stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially (for example, when performing before a camera). performing in front of an unknown audience can cause significantly more anxiety than performing in front of familiar faces. in some cases, the person will suffer no such fright from this, while they might suffer from not knowing who they're performing to. in the context of public speaking, this may precede or accompany participation in any activity involving public self-presentation. in some cases stage fright may be a part of a larger pattern of social phobia (social anxiety disorder), but many people experience stage fright without any wider problems. quite often, stage fright arises in a mere anticipation of a performance, often a long time ahead. it has numerous manifestations: stuttering, tachycardia, tremor in the hands and legs, sweaty hands, facial nerve tics, dry mouth, and dizziness.