It made the Beatles vomit before their stadium shows. It kept Barbara Streisand from performing for over a decade. I watched it make Steven Tyler pace nervously in his dressing room before a show. From butterflies to panic attacks, stage fright is nothing more than a fear of the unknown. How will the audience react? Will I forget the lyrics or sing out of tune? Will my voice hold out? Since none of these questions can be answered before hand, anxiety builds.

Preparation can help. If you’re well rehearsed and in good physical condition, any reasonable person would expect to perform well. But stage fright is not a rational fear, and performers are not reasonable people. Trying to talk yourself out of these mental tail-spins only makes things worse. What’s important to remember is that anxiety means you care. Apprehension is good, positive, energy that heightens reflexes and expands abilities. Your job before a gig is not to deny fear, but to manage its symptoms.

Fear triggers a fight or flight response, making the body rigid, shutting down digestion and increasing the heart rate. At the first sign of nerves get your body moving. Swing your arms and legs like a wide-sweeping pendulum. Slow, steady, controlled movements are calming. For most of us, loading the equipment before the gig can serve as a good physical distraction, so focus on lifting properly - don’t rush.

Nervous dry-mouth robs the vocal folds of vital lubrication, no matter how well you hydrate. Placing almost anything in your mouth should stimulate the saliva glands, but watch for side effects. Forcing a meal on a nervous stomach causes cramps, gas, and excessive mucus. Chewing gum can make it difficult to release your jaw later when singing. Sugar-free lozenges are okay, but I find it easier just to suck on my finger. The salt gets my mouth watering without coating the throat.

A racing heart shallows breathing. To reduce your pulse, inhale on a slow ten count, hold your breath for ten, and then release for another ten counts. Incorporate your voice by singing long, low volume, single notes. The longer you sustain, the better the next breath will be. Repeat this until the voice stops shaking. Don’t rush the process by adding force. When single notes become steady, vocalize on scales or light phrases from songs, slowly challenging range and volume.

If you freak-out on stage, barrage the irrational feelings with bits of reality. Recite your name and birthday to yourself. This may seem ridiculous, but I’ve coached many people through panic attacks who could not recall how old they were for a minute. Most of all, remember that an audience is human. People will pull for you if you let them know how you feel. Missed lyrics and bad pitches are instantly forgiven if your heart is in the right place. Give your audience some credit and open up. But first you’ll have to give yourself a chance and get on that stage.

Mark Baxter is a vocal therapist who offers private and video lessons. His vocal studios are located in Boston, New York and Los Angeles. Clients include: Aerosmith, The Goo Goo Dolls, Van Halen, Jonny Lang, Tonic, Aimee Mann, Journey, American Hi-Fi, cast members of Rent and thousands more. His top-selling book, The Rock-N-Roll Singer’s Survival Manual, and video, The Singer’s Toolbox, are available on-line or in stores nation-wide. To contact: call 1(800) 659-6002, or visit www.voicelesson.com