Stage fright

Conrad · 2010-08-05T09:08:47+00:00

We have a gig on Sat that is quite important to us. Our repertoire had to be extended to fill the set and I had to work so much overtime this week that we couldn't practice. Now there is a lot of pressure. How on earth to stay calm on stage... I dunno. I can't seem to shake stage fright. Even at the last Tjs open mic, I was very nervuos and noticeably so on the video recording.

Conrad

Warren wrote
Conrad wrote I feel quite exposed about the boiling point comment.

Maybe I should be a little less overt in my posts LOL I might even get moderated.
nonononono!

Not my intention at all, sorry. ?

Just pointing out the apparent build-up and how I think it might be affecting your mind for Saturday. Don't think there's anything wrong with your posts at all.

In short: I know that, for me, when I'm feeling a bit shaky, I take the Nike approach:

F@#$ it. Just Do It.

Oh ok cool phew ?

Anyway, I just went on lunch and demoed an acoustic amp that i fell in love with so I do feel better.

@Warren: I do agree with you. Your approach is objective and accurate and I appreciate it. Of course I suck a littl at implementing it but maybe by successive approximation, I'll get there.

@Viccy: Thanks for your comments. Would you mind sharing what exactly your recording setup was in the legendry Juanita recordings? ?

[deleted]

Would you mind sharing what exactly your recording setup was in the legendry Juanita recordings?

Not a problem.

Soundcard: Edirol UA 4FX. It comes with a manual that shows you the way the little knobs (four at the top) must be turned for an acoustic guitar recording. Obviously I have to set the "Input" according to how loud I'll be playing and I try keep an eye on my playing so that I don't go into the red or play too softly.

Mic: Studio Electronics 1A condenser mic

Software: Cakewalk Sonar LE. I just press "rec", I couldn't be bothered with anything else there at the moment. The bug will bite once I've absorbed a bit more technical info.

I put the mic quite close to the guitar, a bit to the right hand side of the sound hole, but it's really up to you what you like. I don't think it makes too much difference really.

And then I play. Preferably at midnight, when all is quite. As Bob said, "silence is golden".

Conrad

Viccy wrote
Would you mind sharing what exactly your recording setup was in the legendry Juanita recordings?
Not a problem.

Soundcard: Edirol UA 4FX. It comes with a manual that shows you the way the little knobs (four at the top) must be turned for an acoustic guitar recording. Obviously I have to set the "Input" according to how loud I'll be playing and I try keep an eye on my playing so that I don't go into the red or play too softly.

Mic: Studio Electronics 1A condenser mic

Software: Cakewalk Sonar LE. I just press "rec", I couldn't be bothered with anything else there at the moment. The bug will bite once I've absorbed a bit more technical info.

I put the mic quite close to the guitar, a bit to the right hand side of the sound hole, but it's really up to you what you like. I don't think it makes too much difference really.

And then I play. Preferably at midnight, when all is quite. As Bob said, "silence is golden".

OK. Thanks. Coz you got a great sound on that recording.

Jack-Flash-Jr

2 Cents jedi mind trick: remember the feeling of pure enjoyment when a non-pressure practice or gig goes perfectly (even a moment will do) and you just want to grin from ear to ear... then "anticipate" that state of mind before you go onstage. Helps put you in the happy place ?
Plus feel free to share, we're all friends on here and we've all had the same stresses at one time or another... It's very new manly of you to put it out there for advice ?

[deleted]

Coz you got a great sound on that recording.

Thanks, I must say I think your recording is 100% fine. You probably have the software side down a lot better too, so most likely you're in a better position than me.

Sean

Jack Flash Jr wrote ...remember the feeling of pure enjoyment when a non-pressure practice or gig goes perfectly (even a moment will do) and you just want to grin from ear to ear... then "anticipate" that state of mind before you go onstage.

Yeah, I've tried that, and could NOT pull it off. I did a practical exam through Unisa a couple of years ago, and although by then I had regularly played in front of fairly big groups of people, sitting in a hall playing for a single examiner was just too much for me :-[ . I tried the mind over matter trick, but no go. Someone earlier said "Just do it" and I'd go with that, warts and all.

Conrad

Sean wrote
Jack Flash Jr wrote ...remember the feeling of pure enjoyment when a non-pressure practice or gig goes perfectly (even a moment will do) and you just want to grin from ear to ear... then "anticipate" that state of mind before you go onstage.
Yeah, I've tried that, and could NOT pull it off. I did a practical exam through Unisa a couple of years ago, and although by then I had regularly played in front of fairly big groups of people, sitting in a hall playing for a single examiner was just too much for me :-[ . I tried the mind over matter trick, but no go. Someone earlier said "Just do it" and I'd go with that, warts and all.

Who was your examiner?

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