How To Handle (Pre-Show) Nerves

A few years ago, this happened to me.

I was performing and, out of nowhere, I felt my legs giving way. I was trying to hear the music of my act, but I couldn’t catch a single note. I lifted my gaze and didn’t see a single face in the audience, only pitch black. The only thing I could see was the emergency exit signs. And they were so high above my head, they felt like they were about to collapse on me. And then I heard the final applause.

Okay, maybe this is a bit much, but chances are that, at least once in your life, you've felt a bit nervous before or during a performance. Maybe your hands trembled, your voice sounded a bit insecure, or you forgot what you were supposed to say or do.

And that’s totally normal. Just like we want to convey emotions through our magic, it’s completely acceptable for us to feel them, too. So, if you ever felt fear or anxiety… congratulations, you’re a human being!

The point isn’t whether or not you feel nervous. The point is learning how to manage it, so you can let your magic be astonishing. Because otherwise, what you're presenting might just be a smaller version of yourself—a smaller version of your magic.

The psychological foundation for this article is: “Action absorbs anxiety”. I once heard this phrase in a New York Times panel on anxiety, and I feel it fits our discussion really well.

If you engage in action, you can reduce emotional distress. Taking action, even if it's just a small step, helps shift attention away from anxious rumination or body tension. On the contrary, avoidance maintains fear.

What Actually Helps (Besides Screaming)

Here are fifteen techniques coming from the world of psychology. You can use all of them, just one, or none at all—and simply take inspiration for your own routine. These techniques can be used during rehearsals, on performance day, and while performing.