How to Stop Dreading Auditions: 8 Ways to Overcome Performance Anxiety
As the audition day of your dream squad draws near, you can’t help but overthink about what would happen, the efforts you’ve put into preparation, and what other people would think if you pass or fail.
Because of these random thoughts, you could end up dreading the idea of showcasing your talents and skills in front of the judges. You’ll also feel anxious during your performance. And that leads to the realization of your worst disappointment - getting rejected on the preliminary rounds.
But like any emotion and mental state, anxieties can be prevented, controlled, and overcome. This list will show you different strategies on how you can stay calm under pressure.
1. Focus on yourself instead of trying to impress
The glamour aspect of pro cheerleading makes auditionees feel anxious because they’re worried that rejection would cause them to be ridiculed. To fight the anxiety, stop caring about what other people think and focus on your audition prep.
2. Accept that audition nerves are a normal part of the whole experience
Every seasoned performer still feels stage fright during auditions. It’s perfectly normal. Veteran dancers keep themselves calm from their audition prep to the auditions by thinking that every day is just an ordinary day. If they feel the nerves, they just ignore it and divert their focus.
3. Stop negative thoughts the moment they arise
Like audition nerves, negative thoughts are normal. They manifest most likely if you’re not doing anything or before you go to sleep. Just as they say, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” If you find yourself starting to think negatively, quickly do something else as a distraction.
4. Make sure that you get a good night's sleep to lower your cortisol levels
Wake up early. Finish all of your daily tasks, responsibilities, and workouts during the day so you’ll have more time for relaxation during the evening. Follow a consistent sleep schedule. Hands off your gadgets an hour before bed. Make your room comfortable for uninterrupted sleep.
5. Take deep breaths when you start feeling anxious
A deep breath and mindfulness meditation session are two of the best strategies to kill anxiety. It’s easy to do but it’s hard to be aware when you’re starting to feel anxious. You must practice making it your default reaction to pause and collect yourself when you’re stressed.
6. Mentally rehearse the big day multiple times from start to finish
Fear of the unknown also causes anxiety. The fear of what could happen or not happen on the big day. Play different scenarios in your head about the audition rounds, then condition yourself to feel happy, optimistic, or calm no matter how it turns out.
7. Let someone help with providing real feedback
Here’s another anxiety caused by the fear of the unknown - not knowing if you’ve done enough audition preparation. Invite somebody who’s familiar with pro cheer team auditions or an expert in fitness and dancing. Then have them rate your progress. If they score you poorly, don’t worry - do better and improve. But if you have a good rate, use the feedback as a confidence booster.
8. Practice carrying yourself with confidence each day
Fostering a calm and confident mind isn’t only done by living in a serene and supportive environment. It starts with how you carry yourself from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep.
So instead of starting your day with dread, show gratitude instead. Optimism will flow into you. That optimism will then transform into self-confidence and that confidence will keep you calm even when under the pressure of an upcoming audition.
As you wait for the preliminary audition rounds, use the time now to shift your mindset from anxious and negative into a calm, optimistic, and confident one. Just remember to always take a deep breath when your thoughts start racing. Then, apply what you’ve learned from this list.
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