Master the Stage: How to Get Noticed

So you’ve decided to try your first fitness competition. You have all your corners covered … or so you think. You have your training and nutrition coach, and you have your suit, shoes, tanning, hair, and makeup all figured out. But you’ve overlooked the importance of a presentation coach. The day of the show, all the hard sweat equity is done, and now it’s time to hit the stage with confidence and steal the attention from all the other competitors in your class. You’ve worked so hard for this moment, sacrificing food, drinking, treats, and social engagements just to attain your goal of competing. You know that if you don’t put in all the required elements, one of your competitors will, so you make sure to never skip a workout or cheat on your diet. So why leave out such an important part of your prep?

If you’ve ever been to a physique competition, you’ve seen it happen before: The winner doesn’t always have the best physique but has this je ne sais quoi about him or her. That winner had a special way of attracting the judges’ eyes, not just because he or she had a amazing physique—that’s a given—but what truly sets the winner apart from the rest in the judges’ eyes is stage presence. It’s the way he or she commands the stage, his or her confidence and poise. Now for some, and really only a very few, this comes naturally, but for the rest, it’s a daily ritual before a show to practice, practice, practice.

I was watching America’s Next Top Model. Now, don’t laugh or judge; there’s a lot of take-home from this show if you look past the reality TV aspect of the show and look at the advice given by the judges, mentors, and Tyra herself. There’s a crossover from the fashion industry to the fitness industry. The judges/mentors are constantly talking about knowing your angles, lighting, and body positioning and stressing the importance of posing in front of the mirror and practicing regularly. You’d better believe that many superstar models and actors did just that when learning their trade: practice. The best dancers out there make it a part of their job to practice over and over. So why wouldn’t you do the same? As a fitness model/competitor, you must know what accentuates your physique and what does not. You need to know how to move your body to showcase your hard work and draw attention away from your flaws or weaker points.

For many, the art of stagecraft will take years to develop, and trust me, it won’t be from just thinking about how you’ll present yourself onstage or at a photo shoot. It will be from using a multitude of biofeedback tools, from mirrors and videos to a coach specific to body movement and stagecraft/presentation. The best actors, models, dancers, and performers have all had many coaches help them develop into the professionals they are today. You need to be comfortable and confident in your skin, in your movements, in heels, onstage or in front of a camera. You will never truly transform yourself until you find the sweet spot in your stagecraft.

How do you know if you’ve found a good stage coach? A great coach should be able to help you connect to your body and teach you to work the dimensions of the stage as well as teach you how to present your body to showcase your best angles. He or she can do this by helping you understand what looks great on your body and what does not, and not just as his or her personal preference but because he or she understands what needs to be achieved. A good stage coach helps you learn the basics and essentials of stagecraft. It’s truly an art to be able to attract the judges and audience’s attention away from the rest up there with you.

Do yourself a favour when you decide to strut your stuff onstage as a rookie or a vet: Budget for a stage coach. It will make a world of a difference to your presentation and placement. I hope this helps you find your sweet spot for your next competition.

Amanda Kotel
B.Sc Exercise Science, Personal Trainer
CBBF/IFBB Bikini Competitor, Dance Teacher and Online Coach

For more on Amanda visit her web page at: http://www.amandakotel.com