Just try to have fun, smile, laugh, it will help 
i agree with logi
Hug a monkey.
Youāll be happy. 
One thing people are leaving out:
Itās one thing to just perform in front of people, be it 10 people or 100,000 screaming maniacs. Thatās easy.
Itās another thing when the people you are ideally performing for are the group of judges at the table in front of you. Their job is to stare and pick apart every single little microscopic thing you do and PUNISH you for anything not āperfectā or āflawlessā. To be analyzed in such a critical scenario is where the nervousness is justified. That isnāt easy.
If you can ignore the judging factor, then it becomes easier. Still, some people choke when they are under the spotlight. The thing is to get into your own little bubble where you can focus on what the task at hand is. Once you can get there, then youāre fine. Shut out ALL distractions.
I personally donāt care for the spotlight, but I can handle it. Not with yoyo but thatās because I am not into performing for audiences really. With other stuff, mostly pertaining to concerts, no issues.
PRETEND THE CROUD IS NOT THEIR.Or pretend your just practiceing.
I always smile like a fool man!
Especially on stage!
Fools are cools.
vomit
calm down were not going to kill the batman
As someone who still REGULARLY (i.e. EVERY DANG TIME I COMPETE) deals with brain shattering nervousnessā¦ here are a few things Iāve found helpful over the years:
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Practice. Know your routine in and out. If you know your tricks back and forth, and what comes nextā¦ you wonāt sweat it (as badly) when a screw-up happens.
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Deep breaths. Specificallyā¦ About a minute before you go on stage, push your index and middle finger into the artery in your neck (not too hard) and take your pulseā¦ in through the noseā¦ out through the mouth. I got this tip from Boyd right before the first contest I ever wonā¦ itās helped me out ever since!
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Eliminate variables. Wash your hands about 3-4 minutes before you go on if your palms get sweaty (like mine do). If youāre competing outside, use a dry aerosol deoderant (Arrid XX works great!) and spray your hands to combat humidity. Set up your back up yoyos with fresh strings and make sure theyāre all knot-free.
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Donāt just pick a song that you likeā¦ pick a song that youāre REALLY comfortable with. Personallyā¦ every time Iāve won a contest or come really closeā¦ Iāve used music from mewithoutYou. I wouldnāt say that theyāre a ālucky charmā or anything like thatā¦ but thereās something to be said for being comfortable in your own skin when youāre on stage and not worrying about whether your song is going to appeal to the crowd. (within reasonā¦ I really like some metal bandsā¦ but I donāt think Iād ever use them on stage haha)
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Have fun. Remember that people donāt form their opinion of you as a person based on whether or not your freestyle was āgoodā. People like you for who you are.
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If youāre really competing seriouslyā¦ try not to take the other competitors freestyles too seriously. It becomes way too easy to psych yourself out and go, "oh manā¦ thereās no way Iām as good as player-Xā¦ " when I pay too close of attentionā¦ I get even MORE nervous. Just watch the freestyles to enjoy themā¦ then tip #5 is a LOT easier.
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