Does anyone have any tips for reducing gig nerves? I feel like if I was less nervous, I'd play better, have a better stage presence etc.
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Dealing with gig nerves
- Thread starter benedictallen
- Start date
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
You have to enjoy the butterflies. If you aren't nervous, it isn't important to you, no matter who you are. The more you play, the more confident you become. Even pro atheletes are known to throw up before games.
Have the material down cold. That way when you get nervous, you can say to yourself "I got this."
Look out at the audience and remember that they want you to nail the gig, just like you want to. They're actually pulling for you.
Just remember that even if it ends up being a transcendental experience, a good gig, a meh gig, or a train wreck,...no matter what, it'll be over in a couple of hours. Of course you want it to sound as good as possible, but in the end, it's just another gig.
Look out at the audience and remember that they want you to nail the gig, just like you want to. They're actually pulling for you.
Just remember that even if it ends up being a transcendental experience, a good gig, a meh gig, or a train wreck,...no matter what, it'll be over in a couple of hours. Of course you want it to sound as good as possible, but in the end, it's just another gig.
Agree with the above. Nerves are normal pre-gig. Use it to your advantage.
One piece of advice:
Do not drink alcohol or smoke cannabis before the show. It wont make things better.
When you practice, play at 11/10 of your ability. That's the time to push the envelope. Then, when you perform, play at 8/10 of your ability. Keep it safe at least until you settle in on stage. Don't plan on playing anything you don't have down cold - play it in your sleep cold. That way, as the nerves hit you, you're not trying too hard.
Once you've done this a lot, you'll be better able to judge how to prepare. It's all in what you're used to doing. In my first band I never spoke. I just played my P. After a year, our BL decided to ask me to say something into the mic. I absolutely choked. I wasn't ready. I hadn't given a thought to what to say. But playing my P was no problem at all. I was completely comfortable onstage doing that, and you will be too.
Raf
Once you've done this a lot, you'll be better able to judge how to prepare. It's all in what you're used to doing. In my first band I never spoke. I just played my P. After a year, our BL decided to ask me to say something into the mic. I absolutely choked. I wasn't ready. I hadn't given a thought to what to say. But playing my P was no problem at all. I was completely comfortable onstage doing that, and you will be too.
Raf
6jase5
Mammogram is down but I'm working manually
Not the case for me and I can only speak for myself. I actually don't ever get nervous...job interviews, public speaking, proposing to my wife, live shows. I was on my first stage in front of 1000+ with my grandfather. My job was to introduce the bands at the Bluegrass festival and I was nervous. Right before I went out with my big cowboy hat and later dropped the mic he said to me "Everyone in the audience just wants to be your friend. Give em a big smile!" Everyone smiled at me, and when I dropped the mic they starting laughing which made me laugh, which made them laugh even more. I got a standing O for just laughing in to the mic. He was right, and from that point I have never felt nervous doing, well, anything.
Everyone deep down really wants to have a good time and that's why they are a part of the audience in any situation (even a boring conference), so there truly is no need to worry.
I used to get nervous playing in an originals band; when you're putting a lot of yourself up for judgement with the material you've written it, there is a heightened level of apprehension for me.
When I play with my current covers band I just get excited and look forward to every gig. What's the worst that's going to happen? You might make a mistake, nobody will notice unless you stop or get flustered over it. Even if the band has a bad gig, nobody is going to get hurt over it.
I used to do a lot of public speaking and business presentations, people used to ask why I wasn't nervous about whether I would forget something in my speech; I figured that since nobody knew what I was going to say, the only person that would know would be me...and a lot of that also applies to music.
When I play with my current covers band I just get excited and look forward to every gig. What's the worst that's going to happen? You might make a mistake, nobody will notice unless you stop or get flustered over it. Even if the band has a bad gig, nobody is going to get hurt over it.
I used to do a lot of public speaking and business presentations, people used to ask why I wasn't nervous about whether I would forget something in my speech; I figured that since nobody knew what I was going to say, the only person that would know would be me...and a lot of that also applies to music.
I always feel like if I am not nervous, I don't care. The number one thing I do is NOT focus on the audience for the first song. once I get my bearings on stage, I then find members of the audience to interact with. This usually distracts me enough to calm down. I also find that I am more nervous when my bass player friends are their since many of them are influences on my own playing, and I don't want to "let them down".
Knowing the material certainly helps, as well as being quick on your feet as a whole band for getting through the inevitable flub here or there that will happen. 
Some of the nerves you'll grow out of with experience and some nerves should be embraced, they mean you care and are invested in the experience. Zero nerves is a sign of apathy.
Most of all, don't take yourself too seriously. You are far more critical of your own playing than anyone in the audience is. People come to see live music to have fun, so have fun. Look at people, interact with them. You don't have to be a stage clown, just don't stand there like a fencepost staring at the floor or your bass neck worrying about missing a note. That doesn't convey "fun". It looks boring, and thus is boring, so people will remember that a lot more than thinking, "man, that bass player never missed a note".
Some of the nerves you'll grow out of with experience and some nerves should be embraced, they mean you care and are invested in the experience. Zero nerves is a sign of apathy.
Most of all, don't take yourself too seriously. You are far more critical of your own playing than anyone in the audience is. People come to see live music to have fun, so have fun. Look at people, interact with them. You don't have to be a stage clown, just don't stand there like a fencepost staring at the floor or your bass neck worrying about missing a note. That doesn't convey "fun". It looks boring, and thus is boring, so people will remember that a lot more than thinking, "man, that bass player never missed a note".
1.) Know your material well. And when you have reached that level, learn it better.
2.) Do NOT try to 'get rid or nerves' or 'stop feeling nervous'. You never will. Work on 'playing even though you are nervous'. Make a a positive energy. Know that you are nervous because you care about your work. Concentrate on the music, it's why you are there.
2.) Do NOT try to 'get rid or nerves' or 'stop feeling nervous'. You never will. Work on 'playing even though you are nervous'. Make a a positive energy. Know that you are nervous because you care about your work. Concentrate on the music, it's why you are there.
