Acoustic guitar master Tommy Emmanuel was asked by Guitarist Magazine to single out his "best tip for getting the audience on your side," to which he replied: "Some people get nervous and they fumble around, they worry, they're self-conscious, blah-blah-blah. In that situation, just come out and say, 'Hello, I'm nervous as hell but I'm going to do the best I can,' and you've got them. "If you're not nervous and you're ready to go, don't waste any time - get out there and start playing. It's really a matter of getting the audience's attention - don't walk out on stage and then start tuning as if everybody has to stop and wait for you. Too many players do that and it's bad - you've got to be perfectly in tune, know what you're going to start with, walk out there, plug in and go, 'Here I am... Bang!'"
Acoustic guitar master Tommy Emmanuel was asked by Guitarist Magazine to single out his "best tip for getting the audience on your side," to which he replied:
"Some people get nervous and they fumble around, they worry, they're self-conscious, blah-blah-blah. In that situation, just come out and say, 'Hello, I'm nervous as hell but I'm going to do the best I can,' and you've got them.
"If you're not nervous and you're ready to go, don't waste any time - get out there and start playing. It's really a matter of getting the audience's attention - don't walk out on stage and then start tuning as if everybody has to stop and wait for you. Too many players do that and it's bad - you've got to be perfectly in tune, know what you're going to start with, walk out there, plug in and go, 'Here I am... Bang!'"
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/tommy_emmanuel_my_no_1_tip_for_getting_the_audience_on_your_side.html
Ha! So basically admit that you might bomb and undercut any expectations
Like my old colleague used to say: always give 50% at your job, so that when you give 75%, your boss thinks you're excellent
