Beat New Year's Eve Party Stage Fright

Beat New Year’s Eve Party Stage Fright

newyear If you’re planning on hosting a New Year’s Eve party or attending one, it’s natural to experience a few holiday jitters. No need to worry, Howard Fine to the rescue! Hollywood’s most sought after acting teacher and author of the new book FINE ON ACTING offers this unique advice based on 26 years teaching actors with names like Diana Ross, Michele Williams and others.

There’s a reason they call some auditioning “cold readings” . . . the rooms can be downright chilly. Here’s how to warm them up:

9 No Nonsense Ways to Knockout Nerves

1. Nerves are Natural. Recognize you’re human and human beings get nervous. It means you care.

2. Don’t fight the feeling. The more you try to push them away, the more it will heighten your anxiety.

3. Face and Embrace. Learn to enjoy the feeling. Think about your last fabulous vacation - you were nervous before you went. However, you didn’t call it nerves, you called it excitement.

4. Heavy Breathing. Tell yourself you’re excited (opposed to nervous) and breathe. The biggest difference between fear and excitement is whether or not you are breathing.

5. Attention Getters. Take the attention off yourself the moment you walk in the room. Get out of your head and stop judging yourself.

6. The Lay of the Land. As soon as you walk in the room, give yourself a task. It’s your task to take in the general surroundings. Are there decorations? Is there music? What is the general flow of the event?

7. Stake Your Claim. Orient your body. Find a spot as “Home Base” or “Nest” where you can park and return to during the party.

8. Get Hands On. Find something to nibble on (preferably food!) or drink. With something in your hands, you’ll feel less awkward and you have something to do.

9. Ask & You Shall Receive. Most people love to talk about themselves. Get interested in people around you and start asking questions. Be interested and you seem more interesting to others. “Where did you get that lovely blouse?” can be a great icebreaker. Or, ask how they know the host. If they are the host, comment on something you like about their décor.

About The Author: Howard Fine is the author of FINE ON ACTING: A vision of the Craft (Oct. 2009, Havenhurst Books). A native of Rhode Island, he became the Head of the Acting Department at The Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York at the age of 24 . HowardFine.com