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I PUKE

#24
I sotra had the same thing the first time i performed. I was even more nervous cos i had to yell I am Iron Man into the microphone, cos the singer chickened out on that part. I nearly stezzad (look up stezza on urban dictionary if you don't know what i mean). I nearly died of embarrassment but then started having fun and got over it.
If you're having fun after you start playing just imagine that feeling and it might help calm you down (like meditation)
 
#27
sounds like stage freight. start playing open mics to get use to being in front of crowds. they are usually low key and hopefully you can deal with that and work up to big shows.
 
#28
Matt Dean said:
This stuff really works: Rescue Remedy. It is a Bach Flower remedy that you can buy over the counter at health food stores or herb shops. It is designed to calm nerves and chill out your stomach. Just take a few drops an hour before you play.
Click to expand...


YUP, herbs do work. Some are legal, Some Ain't.
Although I would never condone using any type of illegal substance mind you.
 
#30
Dude said when he get's onstage he starts to feel sick. 1st song he makes it through etc.

*** This is old advise and not original by any means ****

Imagine everyone in the audience is naked!

********************************************


You could start the night with, Hey everyone, I get stage fright, My therapist told me to imagine everyone naked. I'm just not getting the visual, can the girls help me out? FREE THE TWINS!

It just might work! :hyper:

To tell you the truth every one in the audience is nervous!
Dudes trying to get laid, and most don't stand a chance.
You can also just scan the audience and laugh at half the people there!

Jim
 
#31
I think this is the best thread title ever, especdially in caps lock! lol

On topic though, when I took classical piano lessons we would do auditions every once in a while and I would get really really nervous... not to the point of puking, but I would get really moist hands, which made the playing almost impossible.
So 10 minutes before I was up, I would just go to the bathroom and spend a few minutes washing my hands, taking deep breaths and looking at myself in the mirror thinking "f*ck yeah you can do this" until I believed it :D

Also, since there were a lot of students that had to take turns playing, we would usually wait alot, and I noticed it goes like this: the more you wait, the more anxious you get, until you get to the point where you don't give a damn anymore and all you want is to get up there and do your thing. So if you plan it ahead of time, you'll be hyped up more than anything.

This is mostly because they took all the fun out of playing in front of people, and was too concerned about making mistakes, not sounding good enough, etc. Ever since I started playing with others (and now my bass instead of the piano), I just feel happy to be up there playing with people who enjoy music as much as I do.
I believe if you all have a hell of a good time on stage, there's a good chance the audience will like it too anyway.
 
#34
maybe live performing isn't for you.
lots of people who are successful musicians can't play live-
andy partridge from xtc for example (yeah, old stuff, but a good example).
we are raised thinking celebrity is the be all, end all...
you don't have to buy into it. it is hollow.
(ditching the weight of hyped expectations might actually help alleviate the stress causing the problem, so you can enjoy making music)
if you really love performing, i'm sure you will find a way to deal with it.
 
#35
Don't stop playing dude. This problem is very common. You aren't alone. It will get better.
I puked once before a presentation at school.
You just need to keep playing. I found that talking about the feelings with alot of folks helps too. Sorta removes the Stigma.

Barbara Steisand, Carly Simon and Jordan Knight all suffer from this......imagine that. Don't give up man!!
We're all with you!
 
#37
I had the same problem when I started out (they didn't call me 'the duke of puke' for nothing), drinking herbal tea helped me very much (yeah, not very rock 'n' roll...) and focusing on things you gonna do after the gig/imagining the crowd naked (or a combination of the two) helped out quite a bit. Whatever you do, don't stop performing live or you'll never step on stage after that! Also in other occupations you'll have to adress larger groups of people so it's good training. HAVE FUN!
 
#38
I am a social worker in private practice, and most of my clients have either depression or anxiety or both. I'll tell you the same thing I tell them: see your doctor first to rule out medical problems, then get a good shrink and talk it out.

When I first performed on stage as a bassist, I had the same problem. I found that experience helped a lot, eventually the stage became my home. I never did become a run around on stage kind of guy, but I like being in front of people now. The stage fright was hard for me because as a trumpet player in school, I never had much if any stage fright, but I always had lots of other people around me...

I found that for bass gigs, I liked to set up then go somewhere else until the gig. But again, the best help was gigs.

One thing I always try to remember is tje same thing others have said: at most shows there are no bass players, or very few at the most, and nobody else can tell when the bass player is screwing up, unless you stop playing altogether. When a bass player sucks, most people think "there is something not quite right with this band, but I can't quite tell what it is..."

Once when I was having lots of anxiety, I went to the bathroom between sets and while I was in there a couple guys came in and were talking about how bad the band sucked. I had to smile. We played many more gigs there after that. Everyone has their opinion...

Good luck!
 
#39
tbwilson said:
I've got this problem, I get nervous (i think) or maybe its something else. I'm looking to you guys to give me help on this problem. The problem is this, i get on stage and i set up, then all of a sudden i start feeling sick. I pace around and then run to the bathroom and puke. Just when i feel like im good to play i get back on stage play threw our first song which is short and just barely make it threw it and then puke. This has happened to me twice out of the 3 shows we have had in the past 2 months maybe. i don't think its a bug. Anyone have this same problem. Anyone have any reasonable ideas i might not already know. We have a big show coming up and i cant really afford to puke again. If the problem keeps coming im going to have to stop playing out.
Click to expand...


Yeah don't drink a bottle of Jack before you go on stage. :)
 
#40
tbwilson said:
I've got this problem, I get nervous (i think) or maybe its something else.
Click to expand...
First, make sure it's nothing physical (see your doctor). It sounds like bad stage fright to me ... and you will get over it. Years (and years) ago I got stage fright too, but it manifested in a different way ... I'd get pounding in my head (pulse) and a severe pain in my lower back. No kiddin' !

Don't make so much of your show ... remember that the audience is there to have a good time, they WANT you to be great, and will likely not hear a fraction of the little mistakes your band makes. Really. YOU are not giving a recital to prove your virtuosity, but are providing entertainment, and bringing whatever you got.

I haven't had stage fright since those very early days, but I still get a little case of "butterflies" once in a while when I sub in an unfamiliar band, or gig in a new venue. But it's the good, edgy kind of nervousness ... the kind that keeps me sharp.
 

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