Mindfulness strategies for performing arts anxiety in rural communities.
Your shaking hands aren’t a sign of weakness; they’re evidence that you care deeply about this moment.
There’s a specific kind of quiet panic that hits right before you step up to the mic at a local hall or a DIY venue in the Northwest. It isn’t just standard stage fright. It’s the weight of knowing half the crowd personally. In bigger cities, you get the luxury of being anonymous. Here, you’re someone’s cousin or the kid who used to bag groceries at the Co-op. That familiarity makes performing feel heavy. You feel like you have to prove you’ve “made it” or justify the space you’re taking up.
Let’s breathe through that. The anxiety telling you to run is just energy without a place to go. When we treat performing as a battle to be won, we lose before we start. You aren’t there to conquer the audience. You are there to connect. That tightness in your chest? That’s just your body preparing to do something difficult. In acceptance and commitment therapy, we call this “expansion.” Make room for the nerves. Let them sit in the passenger seat while you drive. Don’t fight the feeling; just notice it.
Shift your focus from “how do I look?” to “what am I giving?” When you obsess over your image, you disconnect from the art. You become a statue. But when you focus on the story you’re telling or the chord you’re playing, the ego dissolves. This is the essence of flow. You stop watching yourself and start being yourself. The audience in a small town isn’t looking for perfection. They crave resonance. They want to see a human being, flaws and all, doing something brave.
Try this tiny grounding exercise next time the pre-show jitters hit. Find a quiet corner backstage or outside. Press your heels firmly into the floor. Feel the actual texture of the ground beneath your boots. Name three things you can see that aren’t related to the show. A scuff on the wall. A loose cable. A tree line. This pulls your brain out of the “what if” spiral and back into the “right now.” You can’t perform in the future. You can only perform in the present.
We need your voice here. Not a polished, Toronto-ready version of you, but the real, gritty, northern version. Building a scene in rural Ontario means showing up even when your voice shakes. It means rejecting the idea that “real” art only happens in metropolises. It happens right here, the second you decide to share. So, take a breath. Unclench your jaw. Go do your thing.
Northwestern Ontario Arts, Culture and Recreation
Rooted in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario we’re exploring arts, culture, and recreation programming that brings our communitiess together. From creative workshops and local exhibitions to youth activities and cultural events, we support rural artists, strengthen community connection, and celebrate the creative spirit of Northwestern Ontario.
Through community-based arts initiatives, recreation programming, and cultural gatherings, Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture fosters creative expression, collaboration, and long-term sustainability in the northern arts sector. Our work connects residents, empowers youth, and builds pride in local talent across rural Northwestern Ontario.
Learn more about our programs, events, and opportunities with Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture.
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