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CURES FOR STAGE FRIGHT
- Thread starter guitardefector
- Start date
Haven't read all previous posts, but I focus on my "comrades" in the band more than the crowd. I'm playing for the BAND, not the audience.
The connection to the audience seems to come naturally after that.
The connection to the audience seems to come naturally after that.
For some reason, I only experience stage fright at the soundcheck. But I'm constantly nervous the last 4 days before the gig.
Once I make my first mistake, I can finally relax and just play
Once I make my first mistake, I can finally relax and just play
pbd
Commercial User
best cure I know of is being prepared to play, the tighter you are with the music you are playing the less the nerves will get you!
prayer helps too
Todd
prayer helps too
Todd
Turn sideways and look at the drummer for the first song or two. Bass players are (in some schools of thought) supposed to be aloof, so it may work. Also, there's always going to be a friendly face in the audience, try to make eye contact with them when you're feeling nervous. After a few songs, it should go away. Good luck. Remember - there are a lot of people who'll be there and wishing they had the talent to be up on stage. They'll be envying you. Once you get that mindset, gigging is a total rush.
best cure I know of is being prepared to play, the tighter you are with the music you are playing the less the nerves will get you!
prayer helps too
Todd
I am not sure about prayers. I usually don't pray for my own personal accomplishments. I like to think that God needs to spend more time with the starving children in Africa, but that's just me.
But I will agree on the rest of the statement: the more prepared you are, the better. You will feel confident, but will obviously still have stage fright, because you wonder if you will be able to play as well as your ambitioning to.
And yes, the first song is usually the hardest. And don't be a navel gazer. If you are scared to look at people, have a 1-mile stare or look at something on the other side.
Stupid to say, but in bar gigs, I have even done things like watching the game on a TV on the other side, while playing. And no, it did not prevent me from playing my best, the opposite.
If you watch the crowd and you see they are looking at your hands, which happens a lot, then you start screwing up and your confidence level goes down.
But overall my advice remains the same. Embrace stage fright as part of the process. Why gigging is addictive is because of the rush.
Often the strive for perfection can cause mistakes due to the added stress you're putting on yourself.
The crowd will not notice or care. Play, Enjoy, Do it often and it will become the norm.
I highly suggest against relying on alcohol or drugs to get past stage fright. All that will do is lead to additional problems.
The crowd will not notice or care. Play, Enjoy, Do it often and it will become the norm.
I highly suggest against relying on alcohol or drugs to get past stage fright. All that will do is lead to additional problems.
I agree. I started off playing piano and as a young child would always get nervous at recitals and what not. But once I started playing bass and got into gigs with a band, i felt that the stage fright went away because there were other people on stage with you. Plus, doing it as often as possible helps settle the nerves, and you get more comfortable.
That is true too.
Unless you are insisting on playing the wrong note, especially in a crappy interval (like missing it by one fret), nobody will notice, if you first hit the wrong note, and right away fix your goof.
Don't even make a face, or anything, act as if you played what you intended to.
- Dec 12, 2007
- 2,268
- 43
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Zon Guitars, Tsunami Cables, DR Strings, GK
I'd hold off on the drinking. That can develop into a career ending habit. Just know your stuff and have fun. Like a number of folks have said... play a lot of gigs, challenge yourself often, be humble, try to like what you are playing, get along with your band mates, and all should go well. I have the hardest nights when I'm not into the music or when band issues arise. Those things take the fun out of it for me and can throw me off. When I see that the crowd is having fun and they are happy, I try to feed off of their positive energy.
Just relax, don't stare at your feet or your hands, unless the part your playing requires extra attention to detail. Also, I find direct eye-contact more than a second with audience members makes me feel awkward, like I'm supposed to say something to them, or wink. ha.
Being in good terms with your bandmembers helps more than anything. Sit down with the band before, have a conversation about how you feel about the gig, chances are they feel the same and will make you feel comfortable sharing the stage with them.
I wouldn't suggest doing anything that you wouldn't ordinarily do on a free night out.
All else fails, just hop into the drummers pocket. No one will see you there.
Being in good terms with your bandmembers helps more than anything. Sit down with the band before, have a conversation about how you feel about the gig, chances are they feel the same and will make you feel comfortable sharing the stage with them.
I wouldn't suggest doing anything that you wouldn't ordinarily do on a free night out.
All else fails, just hop into the drummers pocket. No one will see you there.
I never had stage fright. Like anyone the first time or two on stage I was nervous but not enough to hinder my performance. Just play your bass and don't worry about the audience.
Hide behind your bass.
Not literally, of course. Stagefright was never an issue for me as long as I was on stage playing music. To this day, I have a horrible time getting in front of people for any other purpose. Giving a presentation at work is particularly loathsome. You should have seen me in high school.
Something magic happens when my bass is in my hands though. It's like my alter-ego coming to life.
D
Not literally, of course. Stagefright was never an issue for me as long as I was on stage playing music. To this day, I have a horrible time getting in front of people for any other purpose. Giving a presentation at work is particularly loathsome. You should have seen me in high school.
Something magic happens when my bass is in my hands though. It's like my alter-ego coming to life.
D
- Nov 30, 2009
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- Amateur. Take my advice for its resale value.
I remember being nervous the first time I stepped on a stage, but after that it was cake.
Everyone that says "no one will notice if you clam up" is 100% correct so long as you dont make it obvious, and even then......wow. One time, I thought my bass was shut off, sound dide or whatever. In a moment of panic, I ran to the side of the stage and threw it to our roadie. He gave me bass #2 and I kept on playing. Even in that extreme situation, my family, who was in the audience, didnt even notice something went wrong.
If my own family didnt notice, neither did anyone else.
Try to relax, have fun and enjoy the moments you have on stage. They won't be there forever....
Everyone that says "no one will notice if you clam up" is 100% correct so long as you dont make it obvious, and even then......wow. One time, I thought my bass was shut off, sound dide or whatever. In a moment of panic, I ran to the side of the stage and threw it to our roadie. He gave me bass #2 and I kept on playing. Even in that extreme situation, my family, who was in the audience, didnt even notice something went wrong.
If my own family didnt notice, neither did anyone else.
Try to relax, have fun and enjoy the moments you have on stage. They won't be there forever....
THANKS GUYS!! I didn't expect such great advice and stories. You all rock. This thread should become a book.
As uncle Chop Chop says "Just harden the f@#$ up!"
But seriously, confidence in anything comes with "time on the horse"....
So get out there and play, play, play!
After a while you realise it's not such a big deal and you might even enjoy yourself!!
OTOH, i think some nerves beforehand are good. Gets the adrenaline pumping.
When you have absoloutely no nerves before a gig you prolly dont care enough anymore and it's time to do something else......
But seriously, confidence in anything comes with "time on the horse"....
So get out there and play, play, play!
After a while you realise it's not such a big deal and you might even enjoy yourself!!
OTOH, i think some nerves beforehand are good. Gets the adrenaline pumping.
When you have absoloutely no nerves before a gig you prolly dont care enough anymore and it's time to do something else......
