Stage Fright

[hepdood]

The reason Kurt Cobain killed himself was clinical depression and heroin. About the first, I'm very sorry to see a musician who contributed a lot go. About the second, rest in pieces.

As Curt says "If I said it, it must be wrong!" that still get's me every time, hah.

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[Muttluk]

no!!! courtny killed kurt!! it was a murder!!!! ahhhhhhhhhh i cant believe you think it was sucide, she payed the freaken cops off. bunch of dirty cops!!! kurt was murderd!!!

[hk2hunterkiler]

when i played at my schools talent show i was a bit nervous but when your friends are out their shoutin at and screaming at you all the nervousness went away and your aggression takes over and you dont even pay attenion to the crowd. you just start bangin you head and hitting those notes and as soon as you know it your walkin off stage pumped to play again. thats what i felt playing my first and only gig. after i was done i wanted to play some more right after that. i loved it. just go in their and give all that you got. thats all i have to say.

[dancehallclasher]

i don't really have that problem, but i know what you mean... at my last gig, my lead guitarist said his knees were shaking like crazy during his solo in "yellow ledbetter."

ever heard the phrase "fake it till you make it?" i think that's the key... convince yourself that you're a wonderful bassist, that the audience loves you, and try to just have fun with it.

[Boplicity]

Here's the truth. Some musicians NEVER overcome stage fright. But that need not be the end of their music life. Some, if they are good enough, become studio musicians, never playing live gigs. Others just have jams with some like-minded musicians just for fun with no intention of ever playing "out." Some musicians who faced stage fright and found it too stressful are happy just to play their bass at home alone with the CD player.

I was plagued with stage fright that made me physically ill before every show. One thing I found, I liked playing in bigger bands. I'm definitely not the power trio or duet type. The more musicians the merrier for me. If you are finding stage fright debilitating, there are other ways to go as I have mentioned here. Jason Oldsted

[reedo35]

Originally posted by JasonOldsted
Here's the truth. Some musicians NEVER overcome stage fright.
I was plagued with stage fright that made me physically ill before every show. One thing I found, I liked playing in bigger bands. I'm definitely not the power trio or duet type. The more musicians the merrier for me. If you are finding stage fright debilitating, there are other ways to go as I have mentioned here. Jason Oldsted

I can relate to this also. Whenever I was playing with a large group, I never had any problem with stage fright, but when I started doing solo recitals I looked like I was having a seizure, I would shake so bad! I finally learned that the shaking is caused by a rush of adrenaline caused by
nerves,or doubts, or whatever.The only way to really get over it is to keep getting up there, play for anyone who will listen,even if it's one on one. I also recommend reading "The inner game of Music" by Barry Green. It will give you some real insight into dealing with your "anti-self"On the other hand, don't get so relaxed that you become apathetic to the music. So get out there and fight, fight, fight,...Oops.. I mean Play, Play, Play....

[White_Knight]

I kinda agree with Ed (though perhaps not in quite the same situations): example: when everyone's dancing / skanking / moshing, etc. to the music I always feel uncomfortable, I always catch myself wishing that my bass was in my hands at those times.

I don't really get stage fright, I do get a little anxious however. I think that the reason I don't get scared is because I just tell myself that I'm doing the best I can, I've put in my time and if I mess up I mess up. Fortunitely, I play for a group of people (church-goers) that love just to hear the low notes that my bass puts out! Just kidding, they do know a bit about music, but they are supportive and would rather see me make mistakes than not play.

[penstock]

The first time my band played a show I was SO nervous. When we played the first song perfect some of the nervousness went away. But then the crowd started getting up and dancing and I realized, "Whoa! They like us!" I haven't had stage fright since then. I still get a little anxious before a show, but it is a good kind of anxious.

[Munjibunga]

I've never had stage fright, but one of my favorite things about being a musician is that nervous excitement on the way to the gig. I'm just looking forward to that first note of the first song. Most of our gigs, we can't really do a sound check, because the crowd is already there when we are finally set up. We are one of the few bands who start our shows at the appointed time, TO THE SECOND. I just love that when I go to a concert, and the curtain goes up exactly on time. I do get a bit nervous when I'm running the sound from on stage. It's very difficult to concentrate on my playing while I'm listening to both the monitor mix and the mains for about the first three songs. How'd I get off on this stuff?

What I'm trying to say is it might help to channel your nervousness into positive anticipation before the gig.

[Craig Garfinkel]

What an interesting thread. I guess I'm just a born ham. Don't get between me and a stage, you could get hurt! There's nothing I enjoy more than playing before a live audience, the bigger the better. Okay there's one thing, but both my wife and I prefer not to be watched. I do sometimes get that pre-gig adreneline rush, but I really enjoy it. I guess performing can be like jumping into a swimming pool, at first it's a bit of a shock to the system, but it feels really great once you're in there. Come to think of it, so can my first favorite thing to do!!!

[Eric Cameron]

Yea man, I am the same way. I got involved in Drama my freshman year and havn't stoped. I will be directing my first show in October (All My Sons, FYI) so getting on and being on stage is no problem for me. I love it.


Rock on
Eric