Sounds like the most excellent performance situation you could have asked for. Try to get more of these afterwards. This type of gig will improve your musicianship more than anything else you can imagine. 
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First official live performance ,I'm scared
- Thread starter wishforbass
- Start date
Try visualizing a happy outcome. What would it look like to succeed? Paint that picture and see if you can feel what it would feel like.
I also try practicing parts really slowly the more nervous I am.
I also try practicing parts really slowly the more nervous I am.
Dont sweat it. As someone who has pretty bad anxiety, i completely understand being nervous before a show. Best advice i was given was basically: We are our own harshest critics. If you make a mistake, chances are nobody besides yourself or your bandmates are aware of it. Should you mess up or miss a note/part etc. Just go with it and hit the next one. Don't let one mishap throw you off.
As CalBuzz51 just said try some visualization. Practicing the songs is important but so is getting your nerves channeled in a positive direction. Find some time to imagine all possible scenarios and you'll be ready for any variable thrown your way. They say the best way is to visualize either first person or a birds eye view. I don't get bad nerves so I can't say I do this but many performers, athletes and speakers use these techniques before nerve racking performances.
Some more tips. I always go extra prepared with a backup 9v, cable and any other gear I rely on. I also get the occasional "oh no I forgot the key of the song" panic moment you described on stage. I always just say in my head, "relax, you know this song, you've practiced it" and when it's time for me to play the practice pays off. If you can run into a PA from your amp it will help you hear yourself and sound good in the room. Nerves are normal and helpful to get you in a alert and ready mindstate so try to embrace it as much as possible. With the risk of failure comes the opportunity for success so look towards the doors a gig like that might open for your band. Most importantly play with confidence no matter what.
Some more tips. I always go extra prepared with a backup 9v, cable and any other gear I rely on. I also get the occasional "oh no I forgot the key of the song" panic moment you described on stage. I always just say in my head, "relax, you know this song, you've practiced it" and when it's time for me to play the practice pays off. If you can run into a PA from your amp it will help you hear yourself and sound good in the room. Nerves are normal and helpful to get you in a alert and ready mindstate so try to embrace it as much as possible. With the risk of failure comes the opportunity for success so look towards the doors a gig like that might open for your band. Most importantly play with confidence no matter what.
There's nothing wrong with the way you feel. Even veteran artists can get nervous in front of live crowds. I believe it was Sammy Davis Jr who said anyone who tells you they don't get nervous in front of an audience is lying.
Here's what worked for me: I looked out at the crowd, but instead of looking at the people I would look at the wall above their heads. I focused on a picture or window or other object on the wall and pretend the people weren't there. Blocking out the crowd worked better for me than just looking at my instrument.
First Gig I ever did was in front of my school peers. Girls, other musicians and various adults.
I was scared out of my mind. So scared as it got close to downbeat time I went an hid and hoped they would just go
on without me. But no....they announce over the PA for me to come to the stage and now everyone is looking for me.
Oh great.
I nonchalantly amble out and in a blind haze made it to the stage. My fingers were like rubber and wouldn't do anything I wanted them to.
I fumbled through the first 3-4 songs, never looked at the audience or stopped shaking and was an exhausted wreck by the time we finished our quick 20 minute set that felt like 20 hours. I think people clapped and I sort of remember packing up and going home.
I made it to the house and crashed out in bed immediately.
I woke up the next morning refreshed and my first thought was, 'I wanna do that again!'
40 years later I still get nervous but thank God I do. It gives me that edge and drive to go out and perform.
I was scared out of my mind. So scared as it got close to downbeat time I went an hid and hoped they would just go
on without me. But no....they announce over the PA for me to come to the stage and now everyone is looking for me.
Oh great.
I nonchalantly amble out and in a blind haze made it to the stage. My fingers were like rubber and wouldn't do anything I wanted them to.
I fumbled through the first 3-4 songs, never looked at the audience or stopped shaking and was an exhausted wreck by the time we finished our quick 20 minute set that felt like 20 hours. I think people clapped and I sort of remember packing up and going home.
I made it to the house and crashed out in bed immediately.
I woke up the next morning refreshed and my first thought was, 'I wanna do that again!'
40 years later I still get nervous but thank God I do. It gives me that edge and drive to go out and perform.
Just prepare as well as you can and relax. We have all been through this, and remember that 99.9% of the audience will never notice any mistakes.
Good luck! (But if you are well prepared you won't need luck.)
Good luck! (But if you are well prepared you won't need luck.)
Congratulations on your first live performance. This is excellent experience. Everyone must take their first step. If you keep doing live performances then some day you will be very confident and not nervous. Keep practicing and you will do fine. Good luck.
Reality check: What can the audience expect from you?
From your other posts it seems like you and the people you will be playing with are new to their instruments. No one, especially the musicians in the audience, will expect you to perform miracles. They've all been there themselves!
Mistakes will happen. The trick is to keep going, and never stop playing!
The best thing you can do is practice the material until someone could wake you up at night and ask you what note you play in the second refrain of song X, third measure, on the and of 3. Okay, maybe not that much! Just be prepared as you can be, and all will go well.
From your other posts it seems like you and the people you will be playing with are new to their instruments. No one, especially the musicians in the audience, will expect you to perform miracles. They've all been there themselves!
Mistakes will happen. The trick is to keep going, and never stop playing!
The best thing you can do is practice the material until someone could wake you up at night and ask you what note you play in the second refrain of song X, third measure, on the and of 3. Okay, maybe not that much! Just be prepared as you can be, and all will go well.
On the day of my first gig my father told that every night someone will like you someone will not. The reality is that some will like you, and that is good.
I once got invited to play lead guitar on a cover of Oasis' Married With Children. I'd never played the lead sections before, but knew the song well and knew my Em pentatonic. Also the notice I had was I was told just before the band started that they'd invite me on.
I spent the entire first set sweating and tapping my foot desperately trying to figure in my head even where on the fretboard I'd start playing.
Got called up. Stumbled up to the stage. Played. Nailed it. Had so much fun. Never had a problem again.
I spent the entire first set sweating and tapping my foot desperately trying to figure in my head even where on the fretboard I'd start playing.
Got called up. Stumbled up to the stage. Played. Nailed it. Had so much fun. Never had a problem again.
My first gig was about 6 months after I took up bass. I was 14 then. I can't remember, but I think i nearly sh*t my pants. Basically half of the local music scene was there to see what those new kids were about. We did Okay. Not great. Everyone has had his share of small mistakes, and I guess everyone of was wanted the ground to open up and swallow the whole band when that happened.
But remember this: You're only playing the bass. The non-trained ear registers the bass as the thing that goes booooom. They hardly ever notice, even if you're not tight. They dance if you are. Play a wrong chord on guitar and everybody goes 'oops'. Hit the drums wrong and everybody goes 'oops'. Do a mistake on the bass and the two bassists in the crowd go 'oops'.
But remember this: You're only playing the bass. The non-trained ear registers the bass as the thing that goes booooom. They hardly ever notice, even if you're not tight. They dance if you are. Play a wrong chord on guitar and everybody goes 'oops'. Hit the drums wrong and everybody goes 'oops'. Do a mistake on the bass and the two bassists in the crowd go 'oops'.
Many artists or athletes for that matter listen to their favorite playlist of tunes before the event or show, as it put you in the right mood. 
A lot of good advice here, so I'm not going to rehash what's been said already.
Just once you get on stage and are sure you're plugged in, turned on, in tune and ready to go, take a moment and look at the crowd and take a deep breath. This is what all that practice was for! You're there! This is the fun part (even if it doesn't feel like it at first!). Once you hit the first note, it will all be over before you know it. Just remember the people are there to have fun & be entertained - and they'll have fun if you look like you're having fun (even if you're scared). NEVER SHOW IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE!! Like many have said, most people won't notice a little mistake unless you start shaking your head or looking upset - that's the worst thing you can do. If anything smile and think, oops, that sucked, and move on!
Also, Try looking at your band mates once in a while and smiling, it'll feel like you're right back at rehearsal and having fun playing what you've played plenty of times!
Good luck, and have fun!! You'll always remember your first show!
Plz let us know how it goes!
Just once you get on stage and are sure you're plugged in, turned on, in tune and ready to go, take a moment and look at the crowd and take a deep breath. This is what all that practice was for! You're there! This is the fun part (even if it doesn't feel like it at first!). Once you hit the first note, it will all be over before you know it. Just remember the people are there to have fun & be entertained - and they'll have fun if you look like you're having fun (even if you're scared). NEVER SHOW IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE!! Like many have said, most people won't notice a little mistake unless you start shaking your head or looking upset - that's the worst thing you can do. If anything smile and think, oops, that sucked, and move on!
Also, Try looking at your band mates once in a while and smiling, it'll feel like you're right back at rehearsal and having fun playing what you've played plenty of times!
Good luck, and have fun!! You'll always remember your first show!
Plz let us know how it goes!
It's OK to be nervous. I have a show coming up in a couple weeks and I'm nervous about and I've been playing live for about 20 years.
Also, I have an Air BnB guest staying with me from Iran and he is the coolest guy. I would love to visit Iran,
it sounds like a really nice country with history that spans time like no other.
Good luck on your performance!
Also, I have an Air BnB guest staying with me from Iran and he is the coolest guy. I would love to visit Iran,
it sounds like a really nice country with history that spans time like no other.
Good luck on your performance!
A missed note on bass may not be as obvious to the audience as say a flubbed well-known guitar/keyboard solo or vocal.
But the flubbed bass note can throw off an entire band, put band members on "edge" thus having a huge effect on the overall performance.
A great bass performance likewise will not be noticed by the audience - they will think the band sounded tight and danceable.
But the musicians in the band certainly appreciate a great bass performance. It allows the, to perform their tasks with confidence and ease.
Bass may not be obvious to the audience, but (in my opinion) plays a huge role in the overall performance of the ensemble,ble and the feel of the music. More than any other instrument, with the possible exception of the drummer.
But the flubbed bass note can throw off an entire band, put band members on "edge" thus having a huge effect on the overall performance.
A great bass performance likewise will not be noticed by the audience - they will think the band sounded tight and danceable.
But the musicians in the band certainly appreciate a great bass performance. It allows the, to perform their tasks with confidence and ease.
Bass may not be obvious to the audience, but (in my opinion) plays a huge role in the overall performance of the ensemble,ble and the feel of the music. More than any other instrument, with the possible exception of the drummer.
Chill out as best you can. Keep it together until you play that first note and the rest will follow. You may not remember too much about it afterwards.
Just yesterday I was playing EG... had to start a song with a (solo) chord pattern thing... forgot to un-mute my guitar (tuner was on). I'm quite sure sure EVERYONE noticed (it's hard to miss the confused look when I strum and nothing happens), but guess what? I un-muted, started the song, and it rocked. While in the moment I'm sure my mistake amused a few people, in the end NOBODY CARED. It was just another thing to laugh about after the gig.
Get fired up, do your best, but don't sweat the mistakes. As others have said, every musician in the room, however experienced, has been there for that first gig. And every one of them STILL gets nervous when it's time to get on. Artists as big as Adele, Rod Stewart and Eddie Van Halen have had issues with stage fright. Adel has admitted she vomits before nearly every show. So if you are anxious, you are in very good company.
PLEASE DO come back and report on how the gig went. We'd all love to hear about it... and the next one... and the next one... and...
Get fired up, do your best, but don't sweat the mistakes. As others have said, every musician in the room, however experienced, has been there for that first gig. And every one of them STILL gets nervous when it's time to get on. Artists as big as Adele, Rod Stewart and Eddie Van Halen have had issues with stage fright. Adel has admitted she vomits before nearly every show. So if you are anxious, you are in very good company.
PLEASE DO come back and report on how the gig went. We'd all love to hear about it... and the next one... and the next one... and...
If you're practicing hard you have nothing to fear, your work will show.
Good luck!
Good luck!
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