Any funny little tricks out there??

I am kind of curious. I have had some luck with my small performances and been recieved well. But the other day I was performing for a celebrity and although I pushed through I was blanking out a lot. Is it just a matter of practicing until I know it back and forth or should I be picturing everyone in their undies... What's the scoop guys?

I am plagued by the very idea of stagefright.... I have no idea of how to really get rid of it; I suppose it will disappear naturally after a certian number of gigs...
who were you performing for?

One of the violinplayers in my band usually does some pushups before every gig. He says it releaves him from tension, and is relaxing. I'm never nervous, just concentrated.

Man, that sounded cocky, but what I mean is that I almost never get really knee-shaking-nervous, I just get a very small tingeling in the stomach, or so, which just helps me to focus. If I DO get really nervous, I think about what I am going to play, and if there are any problems. If there's a problem, can i fix it? If not, can I just improvise and hope for the best? Perhaps I'll just keep a low profile?

Most of the time I think to myself - "bah, that'll work out on stage!" And most of the times, miraculously, it does!:)

I agree with hulo's violin player, I do mild exercise before playing and then do some stretching becuase it get's me warmed up and all calm before playing.

before i gig i remind myself of a johnny rotten quote "i'm not here for your entertainment, your here for mine!"


just remember your out there to have fun and your supposed to have a good time. I like to jump around and tell a joke or two inbetween songs, its alot of fun.


or an oldie but goodie....

"imagine them all in your underwear!"

Whoops, I mean Hujo's violin player:D

Originally posted by downward spiral
I am plagued by the very idea of stagefright.... I have no idea of how to really get rid of it; I suppose it will disappear naturally after a certian number of gigs...
who were you performing for?

I was playing a tune for Karen Black. It was a lot of fun and she spent a good deal of time talking to me about singing.

She said my voice reminded her of cowboy singing. (Not C&W, but old Cowboy folk) I thought that was really interesting so I am going to pickup some Roy Rogers CDs and listen to them. :)

I don't usually get too nervous until I am about to play the first note of the evening. That feeling goes away around the end of the first or second song and then I only have to worry about the other guys' screw ups. I have never played to a celebrity, but I am more nervous than usual when playing to someone that I know really well (girlfriend, parents, friends) and really want to impress. My advice to you would be to just not over-think things too much. :)

Another opinion: My guitarist and lead vocalist seem to think that the answer to stage fright is to get drunk or high before the start of each gig. This doesn't improve their performance by any stretch. It does however help them to not care about their performance, thus keeping them from being too nervous. :(

I actually never get the stuff. I'm just cool that way. By the way, the whole "imagine them in their underwear" thing is BS, I happen to know quite a few girls who have a penchant for naughty thongs and g-strings...who are HOT, making that useless....

Originally posted by jrthebassguy


"imagine them all in your underwear!"



Jr. How BIG are your underwear, anyway???


Chris A.:rolleyes:

I have an odd relationship with my stage fright.

For my first show with just me and two guitar players, i was extremely nervous.

For all of my jazz band "gigs" (which were mostly at nursing homes and dinner parties), I was hardly ever nervous, even when we played a "song" for an encore that I hadn't practiced for over a month during my first gig (i just played it cool and played random notes; while watching the video of said performance, I didn't notice my notes sticking out or anything...lucky coincidence!!).

When I played my biggest show (which only lasted one song!!-damn benefit events!!), it was just me, a guitar player and a pianist on a stage twice the size of my living room in front of over 500 people. And I wasn't nervous at all!! I guess it was from the guitar player saying," I wouldn't be nervous at all if I didn't have to sing..." then i realized that I had it made, and nailed the song perfectly!!

Then during the state jazz finals and the end of the year recital for my school, I got really nervous!! I reckon it was the whole high production value of it all combined with the feeling that the whole year led up to those performances.


So I guess if you try not to think of anything except playing the song, you will play great, unfazed by the crowd. And if all else fails, just stare at the fingerboard!!!! (but not if you are reading music. in fact, that could prove disastrous: unfortunately, i learned the hard way).

I usually don't get nervous anymore before a gig. I have gotten used to it now, I guess. Although I did get a little nervous last month when we played in front of about 5000 people. That is the biggest crowd I have ever been in front of. But the nervousness only lasted for about half of our first song, and after that it was smooth sailing.

One thing I don't do, however, is get drunk before a gig. A couple of Bud Lights to loosen up a little, but not enough to get drunk. I used to do that when I was younger, just to overcome stagefright. Trouble was that even though I thought I was really playing good, I sucked.

Only thing I can say is that it goes away in time.

I never get it. In fact just the opposite. I love showing off what I do best in front of people. Just knowing others get stagefright spurs me on even more.:p

I only get nervous when I am doing a cover of a song with a very complicated bass line or bass solo live for the first time - before the show, I end up practising like nuts and I get lots of anxiety. During the actual show, I am usually never nervous. I do lots of deep breathing exercises if I get nervous to calm down.

I get nervous/tingly because I wanna get my butt on stage and play! It's wayyyyy fun and I dig it.

My first gig was only 6 or 7 months ago, and we did 10 cover songs. Luckily, we played in front of a supportive crowd of 50-100. My stage fright lasted for only two songs...after that, it was great!!!! Unfortunately, the freakin rhythm tripped on my cords 60 seconds into my bass solo!!! Other than that, I improvised without fright for the rest of the night

Karen Black? She makes my TEETH itch.

i often get terribly nervous before my gigs - the whole weight of what i'm trying to do (different, non-traditional styles on non-tradtional instruments) , and the consequences if i fail or screw up, come crashing down on me, and i get paranoid and a little sick to my stomach.

once we start playing, though, that usually disappears in a few seconds - i get really into my playing, and that's that. :D

Originally posted by Munjibunga
Karen Black? She makes my TEETH itch.

LOL - Care for some scope? :D

I am wondering what your reference is to? It sounds really funny. :)

Karen Black is an awesome singer. I have seen her perform twice and both times she had everyone so into it, it was just way cool.

Originally posted by hujo
One of the violinplayers in my band usually does some pushups before every gig. He says it releaves him from tension, and is relaxing.

Ohh...now that´s a trick I´ve gotta try. I'm usually very nervous before I get onstage, my fingers er ice cold etc. Doing some pushups might be a solution for me :)

W/best regards,
Ivar

Stage fright or nerves is fundamentally adrenalin, and i have heard many people like to set up their gear, do exercises to get rid of some of that adrenalin.

I have my first show coming on the 8th of september. I might do exercises too. lol :rolleyes:

:p

Merls

One of the best cures for stage fright is repetition. The more your in front of people the easier it gets. If I'm gigging consistantly, stage fright becomes less of an issue. If I haven't done a show in awhile, I can get a little jittery and I find that I'm more tentative during the show. It's only after the show that I realize I'm psyching myself out.

As mentioned before, stage fright is essentially adreneline. Either it's going to create fright or, if you learn how to control it, it creates a rush and you feel invinsible on stage. My biggest issue with adreneline is it can make the band play twice as fast. That, for me, is the hardest thing to overcome.

"Thank you!! Good night!!!"

"But they only played for 5 minutes."

"Huh??":D

Was this Karen Black the actress or the woman from The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black?

I say drink a few beers. Works for me.

Originally posted by Chris A




Jr. How BIG are your underwear, anyway???


Chris A.:rolleyes:



whoops....i mean THEIR underwear, not mine :)

despite popular belief, I'm not always perfect either :)

Deep breathing and exercise is the best way to relieve your tension. If that dont work, do what I do. Kick the drummer in the balls until your heart rate drops below 90.


Mike:eek: :eek:

I posted a long message to downward spiral on another thread about this that helps me, i think it's on the "how long have you been playing before your first gig?".
But another thing to consider is that you WILL make mistakes, it's impossible to play perfectly. I think most people aim for perfection, and that's where most of the nervousness comes from. Once I accepted the fact that I was going to screw up, it took off a ton of pressure. Also, even when you do make a mistake, realize that almost nobody will notice, seriously. My own bandmates rarely notice a mistake I make; much less non-musicians in the audience. Just get into the songs and get lost in them, you'll forget about being nervous.

Originally posted by szvonek
Once I accepted the fact that I was going to screw up, it took off a ton of pressure. Also, even when you do make a mistake, realize that almost nobody will notice, seriously. My own bandmates rarely notice a mistake I make; much less non-musicians in the audience. Just get into the songs and get lost in them, you'll forget about being nervous.

What you say is true. However, our band records a lot of our live stuff, and often times, I am sitting in with different musicians - so there is pressure not to make mistakes, at least major ones like getting the chord change wrong.

My first gig was awful. My hands would sweat, and I couldn't get enough air in my lungs to sing the backups.

Then we went thru a period where we were playing alot of smaller party type gigs. Not alot of money involved, but mostly people we knew who were very supportive, and just wanted to have fun.

When we were ready for the bars, it was a whole new challenge. Lots of faces, no idea what they would like or not. All we could do is get the band as tight musically as possible, and go out there and kick ass. Once we played there enough times people were coming out to see us. That helps.

My only advice is, single out a person, or a couple people in your audience, and try to get a smile out of them using your music. The other thing is, if you make a blatant mistake, do it twice, then it
will look like you did it on purpose. (Most people miss the small stuff)

Originally posted by Stong_Bass
The other thing is, if you make a blatant mistake, do it twice, then it
will look like you did it on purpose. (Most people miss the small stuff)

That sounds like a risky idea. But if one had a good enough understanding of music theory, chord structure, where the song was and where it was going... one might pull that off.

I have to keep practicing!! Thanks for the tips! :)

Probably true it would be risky if the person wasn't familliar with the song or theory. But I wouldn't be
playing in front of anyone if I wasn't familiar with the material. (Unless it was just a free jam type thing). (I woodshedded for four years before I got a live audience)

You really have to get in your head that the audience is just as much a part of the show as the players. Once your crowd is in the palm of your hand, it's all easy. :cool:

Originally posted by Gabu


That sounds like a risky idea. But if one had a good enough understanding of music theory, chord structure, where the song was and where it was going... one might pull that off.

I have to keep practicing!! Thanks for the tips! :)

Like stong bass said you need to know what you are doing.

Ok try this say you are playing over (under) a D chord and it changes to G and you hit a great big A. Slide it down to G. The next time that change occurs hit the A and slide it down. When your band mates say you played a wrong note you say "I emphasised the 9th". Picky TB'ers might state that it is the 2nd ,who cares, you made a mistake and minimised it. The biggest problem that in order to do this (and play well) you have to have a lot of confidence. However if you are so nervous that you can hear your heartbeat and cannot move your fingers then all you do is wince and blush.

I have been there. I have been so terrified that just played root notes (after some serious willpower). You get it or you don’t. You deal with it or you don’t.

I did my first gig on my 20th birthday and the experience was so bad I didn’t gig until 4 years later. 2 years after that I did a gig to 5000 people and the following year it was 1000 people. I loved it. The difference as previously stated was to do a lot of gigs.

I play in mostly in church and it does not matter if that counts or not, I will have played about 50 times (to an 'audience' of 400+ people this year). Plus 12 events I played in May and June to a nearly full 1000 seater theatre. Nervous? Only when I depped (subbed) for the featured choir and they used no charts or music (or tab) and couldn’t remember how the song went (with 5 minutes to go).

Ignoring the God aspect I have been able to play a lot. We play a lot of stuff (selected from 200+ songs) in many styles with normally one rehearsal. In each service I usually know half the songs well and have to read the rest. We are currently learning a song in 12/8 that modulates down to D from F and back up (why?). This song does make me nervous but it will either work or train-wreck... No one gets hurt.

I hope my ramblings help.

Or you could buy a four-track. (joke for light relief)

I am at that dangerous level where I can play a dozen songs... and already want to get my feet wet. I have been itching for coffee shops. :D My guitarist is flakey (not his fault, but still) so I have to force the issue. At a party in WI last week he didn't want to play. So I yelled out to everyone that he had a song he wanted to play and after a few dirty looks we got to do a short jam. It was fun as heck.

I just don't let wrong notes mess me up. There's always someplace to go with it. (And NOBODY no matter how bad they are, can mess up MY groove).

Ed Van Halen has an illustration he refers to as" Falling down the stairs and landing on your feet", which is like gospel to me. I may be way outside the box harmonically, but as long as I'm home in time for "supper", It's all good!

The answer is to practice, know your material, know your theory, (and your bandmates), and
eventually it goes from a mechanical process, to
just playing from your heart. That's :cool:

Originally posted by Hategear
Another opinion: My guitarist and lead vocalist seem to think that the answer to stage fright is to get drunk or high before the start of each gig. This doesn't improve their performance by any stretch. It does however help them to not care about their performance, thus keeping them from being too nervous. :(

I have the same problem. I don't get high anymore, but I'll have a couple of drinks.

However, the rest of the band seems to think they can jam out just as good drunk or high...

I talked to them about it once, and they said "We should be able to play messed up, otherwise, we just suck. We KNOW we can play sober!"

Pisses me off... I mean really pisses me off. Feels like I'm the only one who really cares enough about our music to put that BS aside. I know they want it as much as I do, but they just don't act like it. And you can't have a conversation with anyone like that about it, cause they get offended. As if you are personally attacking them... damned it all... you'd figure they'd grow out of that.

If it's not beer and bud, it's whisky and oxicotens(sp?). Grrr...

Sigh. Sorry, I just needed to vent...

bump :cool:

Originally posted by Hategear
I don't usually get too nervous until I am about to play the first note of the evening. That feeling goes away around the end of the first or second song and then I only have to worry about the other guys' screw ups.


Another opinion: My guitarist and lead vocalist seem to think that the answer to stage fright is to get drunk or high before the start of each gig.

Hmmm..........whats the chance were in the same band??:D

I think the main thing you can do is practise. If you know you've done your preparation then you will be more confident.

Also I find it best if don't think too hard about what I'm playing - just let my fingers get on with it. Try and relax and just get into the music. If you're enjoying yourself that will come across to your audience.

Our band has a large repertoire of songs and I frequently perform songs that I haven't played for ages. The worst thing that can happen is if I think too hard about where my fingers are going to go next.

I think a few nerves are a good thing, and I definitely get more of a buzz at the end if I've been nervous beforehand.

I once played to Mark King. Thankfully I didn't spot him and I wasn't told until the end, although one of the punters had shouted out 'Can you play some Level 42?' with a grin on his face. I had replied 'I wish I could!' :)

P.S One drink might help dispel some nerves, but most peoples performance definitely deteriorates with alcohol.

funny, I never got/get stagefright, the closest would be feeling a little under pressure when I've stood in for/replaced bassists halfway during the run of a show where I've had to sightread scores.....times like that all I can say is God bless ghost notes.

As my dad told me many many years ago many people attending shows/gigs arent musicians themselves so they wont notice little cockups in your playing..as long as theyre not GLARING mistakes...the only person who generally notices is the conductor..then again theres nothing worse that getting THAT glare from the direction of his stand.

I look forward to the butterflies...often a quick smoke or a couple of ciders kicks the butterflies in more - which for me is perfect!

I love playing where i'm almost freaking out - I find that if i'm relaxed before a gig, I tend to play too stiff and boring.

Now, not to say that I get smacked up beyond all hope before playing, but we definitely rock out more if we're not playing the tea-totalling game.

The only worries I have are finger cramps, and playing to musicians in the audience (there's always a slight worry that people are analysing your playing). Nearly all of our gigs have been in front of reasonable crowds generally with industry-types keeping an eye on us...which in itsself is nerve-wracking anyway! :)

But really, 99% of people who come to see a band play aren't musicians and really don't care if you do make a fluff. It does help to have a handle on how your songs are structured in case you do get lost on a change and have to "improvise".

Try to turn the fright-adrenaline into excitement-adrenaline - the two are the same, different contexts. Playing to a crowd is one of the reasons you're up on stage, isn't it? Project some excitement about playing and your audience WILL respond...(and your manager loves you for it!) :D

the first time I ever played was at a church in a praiseband.... I had no chord progression or anything to go by and I had only been playing bass for a very very short time..... i didn't have a clue as to what theory was. The ionian scale was a new concept to me :) .. but i crapped my way through it.... i sucked but I lived.... and now...... well..... at least I know more theory than will ever be necessary for a band... but I hardly get nervous at all anymore.. i just love being on stage having fun.. :D

Never being one for "excercise" I usually just lie down on the ground and close my eyes.. I know it sounds really corny, but it works for me. I just pretty much try and shut everything out of my mind, and go in knowing my stuff without all those crazy thoughts of all the crap that could go wrong.

:D

i would say act like they are all nude, but then u see some fat ugly guy around, then it all goes down hill from there...

Personally, I've never had stage fright. In fact, it's often quite the opposite - I feel very liberated out there on stage. Having said that, I can occasionally get a little tense waiting to go on, and I always get a little ripple of nervousness when the drummer starts the first count in, but apart from that I'm fine. And I know what it's like to have a celebrity watching as well - once, the bloke who won Big Brother here in England was at one of our gigs! :p

I am definately nervous... But this is my first "real" gig that I have ever done. Playing for friends at parties and stuff is way different because you know many of the people and they are very forgiving of your booboos and stuff. But now I will be playing a club where no one knows me, or any member of my band.

It's gonna be scary. Heck I am already scared. But I think I can only overcome it be experiencing it and then, notice at the end of the show that I am still alive and well.

I am feeling really cool about this. I never was in a band before that was pushing forward. I have already learned a lot and keep learning. One of the best things about these guys is that they are not hung up on one style. I am the baby of the band musical-knowlegewise... But you know one thing that is funny? I know the most about gear in the band. I must attribute that to plenty of time spent in the amps, basses and setup forums. :D

I'm sure you'll be fine, Gabu. If I lived anywhere near you I'd be happy to come down and give you a bit of moral support, and I'm sure other, closer Talkbassers would do the same.

However, I always thought before my first gig that I'd be a bag of nerves, but in the end it was never a problem. Get out there and show them what you can do!

99% of people who come to a gig wanna rock...don't let the remaining 1% of musicians, fools and barstaff put you off - give 100% to the 99%! :D

There's a balance between "rocking" and "playing" - that 99% of people aren't gonna give a damn if you fluff a note or two if the overall performance is active and alive, as long as you don't thow technique and skill out the window simply to rock out more... :D

here's what ya do to overcome stage fright. we'll call this "the frosty method of overcoming stage fright."

step 1: show up at the gig, watch the other bands play before ya. breathe deeply and slowly throughout all of it.
Step 2: set up your gear on stage, walk outside very casually, and go into the drivers seta of your car, or into a quiet area (like a bathroom or sumpin)
Step 3: at the top of your lungs scream, "F*CK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

this realeases tension and you will realized that you just screamed in front of some people outside your car and they are now lookin at ya, don't feel embarrassed at all

Step 4: walk back inside casually, grab your bass, and play a great show.

Frosty

I reckon its much easier to play to strangers than friends, although I'm always more comfortable playing venues I've played before.

I play in a covers band and we don't take ourselves too seriously... the odd cock up can add a chance to interact with the audience - get them smiling with you...... as long as you can smile! :)

I suppose nothing too horrendous has ever happened - maybe I'm lucky.

I usually get really hyped up, and start jumping around the room, or out back someplace. I'll be running up picnic tables, and jumping off at the top.

I never get high before a gig, I have a fresh pint waiting on stage, and it all starts at the end of the fist tune, I take a big swig o' nice cool beer, and jump up to do the second song, after that you Wouldn't stop me if you burnt my bass, tied the strings round my ankles, and imploded my amp!

But for that hour beforehand, I'm a wreck I tell you...

I never get nervous in front of an audience...I've played in front of my entire high school and didn't get nervous, but I get nervous as hell when being judged at competitions...don't know why....I usually can still make it through...after awhile I get focused on my instrument and just listening to what everybody else is doing that I don't really care...