Is there a stage fright thread? - Page 2

thedudebrah · #21 01-04-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolophonic

Smoke a whole bunch of weed right before you go on.

As a state drug tested CDL driver, I had to quit a few years ago. Was fun while it lasted lol

Gearhead17 · #22 01-04-2013, 11:41 AM

Bass players can get a away with a lot up there. Playing the wrong note a few times is OK. I constantly smile when I do it and keep playing like I MEANT to do it. People in the crowd want to have fun - play your instrument and relax. Too many times, your band mates will get on your case more about screwing up than any one in the audience. The audience is not going to notice a few screw ups. Over the years, I have realized the audience WILL NOTICE a SONG that does not sound good overall. Missing a few notes is NOT the end of the world.

A few beers (just enough to be buzzed) is helpful since you will automatically stop caring about what other people think. Keep playing and you will hardly be nervous again in the future.

Vakmere · #23 01-04-2013, 12:24 PM

If you have stage fright you shouldnt be up there. Dont go in the water if you are scared of drowning, dont climb ladders if you have fear of heights, etc, etc.

Factor88 · #24 01-04-2013, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedudebrah

I've just recently gotten back into a gigging band and we've played two shows so far. I used to sing in my last band and while singing, I couldn't handle looking anyone in the eyes. I would actually mostly keep my eyes closed.

In my new band, I sing very little back up. I still can't bring myself to look out into the crowd.

Try looking just over the tops of the heads of the people in the audience, or alternatively pick places in the room where there are not any people (empty tables, etc) and look at those ares. To the other people in the room, it often gives the illusion you are actually interacting with the audience.

I sing lead on about 50% of my band's songs and I am uncomfortable looking strangers in the eye, so I use these techniques all the time. I will say that at least for me a drink or two does help and having confidence in what I am doing and what the band is doing is key.

dukeisdog · #25 01-04-2013, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedudebrah

Very comfortable with it. We usually only have an 8 song set. Simple Clash type punk songs mixed with a blues feel. I rarely have any flubs when playing, and if I do they don't bother me. I just can't shake the feeling of how many people are staring at me, which I should be used to since I have full sleeve tattoos lol

Okay, but are you into it? If you're not liking the music, you're not gonna like getting up on stage and playing it for people, it most likely will make you a little nervous.

thedudebrah · #26 01-04-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vakmere

If you have stage fright you shouldnt be up there. Dont go in the water if you are scared of drowning, dont climb ladders if you have fear of heights, etc, etc.

I don't like bees. Guess I shouldn't leave my house in spring and summer?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukeisdog

Okay, but are you into it? If you're not liking the music, you're not gonna like getting up on stage and playing it for people, it most likely will make you a little nervous.

I do like it. I'm just kinda re-adjusting to the gigging life again after taking 4 years off. My first gig back just kind of took me by surprise. It was like I never realized how much I had adjusted to it in the prior years.

I'll be thinking of this thread at my two gigs this weekend. I'll probably be a little more at ease when I'm fully healed from my recent back surgery and I can have a few nice Tripel Belgians before taking the stage again

**Ric5** · #27 01-04-2013, 02:10 PM

As you play a lot the problem is no longer stage fright but rather stage boredom.

Chazinroch · #28 01-04-2013, 02:21 PM

I imagine myself standing there in my underwear...wait is that right?

thedudebrah · #29 01-04-2013, 02:24 PM

In my old band I used to have really good stage presence and character. Since I was singing I was doing song introductions and got to talk during breaks and is goof off and tell jokes and poke fun at people because we didn't take ourselves super serious. This new band is a lot more serious and I'm not the "leader" so I'm not getting to goof around as much as I'd like to let myself get loose. I gotta lighten up lol

Spinal Tapper · #30 01-04-2013, 02:29 PM

Dude, u play bass. No one will hear if you mess up anways

BayStateBass · #31 01-04-2013, 02:47 PM

I get nervous every time.

Honestly, if I could stand behind a curtain and play, I'd be just as happy. And it's even tougher where I do sing lead on a few songs we do. So I have to put on my "game face".

As far as "rituals", well, even though I'm in a country band I wear my Converse Chuck Taylors when I go on stage. They're my "lucky shoes". I always play well when I wear them.

I also always have a club soda with a lime beforehand. I could have a soda, or whatever but for some reason it's always the same.....club soda with a lime.

Dumb, I know.

StrangerDanger · #32 01-04-2013, 02:51 PM

The only time I still get it is if I'm playing with guys I dont know and material I dont know, like open jams. Makes me pretty nervous. But if I'm playing stuff I know with my guys then I'm pretty cool. Biggest crowd I ever played in front of was about 1000 people and I thought I was gonna poop mice elf. If that happens again though, I think I'll be fine.

pizzazombie · #33 01-04-2013, 04:16 PM

"Dude, u play bass. No one will hear if you mess up anways "

that's the main reason why i choose bass over drums.... holy **** i used to be an idiot

Nashrakh · #34 01-04-2013, 05:19 PM

Oh boy, do I get nervous every time... Not exactly stage fright but the good old deer in the headlights look. It's like I'm frozen solid on stage and the only thing I do is concentrate on the song... My bandmates are kinda the same, we've got lotsa people dropping favorable remakrs about our sound and playing but we all gotta smile more.

Kinda like each song we play is our last is what we sometimes look like

Can't bring myself to smile all the time but I practice playing with closed eyes so I can pry my eyes off the fingerboard when on stage lol.

My personal ritual would be changing into stage clothes after setup. Ah, nothing like a fresh set of undies... Whoops did I just type that?

SJan3 · #35 01-04-2013, 05:31 PM

Are you serious?

Nashrakh · #36 01-04-2013, 05:35 PM

If you mean me, no that undies remark was a joke. I do change my clothes (waist up) before going on stage though and wanted to slip a funny one in there.

NYCbassist · #37 01-04-2013, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vakmere

If you have stage fright you shouldnt be up there. Dont go in the water if you are scared of drowning, dont climb ladders if you have fear of heights, etc, etc.

Tell that to Chuck Berry!

NYCbassist · #38 01-04-2013, 06:01 PM

Listen Man, I already know all about you based on the question. You are a good bass player! You deserve to be up there. You were put on this earth to play bass!!!!! Am I right? If you feel that you were born a bass player, then you deserve to be on that stage. There are people that can get on stage and jump around and play the part but you are the real deal. It's about the groove not all the other stuff! Get up there and hold down the groove and make it a great show. That's what I do.

Soppy Hat · #39 01-04-2013, 06:20 PM

This thread. This thread. Oh, man. I have social phobia and I play in a few bands at my college, and once I get onstage I get it bad. I used to worry so much about messing up I forget to have fun.

The first few times we played I was actually singing... oh gahd. I was visibly shaking. When I checked the video later, I realized I'd been staring intently at my friend, who was playing ukulele, with my hands on my hips- for 3 or 4 minutes. I sang well... and people loved it, but... nerves. THE NERVES.

We also played in front of a couple hundred students the other night, my first time playing the electric live (I started this past summer) but when I opened the song (Waitin' on the World to Change), I actually started having fun and it worked out for me. By the end I was shaking, but it was adrenaline, not phobia. Good feeling.

Of course, just playing isn't the solution for everyone, but if it's loud enough, it is for me. ONE WITH THE BASS.

vishuddha · #40 01-04-2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vakmere

If you have stage fright you shouldnt be up there. Dont go in the water if you are scared of drowning, dont climb ladders if you have fear of heights, etc, etc.

Yeah... people should never conquer their fears... that's why I'm a grown man who sleeps with the closet light on, never goes swimming, doesn't drive, and has never kissed a girl.

Wait, no, I didn't follow ridiculous advice, so those were all lies.