Performance anxiety

Byron

Hi there

So I'm probably going to be playing my first gig within a few months from now. Im scared to death though, A few months ago i would have never considered joining a band to play live EVER! I didnt think I had it in me to do that kind of thing, but here I am within a few months of doing it.

I would like your advice on things you do to help with stage anxiety that you may have experienced. What kind of techniques have you perhaps used?

Also I am interested to know how you go about dealing with on stage mistakes. Lets i say i completely mash up a riff or something. What would the best thing to do be?

Thaaaaaaaaanks

Fretting fretter out

zw44

The best advice i can give is just to be very well prepared.

I have never had anxiety if i felt 100% confident in what i was playing.

JUst go out there and give it your best shot. Even the pros stuff up sometime, and half the time the crowd wnt even notice a slip up.

guitarboy2828

Bro, just practice, practice, practice.. On the night, just jam.. You'll make a thousand mistakes, no one will notice, and it'll be such a kiff jam..

I have made HUGE mess up in solo's, and you just carry on along.. No one really notices.. ?

MIKA-the-better-one

how much are you practicing? You will mess up but just keep playing, dont stress, the more relaxed you are the less mistakes that happen. We have a drummer who has never played live in all his 10 years of drumming. You can tell he has alot to learn but he really wants to do it so he is putting ALOT of work in. Plus we are finding the hottest girls and bringing them to watch him practice with the intstruction to only watch him and make him feel awkward.

MikeM

Yea... If you act like it's intentional, no one will know better.

The anxiety for me is part of the fun ?

Go listen to some other guys play. You'll soon realise that as long as you keep time, things will be almost fine

Byron

So in general if you make a mistake do you reckon it will go unnoticed? Because in Durban here, we would probably end up playing at the rock/metal venues where from my experience, just about every person is playing a damn instrument (its kind of weird sometimes).

Up until now we were doing a once a week 3 hour session. Now that its holidays there's a bit more time to practice ( we dont have a permanent practice spot atm). We will probably do twice a week in the holidays now for about 2-3 hours each time.

What do you guys think about getting your material down into guitar pro? Trying to match it exactly to the way we play it is hard sometimes but I think its a really cool practice tool.

And MikeM, I do go to gigs often . the problem is the sound as per usual lol ? . Cant always follow whats going on with guitars as it can sound really mushy at times. I do need to start going to more though

MIKA-the-better-one

watch some dvds, be excited more than anything, you gotta want to do it more than be scared of it. Practcice is essential, if you can get a solid space and set times. My band and i are practicing monday tuesday wednesday saturday. 6 hours a practcice usually, however thas very excesive. Try get longer practices for at least 4 to 5 hours.

Bob-Dubery

Reduce the number of things you have to worry about. Make sure you have everything you need with you on stage and that you know where it is. Make sure your guitar is in tune, ahead of the show and in the environment in which you will be playing. Don't do things like tuning your guitar outside in the cold and then going to play in a warm room. Don't WONDER if your pedals have good batteries in them, verify that they do and tick this off on your little mental check list. Take care of what you can.

Attila

take a beta blockers 1/2 to 1 hour before your first set... try one a few days before your gig, just to see the effects.

You will notice that you will be able to focus and zone in on you task at hand be it gigging or public speaking

Beta blockers block the receptors for the physical effects of a person's natural fight or flight response. non adictive and I think they are classed as OTC medication.

AlanRatcliffe

Attila wrote: take a beta blockers 1/2 to 1 hour before your first set... try one before a few days befor your gig, just to see the effects.

I'm on them anyway ? and they are amazing for performance anxiety while keeping you mentally sharp. There are versions of beta blockers specifically for performance anxiety (I think they also have some kind of calmative) they are commonly used in sports, so they don't affect your physical performance the way a sedative would. But I would highly recommend seeing a doctor if you are going the medication route.

Wizard

Attila wrote: take a beta blockers 1/2 to 1 hour before your first set... try one before a few days befor your gig, just to see the effects.

Beta blockers stop the heart from racing.
For me they have a weird side effect - they make my ears very hot ... ?
But they certainly do stop the nerves!

I use another technique.
Works very effectively before stressful presentations at work.
I climb a lot of stairs ... (say 12-15 flights) ... then drink a fair amount of water.
This raises the heartbeat, gets the circulation going and clears the head and mind.
You then wait 10 minutes ... and the heart recovers to its normal level, but is then beating in a calm, steady and strong way ... and doesn't "flutter" in a nervous way.

This is also based on the "fight or flight" thinking.
The exercise convinces your body that it has fought the fight (or run away)

AlanRatcliffe

Wizard wrote: For me they have a weird side effect - they make my ears very hot ... ?

I went through hot flashes until I got used to them. Now I get for hot flashes if I go for two days without.

I climb a lot of stairs ... (say 12-15 flights) ... then drink a fair amount of water.

Drink large amounts of water then go perform in front of a large number of people? Wouldn't work for me. I have to go 30 seconds before a performance then about 30 seconds into it again ?

Heath

A little dutch courage never hurt , imagine the chicks naked ..... In all honesty i am always nervous until the first chord goes down after that i am fine .

Manfred-Klose

Also I am interested to know how you go about dealing with on stage mistakes.

almost everything will go wrong on stage.
Take a backup guitar and spare leads.
before you drive of to the gig double check that everything is working the way it should.
Tame that drummer(dont let him play too fast)
get some sort of communcation on stage between the members, without interrupting the show.
give each member a set list.
and try and enjoy it, yeah ofcourse people are going to be staring at you, but that what a live show is?
you'll get use to it after awhile.

MIKA-the-better-one

you know what man, just do it, dont take pills, just go do it, its like getting that initial courage to go up to a girl, once its done all is good and you are pretty stoked

Renesongs

First of all thanks Alan and Wizard on the heads up on Beta Blockers. My doctors has been changing my blood pressure medication lately and one brand was giving me hot flushes I though that I was going through a female menopause.

@ Byron - I love performing on stage it is such a rush when you have finished your set and you step into the crowd and everybody wants to shake your hand and talk to you like you are the new Messiah. Some people do that even if you played up to sh*t. I become very agitated short tempered and nervous before I am about to play a major venue. Everybody does so you are not alone. I know of some professional actors and dancers who actually throw up before they perform. Different people handle the pre-performance anxiety differently some get stoned some get drunk some take beta blockers. I won't walk on a stage (or an airplane) without having consumed a beer or two but not much more than that because anything that dulls your anxiety will dull you performance. I have heard recording of myself sober and slightly "calmed" and there is no doubt in my mind that I play much better sober.

There are some things that you can do to prepare yourself before a major gig.
1. Play another gig in public for free like a dress rehearsal If that's not possible invite as many people as you can to watch your last rehearsal
2. Do not rehearse on the same day as you going to play, you will tire yourself out emotionally and physically before you have even reached the stage. I personally don't even take my guitar out of it's case the same day unless I'm on stage.
3.Decide to go for the easier beginnings and endings to your songs. Anything that you getting wrong in rehearsal will go wrong on stage.
4. Do not give or take criticism from other band members, remember you chose the band and they chose you for the abilities you had at the auditions.
5. Time your set(s) and have at least 3 numbers in reserve most people play little faster on stage (adrenalin.)
6. If you want to change strings change them 3 days before the gig (strings need to settle).
7. Spend all that nervous energy the day before on checking your equipment, Check amps Leads pedals batteries etc. Where possible have backups. I take a spare guitar on stage at important gigs.
8. When you are on stage try and look like you having a good time. If you look like you having a good time so will the audience. When you and the other band members make mistakes do not let it show, do not wince keep your happy face on. If you guys make a major stuff up and have to stop and restart turn it into a joke but not at anybodies expense. Don't say " when the drummer/ bassist/ is ready, rather say well that was our Polka/waltz version now we will do the rock version.

Attila

MIKA the better one wrote: you know what man, just do it, dont take pills, just go do it, its like getting that initial courage to go up to a girl, once its done all is good and you are pretty stoked

yep.. and she is totally HOT and way out of your league and then it comes to the big moment and Performance anxiety sets in ....... ?

Hey just kidding I know you guys from the Vale are "breekers" - jy kan maar steek .... net nie dood steek nie .... tee hee

PeteM

A very, very good post Rene.
Some sound advice, not just for Byron or other first-time performers, but for all of us who get up on stage.

Bob-Dubery

Yep. +1 Rene. Or is that +2 now?

Bob-Dubery

Renesongs wrote: I won't walk on a stage (or an airplane) without having consumed a beer or two but not much more than that because anything that dulls your anxiety will dull you performance. I have heard recording of myself sober and slightly "calmed" and there is no doubt in my mind that I play much better sober.

There's another aspect to pre-show drinking, namely that some things that you may drink (or eat) are not that good for your voice. Avoid dairy - no milk shakes, no cheese sarmies. Fizzie drinks may not be that smart an idea. I like a beer (A beer) but sometimes the cold can also chill my voice a bit too much. What works best for me as a pre-show drink (certainly in terms of voice care) is rooibos tea taken black.

Taking care of these kinds of details can reduce your anxiety by allowing you to concentrate on your performance and giving that part of your mind that likes to interfere less to work with. You don't want to get up there and start wondering "was that third glass of milk one too many?". Similarly know where your plectrums are, and capos if you use them.

I know some members of this list have little rituals they go through before they play -plectrums HERE an in a row like THIS etc etc, but it's not just superstition, it's arranging your work area so that you can find things when you need them and don't have to worry about finding things when you need them.