How does your concert day jitters work?

Mooch · #1 07-25-2010, 07:35 PM

Just curious how everyone's concert day jitters and rituals work. I had been on a "little" 5 year hiatus from doing gig's because of life. But we had our first gig on friday and I had those concert day jitters and stuff all day.

Well I worried and worried and thought how it use to be, I would worry all day and get up on stage and not feel shaky or worried. I just felt relieved and ready to kick some butt.

Anyone else like this? Worry all day for no reason? Or feel the opposite? Fine all day and worry on stage?

What does everyone do to cope with it? Because I guess getting on stage cures it for me lol.

Mooch

Atticus · #2 07-25-2010, 09:34 PM

I always feel butterflies right before or during a performance, but I stopped letting them bother me a long time ago. I've done a bit of theater and had a class on public speaking in 8th grade (that was an interesting school), so I'm used to going on stage and being ready to roll.

bound'n'blocked · #3 07-25-2010, 10:40 PM

I think I get anxious more than nervous now. I think that by the time that I finally decided that if anyone out in the crowd criticizing me could be up there doing what I'm doing, then they would be, I stopped getting nervous. I just get anxious to get on with the gig now. There are a couple of musicians around the area that I respect, and if I see them walk in, then I do get a little jittery, but only because if I mess up they WILL know it!

Years ago, I'd almost puke right before a gig. To this day I still dont eat much before a show, but I'm starving by the time it's over.

BnB

redefine dave · #4 07-25-2010, 10:46 PM

I always get butterflies about 15 minutes before we start. At that time I usually stretch, drink a glass of water and say a little prayer. When I'm up on stage it goes from butterflies to something different. Like a drug or something.
Unfortunately, the butterflies and the other feeling were not there at the last show. I think I may end up leaving a band that I founded ten years ago...

Wasted Bassist · #5 07-25-2010, 10:50 PM

Most gigs I end up working most of the day or sleeping till about 2 in the afternoon, so there's no time or need to worry.

DRafalske · #6 07-26-2010, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redefine dave

I always get butterflies about 15 minutes before we start. At that time I usually stretch, drink a glass of water and say a little prayer. When I'm up on stage it goes from butterflies to something different. Like a drug or something.
Unfortunately, the butterflies and the other feeling were not there at the last show. I think I may end up leaving a band that I founded ten years ago...

Kind of the same for me. In that little downtime between load-in/setup and go-time, I get a little anxious. A shot and a beer and I'm ready to go on stage.
As soon as the first notes of the first song ring out, I'm totally cool the rest of the night.

D

Eater_of_Birds · #7 07-26-2010, 06:56 AM

on the day im terrified ^ ^ stomach churns until the first note is played, then its time to rock out and its all good. i dont drink much in case i get sloppy, happy to do so afterwards.

Haysoochreesto · #8 07-26-2010, 06:56 AM

I'm not anxious until I'm on my way to the show. But come the first note up on stage, the anxiety goes away... until I mess up horrendously, which seems to happen about once a show. But then no one in the crowd ever seems to notice anyway.

jmac · #9 07-26-2010, 07:07 AM

I only get nervous if I feel like I'm not prepared. If I'm confident in my preparation than I never get butterflies.

That's the case for me not only when it comes to gigging but also in my day job.

ctufankjian · #10 07-26-2010, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmac

I only get nervous if I feel like I'm not prepared. If I'm confident in my preparation than I never get butterflies.

That's the case for me not only when it comes to gigging but also in my day job.

+1 ^

Mr. Pickles · #11 07-26-2010, 07:15 AM

I still get a bit of euphoria the day of a gig. It's quite a pleasant feeling and no drugs required.

The euphoria has tapered off a bit over the years, but once in a while I get that jolt and it puts me in a good mood. Feeling anything is a sign that you're alive my friend.

Mooch · #12 07-26-2010, 11:16 AM

Ya it was good for me after being away for song long but that instinct of doing what I have been working my butt off to memorize and know by muscle memory(if that makes sense) it all felt like it use to.

I'm just glad to be back in front of people, we have huge gig with a national tour act in a couple weeks and our little warm up gig was definitely worth it just to remember that I am alive and how to cope with the anxiety again. Glad to hear I'm not alone on this.

MadMan118 · #13 07-26-2010, 12:12 PM

Gig days I usually wake up around noon, shower, practice until we need to load up. When were at the place waiting to go on I usually just listen to my iPod and chain smoke.

MrTAteMyBalls · #14 07-26-2010, 12:45 PM

for me it's much more in the preparation. if i know we are prepared i don't get nervous at all. if we are winging it i get some butterflies, and pluck my strings WAY too hard for a song or 2 until I get settled in. A drink can be helpful, as well.

jgroh · #15 07-26-2010, 12:55 PM

When I was younger, i got really nervous before going on. I would be a nervous wreck for a couple of days leading up to it. I am pretty hard on myself and if I screw up even a little bit Ill never hear the end of it =) Who said that?

But, these days, Ive gigged enough that I dont really get nervous anymore. I know our material like the back of my hand (which is a big plus like jmac said) and I usually have a beer or two before the show to loosen up (not really chase away butterflies, just get me more in the mood). I know my line when it comes to alcohol and playing though and I make sure I dont cross it.

TheVoiceless · #16 07-26-2010, 01:04 PM

I can't remember ever feeling that "nervous" feeling in a long time. I think once you've done something for so long that it becomes familiar. So I would think that the nerves would go away with playing out more. Though I will say I have been nervous about things surrounding the gig (like dealing with a jerk promoter, other bands, did we bring enough people, etc..)

But I can say that when I was doing live sound I would have break downs. Mainly because it was new, and so many things could go wrong, and will at some point. I can't say that I ever had a near perfect day working sound. So I would just try and relax by showing up early and sneaking off to smoke a cig and collect my thoughts when having a bad night.

Reynoldbot · #17 07-26-2010, 01:18 PM

I just started playing gigs again after a long hiatus, so I definitely got the butterflies pretty much as soon as I woke up for the first gig. I was still pretty nervous when I got onstage, and I was pretty tense thru the first song, but after that I really loosened up. By the second show, I was only nervous for a few minutes setting up onstage, but as soon as I hit the first note it completely went away. I'm doing backup vocals for the first time, which definitely contributes to the nervousness. But now I'm craving for the next show.

s_mcsleazy · #18 07-26-2010, 01:28 PM

i have a little rtual

wake up
drink a can of energy drink
go for a shower, brush teeth, hair ect
can of energy drink
breakfast (the more sugar the better)
can of large energy drink
pack up gear while listening to repeter - fugazi
have a can of energy drink
load gear into car
after that i usually have ernt a energy drink
usually have a sing song in the car
energy drink time
unload gear/ soundcheck
energy drink
talk to people who are coming to see us (energy drink time)
swallow 3 packets of dextrose tablets and wash down with energy drink
tune my bass
drink energy drink
dissapere 30 mins befor the show to do my streches while listening to "the shape of punk to come"
come back 10 mins befor we go on because i had to nip up to the shop to buy somthing (guess what)

FunkMetalBass · #19 07-26-2010, 05:38 PM

Pre-gig jitters? Nope. I love getting attention and putting on a good show. I belong on stage, man.

Time Consumer · #20 07-26-2010, 05:43 PM

Yeah, I've been performing in school band since 4th grade and played in front of over 1000 people a few times at state comps in high school so I have my jitters under control. I know being one of 30 onstage s different than one of 4 but i was a percussionist and let me tell you, when you play timpani a good 75% of the eyes are on you.

I usually dont like to talk to people too much about 30 min before the show since im getting my head into preformance mode, makes sense since people tell me im like a different person onstage.