The singer Milow knows how to inspire his audience. In an interview, he reveals that despite numerous appearances at concerts, he is still nervous and explains why that is actually a good thing.
Milow provides a whole series of rhetoric tips. Anyone can use this advice for business presentations or other challenges. As exclusive private coaching from the pop star.
FOCUS Online: In June you are on a big tour of Germany. Hand on heart: Do you struggle with stage fright when performing in front of an audience?
Milow: No, I have to say that I don’t have stage fright.
If you ask me if I’m still nervous before concerts, I would say yes, I’m still very nervous before concerts. Of course not always. Sometimes I get nervous because I see someone familiar in the audience and let them make me nervous… Or when I have too high expectations for a certain concert and I put too much pressure on myself.
In general, I’m always a little nervous – but I actually like it! Because although I’ve already played so many concerts, it’s still something special. To venture onto the stage you still have to face your own fears and overcome them every time! That’s why getting rid of fear feels even better when you just do it and experience the exchange of energy with the audience.
What are your tips for dealing professionally with stage fright?
Milow: My tip is: just do it! Overcome your fear! Do this again and again! The more often you do this, the better! If I only did one show a year I would be extremely nervous and probably have stage fright. Keep going! Getting on stage every night teaches you how to deal with stage fright. You will learn to control your nervousness.
Probably everyone has to perform in front of an audience from time to time: be it a lecture at school or a business presentation at work. In your opinion, are there any tricks that are simply important in order to inspire your audience?
Milow: The more relaxed you are, the more engaging and engaging you are. I use humour. This is very important! I’ll tell a few jokes to break the ice right from the start. I think it’s very important to let people know that I don’t take myself too seriously. So my advice would be: Show your audience that you don’t take yourself too seriously. A self-deprecating joke can always work and break the ice. And then you are more relaxed and everything else runs easier.
What I also do sometimes is this: I don’t look everyone in the eye. Simply because that’s something that can be partially distracting. So sometimes it can be helpful to look over people’s heads at the crowd. In this way, you keep your focus and are not so easily unsettled. Because if you’re looking directly at the audience, there can be a lot of things that people are doing that throw you off. You quickly lose your own train of thought.
But again: You know that for some people, speaking in front of an audience can seem like the end of the world… Keeping it simple helps enormously! And it’s not the end of the world if you spell a mistake or something doesn’t work. Just don’t take it too seriously.
