Stage fright

Stage fright, also called performance anxiety, is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia that can be aroused in a person by the prospect of performing in front of an audience, whether the audience is real or only imagined. Anticipatory anxiety can begin as much as thirty six hours before an actual performance, and the condition affects people at every level of experience, from complete beginners to seasoned professionals, across activities as varied as athletics, teaching, acting, comedy, music, and politics, as well as everyday situations such as job interviews and classroom presentations. Common physical manifestations include stuttering, a rapid heartbeat, trembling in the hands and legs, sweaty palms, facial tics, a dry mouth, and dizziness. Stage fright is classified as a form of anxiety disorder and can occur as an isolated difficulty tied specifically to performance situations, or as part of a broader pattern of social anxiety disorder, though many people who experience it have no other difficulty with everyday communication. Research on audience composition finds that an unfamiliar audience typically provokes more anxiety than a familiar one, although some performers report experiencing the reverse pattern.