How NOT to be nervous.

[moopants]

So, I've been working on Portrait of Tracy for about a year now, and, in my opinion, I've got it down. There are a few parts I play my own way, but of course, it's my version, not Jaco's. Well, anyway, I decided to play it for the talent show. I played it so well before the auditions that I was completely confident, however, the auditions were a different story. I got up on stage, and I was NERVOUS. I was more nervous than your average person that is nervous. Of course, I screwed up a lot of the solo. I made the show, thankfully. My amp wasn't turned high enough, because they said they couldn't hear me so well. But, for the show, I'll have a GK head and cab, so that won't be a problem. I just need to get down the nervous part. I really don't want to make myself look like an idiot. I want to actually make it look like I have been practicing for a year on this solo. Any tips?

[Baryonyx]

Wear sunglasses. That way, the audience can't see your eyes, and so you can feel "hidden" from them.

[Otso]

Make a fool of yourself on stage before playing. That way you know you can only make yourself look better in their eyes with your playing.

[moopants]

I really wouldn't want to make myself look bad in front of my whole school. If I wanted to do that, I would mess up the solo on purpose.

[cheezewiz]

And yes, I realize this is probably a school talent show so I AM kidding!

[Basshappi]

I've been performing for almost 30 years and I still get slightly nervous before a show.

I have learned to use that feeling to focus my mind on my playing and tune out distractions. Unfortunately, I can't describe exactly how I do this, it's become reflex by this point.

One thing that is important is to remember to breathe. Sounds simple, but it's true. Before you go on start concentrating on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths and exhale completely after each one. This will help your muscles to stay relaxed and that is critical.

While your doing that, picture your bass in your mind. Just your bass, not the fretboard or the fingerings you're about to play just the instrument itself.

I realize all this sounds kinda Zen-like but give it a try and see if it works for you.

The key is to be relaxed. If you're relaxed you will play well and if you play well you will have fun. If your having fun you'll stay relaxed. It's a circle.

Good luck, you are prepared and you will do well, let us know how it goes!


Cheers!

[invader3k]

Just remember that everyone out there wishes they could be you, and that if you mess up, no one is really going to notice anyway.

[Bardolph]

Once you get your first "woo!" from the audience it will all seem easier from there. Just do a little intro with something easy but cool before you go into the song.

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Throw up backstage. Not on stage.

[moopants]

Yeah. Last year I was in it, and I did better during the show than the auditions. I guess it's because during auditions, I know the people that are watching me. But, during the show, I didn't wear my glasses, so I couldn't really decipher certain people from the audience, so I didn't really know exactly who was watching, so I played like no one was around. I guess it's the factor of if you know they're listening for mistakes, you mess up, but if you know they're just listening for music, you do a bit better. I'm just nervous about being alone on stage.

[Aaron Saunders]

Remember that everyone gets nerves. I bet I'm worse than you -- I got nerves so bad during a performance test (weekly occurances for the past six months) last Monday that I completely forgot how to play Oleo, which I had perfect at 220bpm (almost double the test tempo) in my room not 10 minutes before.

[Matt Till]

The way I stopped being nervous (even though I don't perform solo) is to gig a lot sadly. Nothing compares to playing in front of an audience, maybe practice in front of people a little more. But mostly, practice it until you couldn't possibly make a mistake, know it inside and out. Nervous stuff usually comes from being afraid you'll make mistakes, get so good that you couldn't make a mistake.

I guess just practice a lot, you're gonna be nervous playing in front of classmates and stuff. But last time I was in a high school talent show, half of the acts were girls doing 2-3 dance moves to a Britney Spears song.

[DocBop]

I could say a lot Zen stuff, but I won't. Two things just practice till you feel its as easy as playing Mary Had A Little Lamb. It's not that you can't play it right, but to convince yourself you can play it right.

Also making mistakes is part of playing the pro's just know how to cover it, or just ignore and keep going. That is one thing I got out of playing in pit bands. You see actors every night doing the same show you see them screw up and cover, but audence never knows.

Okay three things. You make a mistake you're probably the only one who will know it. One thing we learned in music school first hand is people don't listen that close, or even know what is right or wrong. Even other bass players. The audience aren't bass player and they just know what they like or don't. Then what we saw in music school even playing for other bass players 90% of them didn't even notice mistakes; if you don't make them obvious with facial or body language. If you make a mistake just ignore it and keep the flow. As we'd say Wrong, but Strong! I know first had I'd screw up, but keep rhythm going and volume same and most have no idea something happen. Or as the late great Jazz guitarist Howard Roberts used to say. If you hit a wrong note, hit it again so they think you meant to in the first place.

Okay one little bit of Zen. Try to find a book called Effortless Mastery by Kenny Werner. Deals excactly with this topic.

[Baryonyx]

yeah, I would think the average listener at a high school talent show isn't going to be a jazz buff, so a bum note in Portrait of Tracy isn't going to be spotted. After the first few bars, it'll probably just sound like an atonal mush to them anyway!

[Joe Nerve]

Something I came up with that works.

When you practice the song keep a paper and pen nearby. After you play through it write down any spot you had a glitch, mistake, weren't sure, whatever. Next time you go through the song commit to KNOWING in your hands, head and body the correct way of playing where ya goofed, and tell youself it's never going to happen again. Play through that part several times, and then the whole song again. Keep on doing this, and every time you screw up even a tiny a little bit - write it down, and review it before you play the song again. It works for me.

The other things I'd suggest would be:

Play in front of anybody you can until you can play it perfectly every time - friends, parents, people who don't want to hear it.

I usually work on knowing the songs faster than I'll be performing them, but with Jaco that's pushing things a bit.

Make sure your amp IS loud enough so your nerves and adrenaline don't have you digging in too much on stage. I think it's important to check in with your body before you play when you're playing, especially when it's physically and technically challenging stuff.

I always hide in the bathroom or quiet place before playing a big show (or audition) and pray.

[moopants]

Thanks for all the suggestions. My teacher always says not to over-practice, so I haven't practiced POT in awhile, and I just practiced other things, and even wrote a solo spin off of Grieg's Morgenstimmung in my spare time (boredom). There's always a point in a player's prime, and eventually, with too much practice, that prime leaves you. That might be why I played it perfectly before and after the auditions. And, Mat Till, you're right. The other people in show are doing little crap things, except for a few guys that are doing RHCP's "Scar Tissue." It made me feel better when I was walking away, and I heard a girl sing a crappy version of Evanescene's "Going Under" right after I played.

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by moopants

My teacher always says not to over-practice, so I haven't practiced POT in awhile, and I just practiced other things, and even wrote a solo spin off of Grieg's Morgenstimmung in my spare time (boredom). There's always a point in a player's prime, and eventually, with too much practice, that prime leaves you.

I couldn't disagree more. If I'm screwing up, I need to practice more. I think your teacher has given you some bad advice that could become a real problem in the future should you hold onto it.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by moopants

My teacher always says not to over-practice, so I haven't practiced POT in awhile, and I just practiced other things.........There's always a point in a player's prime, and eventually, with too much practice, that prime leaves you.

This advice is nonsense.... or at least a statement that is so personal that it ought not be shared with students. The key issue is confidence and comes from knowing that you can do the job.... and that comes from practice.

Realize that you may never get over being nervous, no matter how many years you do this, or how good you get at it. Nerves are a good thing, they keep you ultra-aware. The goal should NOT be to get away from nervousness, but rather to learn to play with it... use the energy to your advantage. And even that takes practice too.

[Dan1099]

Don't worry. You'll be better than the retarded girl playing "The Entertainer."

[Aaron Saunders]

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

I couldn't disagree more. If I'm screwing up, I need to practice more. I think your teacher has given you some bad advice that could become a real problem in the future should you hold onto it.

Yep. Unquestionably, that's pretty terrible advice.