. Some people who suffer from stage fright may even have a fear of performing even in front of small audiences like friends, family, or workmates. Here are common examples of stage fright:

• Stage performances. You may be up for a bit role, or you're part of the supporting cast, or you may even have been cast by the director for a lead role in a film or a stage production. By the time the director gives you your cue, you balk and forget your lines.
• Musical performances. You're part of a full-piece community orchestra, and you play the violin. You realize that you're playing in a jam-packed hall, and you nervously scan the audience for people you may know. The violin solo comes in, and you fumble with your bow and end up playing bad notes.
• Business. Your company may be advertising a new product, and you were tasked by the boss to convince other companies to invest in the product. You step into the conference room ready to give your presentation, and you stammer out a bad report on the product.
• Athletics. You participate in a basketball tournament, eager to show off the new skills you learned at training camp. A few minutes into the first quarter, you realize how many people are watching you play, and all of a sudden you fumble for the ball and miss a few very easy shots.
• Regular activities. Your friends just scheduled Open Mic Night as part of the many surprises they have for you for your birthday. While they sing their hearts out to the tune of the best sing-along hits of the 1950s, you sit timidly by the corner. You refuse every offer, or even every demand, to sing in front of your friends.

Signs and Symptoms of Stage Fright

Here are some common signs and symptoms experienced by people with stage fright:

• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Trembling hands and feet
• Diarrhea
• Tics and jerky movement
• Cold sweat
• Dry mouth
• Diarrhea and incontinence.

Most symptoms of stage fright occur when people anticipate the performance. While the most severe symptoms of stage fright manifest themselves right before the performance, some people develop anxiety symptoms days, weeks, or even months before the presentation. (Learn how to get rid of anxiety)

Famous People With Stage Fright

Unlike other serious phobias, stage fright is very common. If you have stage fright, you are not alone. Millions of people all over the world, and even well-known performers and musicians, suffer from stage fright. Consider the following famous performers:

• Donny Osmond, best known for songs like “Puppy Love” and “Love Me For A Reason,” experienced a panic attack during a performance in 1992.
• Sir Laurence Olivier, a multiple-time Academy Award winner and one of the most important actors of all time, suffered from social phobia at the peak of his career.
• Kim Basinger, known for her Academy Award-winning performance in “L.A. Confidential,” suffered from stage fright for much of her childhood.
• Barbra Streisand, an icon in the American music industry, forgot the words of many of her songs during a 1967 performance. For 27 years, Barbra did not sing a single song in public. In 1994, Barbra got over her anxiety and sang in a comeback tour.

Now that you know that a lot of people have stage fright, here are some ways you can get rid of the fear and the anxiety.

Be Prepared

Some people do not have stage fright from the very beginning, although they develop stage fright because they are not prepared for a role or a piece. Take some time to memorize your lines, know the cues, and internalize your character. Don't throw yourself too much into memorizing the entire script, because you can end up confused and even more anxious. Exercise discipline and dedication whenever you prepare yourself for a performance.

Take Deep Breaths

Breathing exercises are a great way to help calm your nerves. Breathe long, deep breaths right before you respond to your cue in the performance. Breathing exercises can also help you focus on your part, instead of the reaction of the audience. A trick is to inhale as deep as you can and as quickly as you can, and exhale very slowly.

Use a Mirror

Many stage performers keep a hand-held mirror handy to practice lines from plays or sing a few lines from songs. A hand-held mirror is not only a good way for you to practice gestures, but to gauge your confidence. If you're confident about how you look delivering your lines in front of a mirror, you wouldn't have any problems delivering your performance in front of an audience.

Things to Avoid

Some foodstuffs and drinks can aggravate some symptoms of stage fright. Right before a performance, it's a good idea to stay away from these calorie- and caffeine-rich foods:

• Coffee
• Candies
• Cola, soda, and other carbonated drinks
• Tomatoes, onions, and other acidic foods
• Salty foods like chips and fast-food items.

Some actors swear by a potent alcoholic beverage, like a sip of whiskey or a glass of wine, to “calm the nerves.” It's a better idea to stay away from alcohol right before your performance.

Enjoy the Performance

One of the best ways to avoid stage fright altogether is to have fun and enjoy the performance. Nothing will really change if you miss a few lines, give up an easy shot, or stammer a bit while delivering your report. Put your best foot forward whenever you go out on stage, and enjoy every bit of the performance. When you have fun, you can put behind all your worries and anxieties, and deliver a flawless performance. (For more information, read Top 10 ways to fight public speaking fears)

Stage fright does not have to get in the way of your dreams and opportunities. Now that you know how to get rid of stage fright, you can take control of the stage, and have fun delivering the performance of a lifetime.