How To Rock The Stage

by Cari Cole

No matter how accomplished I get at my craft as a singer and artist (that’s me in the photo), I always get a tad bit nervous. My jitters come and go, but anytime pressure mounts, there I am with my heart pounding out of my chest and cottonmouth (ok, a little exaggerated). Whenever I tell people that, they look at me in disbelief – why would I, the professional, get nervous? My response is always: “It’s a natural part of performing – it’s called adrenalin. It feeds your performance.” Let me get this straight though. I don’t have “stage fright.” Stage fright is something newbies get and it comes directly from a lack of experience on stage. Jitters are something most all performers have — but put up with. It goes with the territory and actually has to be present in order to give a great performance.

Before my show at Town Hall was one of those times I was a little more jittery than usual. It was my biggest performance so far and there were some important people in the audience – just the idea of it was affecting me. I used my usual onslaught of herbal & natural remedies to prepare (I know them all of course). Chamomile & licorice tea, Vocal Eze throat spray, homeopathic remedies (Gelsemium is the balm!), liters of water, throat lozenges, Sunbreeze balm, meditating, praying and a little cursing…Typical me, I pull myself up by my bootstraps and lurch out on stage – the only approach that ever works – feel-the-fear-and-do-it-anyway.

But this time, I tried something different. I had been working a lot in my yoga practice on giving. So I decided to try that on for my performance. I focused on what I wanted to give my audience. More than anything, I wanted them to feel emotion – the message and intensity of the song, and to have an epiphany experience. The crazy thing was, once I focused on what I wanted to give them, the energy shifted. When the performance became about giving, I was able to get out of my head.

That night, not only did I give emotion, I got a unanimous standing ovation from 3,000 strangers.

During the performance – I had slipped into the ZONE, as they call it, so much so that I was shocked by the crowd response (and happy as a clam). It was one of my most vulnerable moments on stage, and at the same time, one of my most authentic performances. I laid it all out there, opened wide to the crowd, free falling.

I learned something powerful that night. That performing is about giving. It’s not about the notes you sing – it’s about what you give. They want YOU.

At your next performance, I challenge you to give – something deeper – something you don’t even know you have in you, and rock the stage. No holds barred.

Can’t wait to hear about it! Tell me in the comments section below.

PS – If you’re in NYC – come join me and my posse of Ultimate Performers rock the stage on 5/19 at The Bitter End NYC for EMERGE. Can’t waaaait to see you there! Details here

PPS – If you’re not following me on Twitter or Facebook yet, take a second and hop on: www.facebook.com/caricolevoicemusicco and www.twitter.com/caricole