Nerves Are Just Unused Energy

The urge to turn around and bolt out the back door is overwhelming. You stare at the setlist and suddenly forget how your own hands work.

It is a specific kind of heavy when you are performing in a place where everyone knows your backstory. In a massive city, a crowd is just a sea of strangers. But here, in the community halls of Thunder Bay or a packed bar in Kenora, there is no anonymity. You aren't just an artist up there; you are the kid who bagged groceries at the local store or the quiet one from high school math class. That familiarity adds a layer of static to your brain that makes simple tasks, like playing a chord or reading a poem, feel like scaling a cliff face without a rope.

We often think confidence is the absence of fear, but that is a lie we tell ourselves to stay safe. Confidence is actually just the willingness to be scared while doing the thing anyway. When you are performing, your body triggers a fight-or-flight response because it can't distinguish between a microphone and a bear. That adrenaline is raw energy. If you try to squash it or hide it, you freeze. You get stiff. But if you accept it, you can ride it.

Here is a reality check based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Instead of telling yourself "I am calm," which feels like lying, admit the truth. Say to yourself: "I am nervous, and I am ready." Acknowledge the vibration in your hands. That isn't weakness; it's fuel. It means you care about the work you are about to do.

There is a cognitive distortion called the "Spotlight Effect" where we assume everyone is hyper-focused on our smallest flaws. In reality, the people in the venue are mostly thinking about their own lives, their drinks, or how cold it is outside. They aren't grading you. The audience in a small northern venue usually wants connection more than they want a polished robot. They want to see you real, messy, and alive.

Try this simple grounding technique before you step out. Feel the soles of your boots on the floorboards. Really push down. Notice the texture of the mic stand or your instrument. Get out of your head and into your senses. When you are performing, stop wondering what they think of you and shift your attention to what you are giving them. You are sharing a story. You are offering a sound. When you make it about the gift rather than the ego, the fear loses its grip. You belong in that space.

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 at Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture.