Stage Fright and ASD.

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Are people on the spectrum more likely to have stage fright?

I've always wanted to be in a band and play live shows, but as
soon as it's time to get up there I get nervous and lose concen-
tration. I don't like the feeling of being watched.

My friends (and random people) have told me many times that
I need to get a band together because they think I am one of
the best guitarists they have ever heard. Some keep bugging me
to be in their band, but I just can't stand being up on stage.
I've quit 2 bands (just before show-time) because of this.

I gave in recently and joined a friend's band. I play my first show
with them on Friday. I'm starting to feel nervous again, and I
don't want to be a disappointment to them. I just like to play
music, but I'm not sure I can handle that kind of a commitment.

I'm not sure. If they had anxiety or a problem with a break in routine or issues with sensories on stage maybe?

I don't have stage fright. I actually love being on the stage.

I never really had stage fright when I did plays in elementary and middle school.

I had a form of stage fright when going on air for the first time using c.w. ie morse code as a self taught radio amateur abt nine years ago. Made two contacts, Scandinavia and across the pond to the USA. I went to pieces.

I had started the hobby thirty years ago - all self taught. Wife on this occasion gave zilch encouragement, to me it was a 'punch the air' moment.

I felt so self concious.

I trashed the gear - we still have the holes in our sitting room floor.

I participated in stage plays all thoughout my school years and always expected that I would have stage fright. The auditions terrified me, rehearsal was awful, the makeup chair was nearly unbearable, but on opening night I could casually get up there and do my thing -- and yet that surprised me every time.

For me personally, if I know my place, exactly what is expected of me in a particular situation, I can handle it. It's the unknown, the lack of ability to interpret the unfamiliar that stresses me. I bet if you're comfortable with your bandmates and with the music you're playing you'll be fine. Just know that everyone in the room is there to hear you do something they they only wish they could do themselves. You may end up feeling really at home.

Good luck!! !

I love "playing" characters but am very nervous before I "go on"....when I am on stage it is never as bad as I think it will be because I actually dissociate. Often I would do "readings" in competitions in 9th and 10th grade and think I must have done horrible but I won awards so I must have been doing something right...to bad I could never remember it.

Good luck with the performance. There are actually a lot of "shy" people in how business and they find "being someone else" to be very pleasurable. Instead of going on stage as "you", perhaps you can visualize that you are someone else...someone who you think looks cool ? When I used to hang out with punks(rockers), I was always playing a character and I thought it was pretty amusing...especially when I played the "tough girl" when I was really a wimp...it was fun.

My aspie son has trouble speaking in front of a group, but no problem performing.

I do not care to perform in front of groups, but have no trouble speaking *at* them.

I guess we are all different.

You could try playing in the wings of the stage or the pit, if the stage has wings/pit, or behind a prop. You could try playing with your back to the audience, like the lead singer of the Doors used to. You could try wearing a mask, or sunglasses. Or sit behind the drummer.

Back in High school, I did a few bits of stand-up for a school talent show. It took a lot for me to get up there, but I enjoyed doing it, just to hear the people laugh. one of the, er, unusual things that happens when I go onstage is that my right knee starts shaking uncontrollably. The only ways I've been able to combat it is wearing pants onstage to hide it, and pacing back and forth across the stage, when I can. I've been in a Men's Choir as of late, so that's not been possible. Pants it is, I guess . . .

I get pretty bad stage fright, but I find when I actually get up there and start it pretty much disappears. I did pass out once at a podium, but I think it was mainly due to a hot lamp shining directly on my head.
When I was learning acoustic guitar I had to play for several old folks homes and in front of our homeschooling group for graduation. I hated that I had to play in front of people and dreaded it all the way up to when I sat down and started playing. As soon as I am done and off the stage I am relieved.
I got the same feeling for every speech I had to give in speech class.
I just wish I could feel the same way before hand as I do on stage. It would make things a whole lot easier.

I get anxous quite easy, but I love being on stage, I have done public speaking before and I like doing oral reports for school. I remember being told that everyone gets scared but you should actualy use that fear to push you to perform, it can be hard but I enjoy speaking infront of groups for some reason. I feel that the adrenaline is good.

I get nervous being on stage but I don't mind it much.

Maybe if you start off with just a small audience? That might help you. I have also heard an old trick is to picture everyone in the audience in their underwear! Not sure if it works but it's worth a try!

Best of luck to you!

Incredible stage fright - it's part of why I teach and write instead of perform. When experiencing stress/anxiety, I use a combination of breathing control and color visualization, imagining the body as a balance of two opposing hues on the color spectrum, one pleasant to me whilst the other is garish (generally, I use blue and orange), using the soothing tone to purge out the colour of agitation. This method has also been useful to students when teaching music, by visualizing the 'problem' passages in one color and the 'mastered' passages in another, each repetition pushing in on the islands of discord until it is a smooth line of uninterrupted music. Just a few thoughts...


M.