Sucking During the Gig

m0nst3r · #1 12-19-2009, 02:38 PM

Hey guy/gals,

Here's my dilemma: When I rehearse with my band, or practice on my own, I have the songs we play down cold and rarely make any mistakes. But, whenever I play a gig, I mess up all over the place. I hit wrong notes, tune out and get lost, play in the wrong key, completely miss choruses, etc. I just don't get it. I've been playing for over ten years, and this stuff shouldn't be happening as frequently as it does. It's really frustrating, and it seems that no matter what I do, I can't help it. Yesterday was the final straw. I messed up so badly that I had to die out completely for a few bars so I could find my place again. I'm well aware that I can't play perfectly every single time, but increaseing the chances of this happening would be really nice. Any ideas of how I can lower the frequency bad playing?

Thanks

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #2 12-19-2009, 03:26 PM

Honestly, your thread's title suggests a totally different situation.

Anyway, and assuming that you really feel comfortable with the material you've previously rehearsed, this sounds like a "stage fright" problem to me. Not that you feel "terrified" when playing in front of an audience, but maybe you feel some kind of unease that doesn't help you keep concentrated on what you're doing in that situation (that happens to me when I have any kind of "solo spot", but never in a full band context). My advice would be just to relax and try to think that you are NOT the center of attraction. Also (and I can tell from my own experience when I had to perform in public as a solo double bass player during my university student days) an infusion from this plant may help you calm your nerves (a healthy and innocuous alternative compared to alcohol and/or drugs).

And most important of all: Have fun while playing!

canshaker · #3 12-19-2009, 03:34 PM

It's tough not to get lost in the moment when playing for a crowd. You just have to remind yourself to focus. When I find myself drifting at shows, I always can refocus by making myself think of the next part that I need to play. It completely grounds me, and reminds me what I'm doing.

COOL AND DEADLY · #4 12-19-2009, 03:36 PM

The more experience you get playing live will help. Go over your parts before the show. if your band uses a set list, go through it. If you have any source of personal power you can call on, do that too. Relax, be confident. Have fun. Get into the music. Don't look at the audience. Just play it like it is rehearsal.

wallshakerpbass · #5 12-19-2009, 03:40 PM

This may or may not be easier said than done, but don't really try paying that much heed to the crowd, at least for your situation. What I would suggest is devoting most of your attention to minute details in the song. First and most importantly the actual notes in the song, but then move to, for example, your finger placement on the neck and such. Focusing on those smaller things and remembering to nail each one can be a great distraction from the jitters a crowd can give you.

BTW, best of luck

Let It Fall · #6 12-19-2009, 03:49 PM

10 years is a good bit!! I had a thread similar to this! But I kept messing up in practice! Had my first gig coming and nailed , I was the only one who didn't miss something..

bass12 · #7 12-19-2009, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COOL AND DEADLY

The more experience you get playing live will help. Go over your parts before the show. if your band uses a set list, go through it. If you have any source of personal power you can call on, do that too. Relax, be confident. Have fun. Get into the music. Don't look at the audience. Just play it like it is rehearsal.

It can be easy to feel self-conscious while on stage - especially if you're playing to a hostile audience. Two things to remember: firstly, you are a bass player. That means that 90% + of the audience doesn't care about you and probably has no idea what you're contributing to the music.

Secondly, you are on stage as an entertainer. That doesn't mean that you are the featured attraction, but it does mean that you are part of a show. You need to work on being confident enough that you can look at the audience. According to legend, Berry Gordy really had to hound Marvin Gaye about opening his eyes during performances (Marvin had a tendency to sing with his eyes closed). Sometimes you just have to fake the confidence. If you look relaxed, people will think you are relaxed. If you make a mistake, just keep looking as if everything's going as planned, cause most of the people in the audience only notice a mistake when it shows on the faces of those on stage. If the mistake is so bad that it's blatantly obvious, laugh it off. Not only will this make you more relaxed, it will make those around you less tense. Just keep practicing and don't over-think on the gig. Most of my mistakes happen when I'm waiting for them to happen (if you know what I mean).

BarkSlayer · #8 12-19-2009, 03:54 PM

Just look out there and imagine everyone in the audience is naked.

Relax. It may help to practice with your drummer, too. Focus on what you've rehearsed and have fun with it.

ksandvik · #9 12-19-2009, 04:00 PM

...practice makes perfect...

Stan13 · #10 12-19-2009, 04:06 PM

If uve practised and know everything, then just go out and have a good time...The more u think about it the more u will probably mess up. Relax and have a good time!!!

Cheers

guitfiddle0409 · #11 12-19-2009, 04:07 PM

Try to find as many Open Mics as possible to play in. They're great for getting the lead out.

Jools4001 · #12 12-19-2009, 04:16 PM

I think that you may have convinced yourself that this is going to happen and probably concentrating so hard on not making a single mistake that you're not concentrating on the music. As someone said up there ^^^ the audience won't notice small mistakes, so if you flub the odd note just let it go and move on.

progrmr · #13 12-19-2009, 04:21 PM

Man, that's a tough one - typically it's just a matter of practice, but it sounds like your practice is fine.

The only other thing I'd recommend is not getting distracted while playing - don't pay attention to the people (well, you have to look at them but don't see details just see a crowd of people). Know exactly where you are in the song - know every part inside and out. If you're focusing on what you're doing you should not get lost just because you're playing in front of people.

Are you having any anxiety outside of the normal nervousness that comes with playing in front of people?

slybass3000 · #14 12-19-2009, 04:21 PM

It would be much easier to see you live to understand what is happening but here some thoughts on this anyway.

Concentration is the key all the time. You should stay focus on what you play but not too much because you should also put some focus on listening at the music that is performed. Think ahead about song structure. Feel the music. Don't stare at the crowd just to be cool. Be cool by playing right first and eye contact with your bandmates is important. You shouldn't care about how many people you play for or who you play for. You are putting additional pressure for nothing.

Too many times I heard people saying that they practice their "stage performance" by making that face for that chord and that move for that riff. This is BS to a certain point. Just relax and enjoy the privilege you have to be there.

One other very important thing is don't let your frustration about a mistake take over you. It's done,it's done. If you let yourself get bug by a mistake on stage you can be sure the next one is coming soon.

Stay sober of course before and during the show as much as possible.

When I have a big performance to do I always take a minute or so just before starting the show(very often on stage) to meditate a little bit by closing my eyes and take deep breaths and repeating to myself the 3 C's that I bring with me on stage: CONCENTRATION, CONTROL, CONFIDENCE.

Hope this helps,

Sly

debassr · #15 12-19-2009, 04:33 PM

I had this problem at first too. For some reason, what ended up helping me was using in-ear monitors. I don't know if it was because it helped me tune the crowd out and go into my own little world or if it was because I could simply hear myself better, but it worked for me. Later on, I stopped using them as much and now I don't use them at all except under very rare circumstances.

m0nst3r · #16 12-19-2009, 11:25 PM

Thanks everyone, you've given me some really good things to think about. The whole self-fullfilling prophecy and center of attention theories that are being mentioned are very good and valid points. You guys are right, there is no reason for me to think the way I do in terms of thinking that I'm going to messing up and having all eyes on me. I know it's irrational to think this way, but I just can't help it. Any tips for getting out of this state of mind before/during a gig?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksandvik

...practice makes perfect...

Apparently not in my case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by progrmr

Are you having any anxiety outside of the normal nervousness that comes with playing in front of people?

Like what exactly?

seanm · #17 12-19-2009, 11:38 PM

I can sympathize! I generally have the opposite problem, I have trouble concentrating when practicing, but can focus more when playing.

But I have one song that is killing me! "The Authority Song" by Mellencamp. It is *not* a hard song, but is very repetitive. As long as I don't think about it I am ok. But once I start thinking about it, and I always do

, I start messing up.

And I think I also have the "self-fulfilling prophecy" problem. I know I am going to mess up, so I do. Luckly, this is the only song I have this problem on right now. All the rest of the mistakes are real

I like a beer or two to relax. It doesn't help that this song is in the first set.

elgecko · #18 12-20-2009, 03:24 AM

Have you been playing live for 10 years or just playing? They're not the same thing.

At any rate, it's all about relaxation...clear you head before the gig, make a conscious effort to relax, don't forget to breath, and most of all, HAVE FUN!

miles mosley · #19 12-20-2009, 04:24 AM

Lesson #12:
Always SING what you play. You don't have to be a great singer, frankly, no ones gonna hear you, but if sing what you play, you won't OVERPLAY, and you definitely won' get lost. It keeps you focused. especially as you play songs over and over and over. Once the "auto-pilot" kicks in, that's when the absurdity mistakes happen. Try that! If that doesn't work you can try THIS

S. Katz · #20 12-20-2009, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarkSlayer

Just look out there and imagine everyone in the audience is naked.

Relax. It may help to practice with your drummer, too. Focus on what you've rehearsed and have fun with it.

You mean imagine your drummer naked? Not a good idea for must drummers, in most bands.

Try to stop worrying about whether you played "it right," and instead listen to what the BAND is putting out. If that works, then you work--and the rest is just rehearsing.

Groove > chops. Know it. Breath it. Live it. Love it.