Stage fright

People approach me and ask if I ever get stage fright on stage.  Of course I do.  I don't know anyone who has an interest in performing arts or even have to go in front of a large group of people and speak out who would not have that feeling of stage fright.  I personally don't speak out in front of a group, I don't like the idea of speaking in front of a group.  I think that speaking in public is slightly different from from putting on an act on stage.  When a person acts on stage, they are not looking into the crowd, but the speaker would talk into the crowd.  The actor would have less fear from stage fright even though their stage fright will still remain than the person who is speaking in public. The reason why actors still have stage fright is because they still have that sunk into their head that people are going to be watching them perform, and I think it is right before the curtains open the actor would feel that the most.  I think that once the actor starts performing, they will feel more comfortable.  Sometimes psyching yourself up can help.  If you are in rehearsals, the time that you have to perform for real, you could still psych yourself up by thinking that the real performance is just another rehearsal.  Some people suggest imagining the audience in their underwear.  I am not sure if that really works.  I haven't used that technique and I don't think it would work for me.  I also think that with speakers who speak to the public, can help themselves by rehearsing in small groups that you know.  Perhaps have some people that you know come into the audience so that the speaker doesn't have to feel nervous or panicky.  But the fact is that you will be alright at the end of the day.