Anyone get nervous playing live?

[dpresti]

My friend and i wanna start playing at coffee shops and other places like that. we are pretty good, so we think.. we've never played live yet, meaning out infront of people. he's been playing for about 7 years, me... only 8months.

i feel like i'm gonna get so nervous up there i cant even perform? is this a problem for anyone else? any suggestions on how to not be so nervous? thanks :eek:

[Versacci41]

Playing at parties and stuff when its you and a ton of friends just messing around is a good start...

[bigeyedharper]

nerves go away when you start playing...go for it!

[dpresti]

one of my friends said i should just chug a beer b4, loosen the nerves...

work for anyone else?

[Quizads]

Eat two bananas before you perform. That is what I used to do for solo contests in high school, but now I do it every time I have to play in front of a lot of people. The potasium calms the nerves. Yet, nerves can make music very intense as well.

[ChadRap127]

Start with webcasts, they really ease you through it, playing to ppl you cant see, yet you are playing for people...then when live, just act like no one is there for the first few songs :)

[dpresti]

Start with webcasts, they really ease you through it, playing to ppl you cant see, yet you are playing for people...then when live, just act like no one is there for the first few songs :)

excellent...

i have a digital camera with video capabilites, is there anyway i can hook it up for webcasts?

there is no audio also, but i have a mic, how could i hook all this up?

[dpresti]

valium?

sorry about spelling

[ChadRap127]

excellent...

i have a digital camera with video capabilites, is there anyway i can hook it up for webcasts?

there is no audio also, but i have a mic, how could i hook all this up?

Video wont work....but audio will...its kind of a PAIN


IM me


ChadTheRevelator

[saxman1083]

the smaller the audience...the more nervous i get. i once played in front of over a thousand people...and i wasnt nearly as nervous as i am when i play in a small room with 50 or less people

[MDFdmb50]

once you get through that first song you should be alright,
its always the first song thats the toughest after that its fun as shit

[Dancing Ants]

i get nervous before, but when you're there, you're just chillin'...that's me anyway.

[TheMadViolin]

Yeah, always start with an easy fun song. The first song is rough... and that is when the nerves typically hit me the most. After that I start getting into the music more and start worrying less about the people around me.

But I also have much more problems with smaller crowds than large audiences. I typically do not do very well in auditions with 2 or 3 people in the room. Very frustrating and I'm trying to work on it

[dobyblue]

I find a few beers helps. I can only have a few. I have discovered over the last year that I really cannot play very well when I get pissed. Singin's fine but playing goes down the crapper.
Otherwise I play and sing well, one or two beer max before the show. Not a bad idea to have a beer then keep one with you on stage between songs.
You should find after the first song your nerves go away - hit 'em with a killer opener.

[kyled85]

i've been lucky to play in front of anywhere from 50 to 2000 people in various areas in memphis. the best thing is to just be confident and have fun. nerves is a personal thing that ultimately you will have to get control of, but being confident is a start. they came to see you, give them a show!

[winglet82]

I think it was Bruce Springsteen that I once read a quote from. Basically what he said was that everyone gets nervous before they play, no matter who they are. He just doesn't think of it as being nervous, he thinks of it as being excited. That excitement leads to a positive playing experience, while being nervous tends to lead towards more negative playing experiences.

[rawlogicdrumz]

I've done drumline in front of about 35,000 people and I don't ever get nervous when I do that, but then again I also have 134 other people around me wearing the exact same clothes as me so I really don't stand out to anyone unless I fuck up. But to answer your question, yes I get a little nervous right before my band hits the stage at a gig, but after you get up and play those first couple notes, I'm golden.

[lezcuff]

Just go for it. Parties are good start. In any crowd, half of them just want to get laid... play something to help them along that road. Ignore any catcalls: those bastards most likely can't play a note (and they probably won't be getting laid, either).

Beware the drunk guy who wants to help you strum, wants to help you slide with his beer bottle, and thinks every tune you're playing is sympathy for the devil.

Just enjoy it. No nerves because you've already got the respect of most of the people there since:
a. you're up in front of a crowd and they're too shit baked to do that, and
b. you're able to play an instrument and most of them can't.

Hang in there. You've just got to please yourself (and get laid... which will be much easier after your set than it was before).

Lez

[dpresti]

thanks for all the advice guys..

i was thinking about playing at some open mics around the area, there is quite a few.

[TheMadViolin]

One of my coaches that I had in soccer of whom I have a great deal of respect said something that has kind of stuck with me.

"You should feel nervous right now because you know what you have to do. If you're not nervous than you aren't focused "

It kind of puts it in a more positive light

[drummin69]

two words........................Jack Daniels............works every time

[KevinTH5]

i never get nervous. if anything i just get really excited to play...but that's me, i've always been big on just having people's attention (haha). although when i moved from drums in a band to a solo guitar/looping act it became a bit more nerve racking. i would say whenever you get a chance to play in front of people, do it. maybe if you just have a few friends over, having a couple drinks, just pick up a guitar start strumming then just go for it. i found that helped.

[riverapa]

Yeah I would have to second that statement from drummin69.

Don't need no gang to watch my ass
Just loyal friendships and a pint of Bass!

[dpresti]

its really weird ...

but when no one is home, i'll be in the family room having a great time, jamming..singing(something i dont suck at! which is good) but then once anyone comes home.. i get like a damn turtle and stop singing and play with much less enthusiasm. i become very very shy, which is not my personality at all.

what do u guys think about that? do i just need to start building up some confedence?

[lezcuff]

its really weird ...

but when no one is home, i'll be in the family room having a great time, jamming..singing(something i dont suck at! which is good) but then once anyone comes home.. i get like a damn turtle and stop singing and play with much less enthusiasm. i become very very shy, which is not my personality at all.

what do u guys think about that? do i just need to start building up some confedence?

You are not alone. I've overcome that feeling now, but at first I was very selfconscious. I've been recording my jams and lots of solo bits for years now. Once I was reasonably happy with the performances, I started playing them for the immediate family to see if they liked it or if they suffered through it. Turns out, they liked it OK.

Now that I know that, things have changed. Surprise, surprise, it turned out that I was my own biggest critic. It took a while to get used to the sound of my voice singing and it was a bit hard to be in the room while other people listened to me strain. The advantage of the recording is that I didn't have to concentrate on the performance during the "unveiling"; I could put my best foot forward for judgement.

The recordings also give me a chance to hear what I sound like. It's helped me develop my voice and my playing because I was able to identify flubs and stumbles that I didn't notice during the live play.

Find out if the family approve. If they do, then they will be happy to hear you flip out in the family room. If not, screw-em because they're obviously jealous. In that case, you've got to turn it up and keep going louder and WORSE when they're home. Then when you start to play the "real" versions, they'll compliment you on your improvement.

Maybe you should try that.

If you care about what you're putting out, it's normal to be a bit reserved. Just plow thru it. And remember, it's much easier to be critical of someone's playing than it is to better it.

[dpresti]

thanks for the comments friend... this should help

[winglet82]

I read another quote that I think applies to this. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was asked, "What is the most important thing about driving a race car?" His response:

"Nerve or guts...I compare it to the feeling you get when you're riding a roller coaster for the first time. Let's say you're only 13. You're next in line and half of you is excited, the other is looking for a way out of it entirely. That's the way it feels every time I am about to climb in the car. That feeling never subsides."

I think that's a pretty accurate statement about me playing in front of people too.

[Metallinut]

Man this is good to hear how other people have nerves. I've been playing off and on for about 7 years, but never got into a band or played live or anything. I think I'd really like to, but I know I'm pretty self critical.

A friend of mine [played guitar about as long as me] has recently picked up a bass and we've been doing covers and stuff like that. Sounds pretty good IMHO. But we don't really know how to take the next step. I feel like if we post an ad, we wouldn't be good enough to make it worth another musician's while.

So how do you ACTUALLY get a band started?

[werkinsnake]

So how do you ACTUALLY get a band started?
I like to take a piece of paper and make a web of people who I know are musically talented. Putting it down on paper allows me to figure out who would fit my type of music/personallity the best. It's harder to forget someone with the web as well. I'll ask them if they want to start something. If that doesn't work...

Discussion Forums work great.

I met an awesome guitarist via a Chatroom once. (Chance meeting)

Classified ads in newspapers will work great too. (If you're not sure that you're good enough, keep practicing until you feel that you are. Remember that you're your own worst critic)

Keep your eyes open for musicians. Don't be afraid to confront a superior musician. If Dave hadn't confronted Carter and Roi...well, you know.

[justinandimcool]

Just this year (May 13, so bad I still remember) at the school talent show. Performed in front of the whole school (K-8). It was my first performance so I bombed. My voice was out of tune and cracked a lot. And I dropped my picks. Horrible. I forgot to mention...the song was Crash.

[youneverno41]

two words........................Jack Daniels............works every time
:thumbsup jack daniels is my boy. I use him everytime i jam it up