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Keeping clean technique when playing live

#21
+100 to moving at practice/comfort height all that jazz.

I think the real thing is just playing live more. Jumping around during practice will help but nothing really compares to being on stage, in front of people, sweating your ass off with lights blasting you in the eyes so you can't see anything. The most important thing that happened to me was when I just stopped trying too hard. If you know your songs, just let it happen, you're muscle memory will take over with the groove. When I get nervous I'll mess up but when I relax and get into it, I have a better time and play better.
 
#22
welll it depends on ur style dude.

classic rock - sit in the back...move around side to side...etc.
metal - bob your head and get next to the drummer and such
pop rock -just give up and let a computer do your job...if it hasnt already lol jk.
punk - run in circles and have fun.

anything else im pretty sure you can do whatever u'd like.

just givin ya somethin to think about.
 
#23
I dont know if this practice of mine is covered in "all that jazz"
but during rehearsal practice without looking at your hands!

One thing that hurts me live is not standing to my amp like I do at practice
If this is due to the difference in air pushing my legs or volume reaching me...I have no idea?

If you run around lots on stage...jam away from your amp during practice!
 
#24
This reminds me of a story. My first gig with my new band I was "initiated" with a fire baptism, if you will. I hadn't played live for 12 years and my first gig they decided that I should be center stage... Our singer is a bit nuts and runs around in the crowd in a David Yow-esque fashion. To make matters worse, they moved all the track lights to point directly at me, which I didn't realize till it was far to late. I'm in a 5 piece so there really wasn't much room except the little spot center front that they left me. So naturally I had to "wing it" and act like I had stage presence. I have none. It was horrible. Someone took video of the show too. I realized that day that I have a seriously bad case of "Bass Face", that only gets moreso exaggerated when I try and "fake" rocking out. Needless to say, it was a disaster and I felt pretty embarrassed by the whole thing.

However after that show I really don't "try" and perform anymore. (I'm still in the front) It comes off much better to just be normal and have fun playing. Faking it shows and looks really bad. I've sense been moving around more at practice and one day I may do it live, but by then it won't be fake. :)

I know this thread was about keeping it clean and moving, so I guess I ran it a bit OT. But I think it still applies. Don't rush it and only do it when it becomes natural and you should sound much cleaner too.
 
#25
The more you think about your technique, the less music you will make. Thinking "uh must keep pinky just so..." is a recipe for losing your place in the form.

However--thinking about how you play when you're practicing? Yeah, you sure as heck had better do that! When performing, keep you mind on the music, not your technique. It just has to BE there--no matter what goofy moves you wanna make.
 

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