Loosening up on Stage

[Obsessor Of 41]

I've been gigging around St. Louis for a few years now, so I've got some experience with performing live for people, but I've still got one persistent problem. Unless I drink before and during the performance, I tense up on the first few numbers. This summer my band has some serious stuff lined up and I want to really be able to kick ass on stage, leaving nothin' behind so to speak. What are some personal tricks you guys have to help remedy this problem? As I said, I only have one, and that is boozing, but I'd like a few alternatives because that is not always going to work (Or maybe it will, oh well).

[nick41]

I would say to relax and play like there are a thousand people there even if there are only 25. If you need to get drunk, do it if it doesn't affect your playing. I guess it's bad to get drunk but fuck it... :monkey

[Rob]

I'd highly advise against drinking, especially where it's summer, you'll be sweating, the lights are hot, and you don't want to get dehydrated.

Natural relaxation comes from control of your own emotions. Meditation can help alot (plus it's free and will help you out in many aspects of your life). If that's not a solution for you, just try to train yourself to relax- what do you really have to fear? Nighttime gigs are nice, especially when you're spotlit, as you can't see off the stage, anyway!

[1eyed_jack]

id stick with the drinking and then bring some water in case you get dehydrated

[winterscold]

you must use the force

[RippingChillies]

I like to put an easier song first on the setlist. I pick out one I could play in my sleep that I know I can perform well every time. After one or two songs, I'm usually fine for the rest of the night...

[Dr. Strangelove]

OK, I do a lot of theatre work, and I'll let you in on my little secret. Before I go onstage for a big scene (well, if it's a drama)...get ready...I pretend I'm Al Pacino. Seriously. Why? I have no clue. But it really works. If I'm alone in the wing waiting to go on, I even do the whole "focusing" part from the Godfather when he's in the bathroom before he shoots the cop and other guy. I focus, push my hair back, and get to business. Sounds lame, but it's just a little trick/tradition thing that gets my game face on.

Then again, I've never really suffered horrible stage fright (well, in the sense you're talking about it). I've been scared that other unprepared people in a scene may blow it and I'll have to pull a quick cover out, but there's nothing you can really do about that. Now THAT is a feeling of total helplessness. Knowing you're totally prepared, cruising right along, then some other person skips two pages of dialogue. I once had an actress skip the two most important pages of dialogue in the WHOLE FREAKING SHOW! So I pull out save #1. She gets the deer in the headlights look. I go for save #2. I think she may have blinked that time, but it was her only response. Finally I just said all the stuff that had to be said kind of talking to myself as she just stood there, but it aparently went over well, as one of the techies didn't even know we missed something.

Anyway, sorry to go off on my own thing there. Also, and this sounds really cliche, but it's true...have fun. Go out there and just smile a few times. It really eases the pressure. Everyone there wants you to do well just as much as you do, so just go out and do it and have fun for the duration.

Hope this helps a bit. Sorry I rambled on. I haven't slept in 26 hours.

[Rizza]

The answer to your question is that you need to STOP FEARING DEATH! Everyone dies and there is nothing you can do about how its gonna happen or when death comes to you. Now that youve conquered your fear of death, are you really nervous at all about getting on a stage and performing in front of a bunch of people? I mean, if you dont fear death, how can you possibly fear a crowd. It seems a little trivial when put into perspective. Whats the worst that could happen, you get your leg tangled up in your mic wire and fall face first off the stage and die. STILL NO PROBLEM because your not afraid of death any longer. Leave only footprints and love your mother. Hope I helped.

-Rizza

[Dr. Strangelove]

The answer to your question is that you need to STOP FEARING DEATH! Everyone dies and there is nothing you can do about how its gonna happen or when death comes to you. Now that youve conquered your fear of death, are you really nervous at all about getting on a stage and performing in front of a bunch of people? I mean, if you dont fear death, how can you possibly fear a crowd. It seems a little trivial when put into perspective. Whats the worst that could happen, you get your leg tangled up in your mic wire and fall face first off the stage and die. STILL NO PROBLEM because your not afraid of death any longer. Leave only footprints and love your mother. Hope I helped.

-Rizza

I think it's a Jerry Seinfeld joke that goes something like this:

"So, the #1 thing people are affraid of is public speaking. Second is death. So that means if you were at a funeral, you'd rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy."
:lol

[marlin1805]

I'd highly advise against drinking, especially where it's summer, you'll be sweating, the lights are hot, and you don't want to get dehydrated.

Natural relaxation comes from control of your own emotions. Meditation can help alot (plus it's free and will help you out in many aspects of your life).

:thumbsup :thumbsup

[Obsessor Of 41]

I'd highly advise against drinking, especially where it's summer, you'll be sweating, the lights are hot, and you don't want to get dehydrated.

Natural relaxation comes from control of your own emotions. Meditation can help alot (plus it's free and will help you out in many aspects of your life). If that's not a solution for you, just try to train yourself to relax- what do you really have to fear? Nighttime gigs are nice, especially when you're spotlit, as you can't see off the stage, anyway!

Oh yeah, I know how when the beer flows, so does the sweat. I tend to like it though, I just keep a towel on my rig and wipe my hands off in between songs. By no means do I get drunk, I'll just drink a few at a moderate/slow pace before showtime. I don't know, I was just looking for something a little more natural then alcohol. It sure as hell doesn't effect my playing as long as I don't pound beers.

[stevo]

sometimes it helps to open your set with an instrumental jam. this gives you the opportunity to work out any nerves and get a good look at the crowd before you break into any structured numbers.

[unccrombie]

welcome to storytellers, can't say it enough

i tell a story or make some random comments to break the ice in between songs, i enjoy it. gets me settled

[Rob]

Good advice. Just be honest- don't try to make people laugh, as you aren't really trying to be a stand-up comedian. The funny stuff comes naturally.

Just don't say you feel like you've been abducted by aliens. I said that at one of my first nighttime gigs where there was weird lighting. I swear to god I could hear the crickets.

[unccrombie]

:lol i normally tell a story about a rehersal we had were something went wrong. i made the mistake one time of trying to be funny (the first show i did) and no one else found it funny and all it did was make me more nervous so i vowed never to do that again

[darbini]

just pretend everyone is in their underwear

[unccrombie]

just pretend everyone is in their underwear
thatd be a bad idea if...well...i dont even want to think about bars

[Obsessor Of 41]

Good advice. Just be honest- don't try to make people laugh, as you aren't really trying to be a stand-up comedian. The funny stuff comes naturally.

Just don't say you feel like you've been abducted by aliens. I said that at one of my first nighttime gigs where there was weird lighting. I swear to god I could hear the crickets.

:lol Fun to talk about now though...Good stuff.

[werkinsnake]

Good advice. Just be honest- don't try to make people laugh, as you aren't really trying to be a stand-up comedian. The funny stuff comes naturally.

Just don't say you feel like you've been abducted by aliens. I said that at one of my first nighttime gigs where there was weird lighting. I swear to god I could hear the crickets.

AMEN!!!!!!! Recently I was in a band with a singer that DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT POINT!!! Had to get rid of him, but the rest of the band still works together. As far as nervousness for shows go...I find that I'm not nervous as long as I'm playin music that I like with people I get along with. Bottom line BE IN A BAND THAT YOU LIKE!!!

[twojump]

I've been gigging around St. Louis for a few years now, so I've got some experience with performing live for people, but I've still got one persistent problem. Unless I drink before and during the performance, I tense up on the first few numbers. This summer my band has some serious stuff lined up and I want to really be able to kick ass on stage, leaving nothin' behind so to speak. What are some personal tricks you guys have to help remedy this problem? As I said, I only have one, and that is boozing, but I'd like a few alternatives because that is not always going to work (Or maybe it will, oh well).
I was just wondering how easy it is to get gigs in st.louie. i currently live in ohio in amish country so we gotta find gigs like an hour away i want to move to st.louis and try it out. my dad lives in webster groves thats why i picked st.louis plus its an awsome town. we just need a better music scene and more exposure.

[AnUprightMan]

I find that I get nervious before gigs/speeches/plays(back when i was in HS). I always get the classic "butterflys in the stomach" going. I try to treat that as a good thing. Sort of like owning your andrenaline instead of letting it own you. when i get that buzz it just gets me more physced up.

[Sax#41]

idk how it is for singers and all but i know for me (sax) once i started feeling the music and just start improving and letting it go i lose all nervousness