singemonkey
Don't get so nervous you drink too much. Then you will sound crap. It's critical to understand that people do not notice the screw ups. Even quite big ones. Even other guitar players.
Do not show people that you've screwed up. That's when they'll notice. When you make a face, it draws attention to the mistake and ruins the audiences enjoyment.
You will screw up. Just make sure that you can pull everything off smoothly in practise. It's going to be a lot tougher live, so anything you can't nail every time in practise, you *will* mess up live. Try substituting something simpler if you can't get it down in time.
Beta-blockers are a lot better than booze. They can take off a little off your edge - which is probably ok if you have way too much edge and can't play guitar anymore (my hands tend to shake when I'm amped up, not good for guitar playing). Obviously you must talk to your doctor first, but they're not dangerous - they simply block adrenaline. So you don't feel doped up, just not so nervous.
Try to enjoy yourself. Be a guitar hero - don't stand motionless, staring at your pickups. The audience cares way more for entertainment than they care whether you hit a bum note (or even a bum riff or a bum chord) or not. You can make mistakes. The more you're enjoying yourself on stage, the more the audience (musicians or not) will enjoy it too.
Oh. Bring a spare guitar. It's a lot less hectic changing guitars than changing strings when you're under pressure. Also an extra good lead.
kayDUB
Byron wrote
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?
I find its best to just throw up and get it over with... ?
Renesongs
I once threw up on stage new year 1979/80 (not nerves, drugs or alcohol, food poisoning) I was in a Punk band so the audience though it was part of the show and applauded wildly. I gave up playing live for more than 10 years after that.
Byron
Eishhhhhhhhh my stomach gets all tight and sick like when i'm nervous. Thanks for the awesome advice though .
Riaan
But I would highly recommend seeing a doctor if you are going the medication route.
Yes, don't self-medicate with beta blockers unless you know what you're doing. It can't be used in people with asthma and heart failure, may be bad in diabetics and generally cannot be used with certain other blood pressure medications. Also a bad idea with certain heart conditions, even though it's sometimes used to treat heart disease. It depends on what's wrong with the heart.
It's relatively safer in young healthy persons provided they don't have asthma (or even a tendency to bronchospasm) or heart disease, but the older guys who are on medication and who may have other problems should get a doc's approval first.
AlanRatcliffe
Yes, don't self-medicate
A musician self-medicating? ? Unheard of! ?
Renesongs
+1 Riaan Besides as AFAIK some of the older Beta Blockers are habit forming I have heard that many of the Top performers from UCT college of music were Inderol junkies. I have also seen the effects of some one who had become addicted to Blockadren and was forced to go cold turkey, after 2 days he was admitted to hospital strapped to a gurney after many cc of Valium had been administered intravenously. (No it was not me. I have done some dom things in my life but self medication is not to be trifled with - know what you are doing and the consequences you may suffer)
MIKA-the-better-one
maybe consider some cocaine?
MIKA-the-better-one
? ? ?
Riaan
maybe consider some cocaine?
Well that's a must know song for any guitarist isn't it? ? Gotta be able to play some JJ Cale... ?
Keira-WitherKay
yeah what rene said is perfect .....
especially about doing a gig before the 'main event" rather have a test run...........
or even if you never performed before ...grab your acoustic and come to TJ's open mic on thurs if you jhb and even if you knock out a version of a dylon or nirvana song or whatever in front of an audience it'll help or at least allow you to see what your response will be..........
and no worries pretty soon you will be fine.... nerves only ever effects a very small number of muso's in long term... most of us love performing and sure you will too....
singemonkey
There's some great advice on this thread. Just remembered another thing. Even if I was nervous as hell, if I came back for a second set, I was fine. Somehow getting down off the stage and then getting back up again did the lot. Unfortunately you can't always put all the tricky stuff in the second set ☹
And it's all a question of how used to it you are. Take a break from gigging and all the nervousness comes back. Before I do another show with a full band, I'm going to do a few open-mike things as Keira suggests - perfect way to get over the nerves in a non-critical situation.
tonerider
1) Be 100% sure that your gear is working properly.
2) Make sure you have new strings fitted to your guitar. Install the previous day and work them hard to break them in. There's nothing worse than getting constantly out of tune on stage - it upsets everything & everyone!
3) Check batteries, leads, jack plugs, plectrums, spares, guitar strap, guitar tuner. Be confident with your setup BEFORE you go onstage!
4) If you're going to sing take the lyrics with you on stage. Print the lyrics in large letters so as to be visible from the floor. Music stands look amateur and best left to brass and classical players.
5) Take extra plectrums and position them for quick access!
6) Have a pre-gig meeting of band members only, discuss last minute issues, do a toast to the gig, wish everyone well, invoke positive karma etc.
Having said all that - something WILL go wrong! Stay calm, think fast and try to make it look like it's part of the performance - NEVER show that you're rattled, keep a deadpan face & don't smile sheepishly. Folks will quickly look at other interesting aspects of your show. (if they notice at all!)
Been there, done that - I actually rushed to a gig once only to realize, when I got there just in time for sound check, that I had left my guitar back home in the driveway 65km away!
Talk about panic!
guidothepimmp
develop an onstage persona... at first its weird, even if you do not intend to, the body language comes across as nervous and uptight and heavily concentrated ???
once you get through one or 2 shows you start to loosen up and realise, people arent really booing you so it cant be all bad?!
then you get to the stage where you think fug this, lemme just enjoy myself and rock out! then your energy comes across in your performance and you feel like a rock god! thats your other persona. In the beginning I was helluva nervous.
once i got comfortable on stage and more relaxed and started flinging my head around and all that, that became my alter ego, and i actually looked forward to get onstage and ROCK OUT \m/
[deleted]
I'd also say "know your audience". I played in an old age home for ages, yes yes snigger. I used to want to burst into tears every time I went, they stared at me with their cold and resentful eyes. I actualy wanted to quit when the administrator told me that they complained about EVERYTHING except me, so it would be a shame if I left. One day the truth came out, one of the ladies told me "I never thought I'd sit singing in an old age home" and I had to relpy "well neither did I". We got along a lot better after that.
vic
Byron, you MUST be terribly confused by now hey...? I tell you what....just get on that stage and PLAY ! If the crowd likes you, GREAT...if they don't, well then it may be 'cause of the songs you play. Not because of your mistakes...Make sure that you know your customers....surely you won't be doing ABBA at metal venues..? And remember, any musos present will rather support you knowing that it is your first live gig ? Forget the pills man. Go and do your job and enjoy yourself ! There is unfortunately no easy way out...there are no magic formulae or potions...It is tough to play live - especially the 1st time. But many of us did it and we survived to repeat it.
AND there are quite a few Durban forum members who will be there to support you. OK. (c'mon Pete, Donovan....)...please let us know how it went. We'll be looking forward to that.
singemonkey
vic wrote
Byron, you MUST be terribly confused by now hey...? I tell you what....just get on that stage and PLAY ! If the crowd likes you, GREAT...if they don't, well then it may be 'cause of the songs you play. Not because of your mistakes...Make sure that you know your customers....surely you won't be doing ABBA at metal venues..? And remember, any musos present will rather support you knowing that it is your first live gig ? Forget the pills man. Go and do your job and enjoy yourself ! There is unfortunately no easy way out...there are no magic formulae or potions...It is tough to play live - especially the 1st time. But many of us did it and we survived to repeat it.
AND there are quite a few Durban forum members who will be there to support you. OK. (c'mon Pete, Donovan....)...please let us know how it went. We'll be looking forward to that.
What he said ?
Rob-dos
when you get one and get into it, you wont want to get off.. theres no doubt about that ?
Manfred-Klose
i recently did sound for a very good band, on this specific night they had a DVD launch, all of the members wanted eveything to be perfect, to the finest detail, everything went well, until about 4 songs into the set, the drummer went of the stage, had a anxiety attack and his throat closed up not giving any air supply.
anyway, the frontman was pissed of, completed the set without the drummer.
he was kicked out of the band after the gig.
..........he is a pro drummer by the way, with lots of big gigs in his name.
So from a early stage is good to learn how to control your nervousness.
Renesongs
Ouch that really sucks. I am willing to bet that there was internal friction in the band and the drummer had been picked on one too many times. Some people can vent their anger and tell the man with mouth to...... (fill in the blanks) Others are turn their anger inwards and self destruct with anxiety. I have made a solemn vow not to play in bands that believe in "honest" (read destructive) criticism of each others playing it's a game for wankers [/rant]
