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Losing Balance on Stage

Lol... I played a show once and we finished the song and I went pretty nuts on stage... Well the last not like the big like finisher I jumped on to my amp to jump off for it but the guys hit the note just as I got on. I jumped just as I got on 'cause they hit it early or, I thought they were hitting it a few seconds latter but they didn't, I ended up landing back on my amp 'cause I had no time to jump off and my amp tipped and I flew off... The curtains were closing just as it happened.
 
I was playing a gig once for probably around 500+ people. One of the biggest that band had played. he stage was around 6 ft. high and then the drum riser sat about 4 ft. higher than the stage. There were steps on either side of the riser leading down to the stage. When the first song started, I was on the riser, next to the drums. About halfway through, I walked down the steps to go out to the main stage and lost my balance on the stairs. Luckily, I didn't tumble down the stairs. I fell backwards on my @ss, on the steps. It was really dark and in that particular band, the singer was usually the one everyone focused on (he looked like the guy from sugar ray...so chicks loved him). Anyway, I didn't think anyone noticed because it happened rather quickly and I sprung right back to my fet. but after the show I heard a few comments about it. I was pretty embarrased about it.
 
Does this happen to anyone? I nearly lose my balance at least a few times every show.

It is most likely from several things. Year ago it happened to me periodically. For me I believe it was a combination of:

nerves

drugs

alcohol

Hyperventilation

Stage lights

stage height


Regardless of your particular causes try this:

A few minutes before the set, put your bass on and jump up and down for a minute or two. Keep you feet together while you do this and try and land in a slightly diffrent spot each time. This should tune up your sense of balance temporarily.
If it is a big show and you have the opportunity, do this on the stage where you will be playing from. Particularly if the stage is significantly higher. if your indulging in negative and harmful life style practices, you should stop.


JKT :cool:
 
My acoustic/singer songwriter friend, whom I was managing and accompanying live at the time, got massive stage fright, and this was a very big gig, and managed, through nerves and bad cable management, to fall flat on her behind. She made a joke about it though, and she's never been as nervous on stage since. She says "hey, whatever happens, I'm not gonna end up on my ass again, so I might as well enjoy it!"
 
I've done it before.. never actually fell, but I often lose my sense of physical place if I'm playing with my eyes closed...then, I'll realize I'm tilting.
There was a gig on a ship where I looked out of the window right as we were turning around and that threw my equalibrium off for the rest of the night!