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Performing after a couple beers

#161
Old thread but had to add my 2 cents.

I have terrible stage fright...after 3 years of gigging nearly every weekend I still:

1. get the squirts (diarrhea)
2. feel ill or even puke/vomit before the show
3. get anxiety all day long
4. freak out - usually 1 hour before the start ill silently be going nuts and cant sit still.
5. worry about blood sugars
6. worry about having sugary drinks
7. Freak out setting up the stage and PA, getting the sound right
8. want/need a few beers...

Im Irish and a type 1 diabetic...so maybe me having an aul bevvy or 5 (pints, 568ml) is a tad abnormal to some folks and diabetics alike here.

I'll have maybe 4 pints before the show and maybe 3-4 bottles (330 ml) while on stage. There is a fine line however of getting too drunk, which in my eyes can either work out and you go crazy and have some real fun up there, because you're totally relaxed... or you turn into cpt.bum note and losing the run of yourself thinking im cliff burton and every song needs 2 bass solos...kinda jazz.

The other side of this is if i play 100% sober, I'll not enjoy the gig at all, you'll see I'm terrified (You'll see the whites of my knuckles from fretting the bass with every ounce of strength) and look like I dont want to be there with no crowd engagement.

I have a little routine as well for setting up the show which I go through and we always use the same song for sound check...all little things that make life easier and less to worry about :)

Jumping on what other some of the lads have already said, knowing the material is absolutely paramount. Nothing cures the fears better than realizing you know the material inside out.

I practice our 2.5 hour set every day of a gig so its totally fresh in my head and its a psychological boost too...calming the nerves. When I want to go wandering around the neck (self taught and haven't a clue about notation) I've already worked out some paths so I dont go round the twist all "fusion jazz" on it. lol wish i could play jazz :)

Any particular song I know i have difficulty or what ever i spend a bit more time on...but dont over do it as you'll end up freaking out if you make mistakes all the time.

Learn to go with it also, some things are just out of your control so dont try and control them.

For me, this works and its how I deal with the nerves.

If you can, definitely play sober and try stay as relaxed as possible(meditation, breathing exercises, wank what ever it takes).

Hope this helps someone :)
 
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#163
ubernator said:
I probably should have not even read past the first page of this thread. Anyone who read the posts that I wound up deleting might understand[/QUOT by
Click to expand...
DChalo said:
For all those recommending SSRI's, I am never going to try another one of those. I tried combinations of Wellbutrin, Zoloft and Prozac and they almost ended up killing me. I might start saving up for a session of Behavior Cognition Therapy as recommended by a user.
Click to expand...
 
#164
DChalo said:
For all those recommending SSRI's, I am never going to try another one of those. I tried combinations of Wellbutrin, Zoloft and Prozac and they almost ended up killing me. I might start saving up for a session of Behavior Cognition Therapy as recommended by a user.
Click to expand...
Man o man,,,this is a bass site or a addition site-Lol-(4 string master of Disaster )-C.Pearson
 
#165
Talking about having a couple beers b4 you go on stage,man,,,how did it get 2 this,,,,by the way,,i,m at home on stage, playing Europe, festival, with 5000 people, i,m home,,,,off stage,,,is when i,m nervous, ,,o wow-(4 string master of Disaster )-C.Pearson
 
#166
BernardBass said:
Old thread but had to add my 2 cents.

I have terrible stage fright...after 3 years of gigging nearly every weekend I still:

1. get the squirts (diarrhea)
2. feel ill or even puke/vomit before the show
3. get anxiety all day long
4. freak out - usually 1 hour before the start ill silently be going nuts and cant sit still.
5. worry about blood sugars
6. worry about having sugary drinks
7. Freak out setting up the stage and PA, getting the sound right
8. want/need a few beers...

Im Irish and a type 1 diabetic...so maybe me having an aul bevvy or 5 (pints, 568ml) is a tad abnormal to some folks and diabetics alike here.

I'll have maybe 4 pints before the show and maybe 3-4 bottles (330 ml) while on stage. There is a fine line however of getting too drunk, which in my eyes can either work out and you go crazy and have some real fun up there, because you're totally relaxed... or you turn into cpt.bum note and losing the run of yourself thinking im cliff burton and every song needs 2 bass solos...kinda jazz.

The other side of this is if i play 100% sober, I'll not enjoy the gig at all, you'll see I'm terrified (You'll see the whites of my knuckles from fretting the bass with every ounce of strength) and look like I dont want to be there with no crowd engagement.

I have a little routine as well for setting up the show which I go through and we always use the same song for sound check...all little things that make life easier and less to worry about :)

Jumping on what other some of the lads have already said, knowing the material is absolutely paramount. Nothing cures the fears better than realizing you know the material inside out.

I practice our 2.5 hour set every day of a gig so its totally fresh in my head and its a psychological boost too...calming the nerves. When I want to go wandering around the neck (self taught and haven't a clue about notation) I've already worked out some paths so I dont go round the twist all "fusion jazz" on it. lol wish i could play jazz :)

Any particular song I know i have difficulty or what ever i spend a bit more time on...but dont over do it as you'll end up freaking out if you make mistakes all the time.

Learn to go with it also, some things are just out of your control so dont try and control them.

For me, this works and its how I deal with the nerves.

If you can, definitely play sober and try stay as relaxed as possible(meditation, breathing exercises, wank what ever it takes).

Hope this helps someone :)
Click to expand...
Hey bro,how u doing, ,,,I play Europe with 5000 people, ,,,I feel at home,,,,off stage is a problem -(4 string master of Disaster ) -C.Pearson ✔
 
#167
DChalo said:
I do, but physicians are inclined to deter recreational use of any substance in their patients.
Click to expand...

You've been prescribed medication for your condition and you're going against that, searching on the internet for easier advice and self-medicating with alcohol...

I'd really suggest getting a third opinion from a doctor and maybe enter councilling (you may have already). Alcohol is a very temporary fix which quickly becomes a problem, especially when used as a method to deal with everyday situations. Personal experience there.
 
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#168
Never drank or played either rehearsal or on stage intoxicated. Especially if its a paid gig. The only time is when being in the audience at these freebies jams they have, and I am invited upon stage, to sit in for 1-2 simple blues numbers I have been what have might been considered a stretch of the boundaries of good taste. But, mind you, the others have been worse. And if I've been TOO...I've refrained from entering any stage at all, fearing of tripping over things, and step on pedals and whatnot. Just stumbling around...making a fool. No way.

However, afterwards, after any gig. Anything can happens. As they say with Vegas... but change the word out, what happens in (after a gig) stays (after gig).;)

- - - -
the thing is to start perform on stage at an early stage in your life. Get into a school/church choir to sing. You're too many onstage, enough to make you not stick out. Later on join a school big band with MANY members, perform live as much as you can, then go on and decrease the number of members until you're down to a trio. Which I am in now.

Because back then you where too young to be allowed any alcohol at all. So you'll slowly get a "doesn't need it" mentality rubbed into you DNA, and you're confident with yourself later on. My main thing is to allow to make a fool out of myself on stage, and one important thing: I couldn't give a ***** what people thinks about me. That last one has helped the most.
 
Last edited:
#169
DChalo said:
For all those recommending SSRI's, I am never going to try another one of those. I tried combinations of Wellbutrin, Zoloft and Prozac and they almost ended up killing me. I might start saving up for a session of Behavior Cognition Therapy as recommended by a user.
Click to expand...

Been here and had a similar experience. Best of luck to you.

I'm not anti-medication, but it is absolutely true that the process of prescribing this stuff for some conditions is experimental; "lets try this", and move on to the next one if the results aren't there, or if the side effects are killing you. The unfortunate reality of treating certain mental problems with chemicals is that it is a trial and error process, a gamble with long waiting periods to verify the lack of efficacy of pill K, so you can try pill L a few months later, then pill M when that one fails, or perhaps nearly kills you.

And I think that's why people give up, that's why people self-medicate, and that's why behavioral therapy is so great.

I didn't really want to make this post, but some in this thread have stated precisely the opposite of what I just have. I come to verify it is true; that these are not cut and dry physical treatments; that they really don't know how to help everything with medication beyond vaguely educated guesses; and I bring with me my own experiences, and the experiences of hundreds of people I have personally interacted with, to add to yours. We're simply not lucky enough to have a condition that any pill fixes on its own. Again, best of luck with therapy, and glad to see you looking beyond medication for a total solution.
 
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#171
JaketheB said:
You've been prescribed medication for your condition and you're going against that, searching on the internet for easier advice and self-medicating with alcohol...

I'd really suggest getting a third opinion from a doctor and maybe enter councilling (you may have already). Alcohol is a very temporary fix which quickly becomes a problem, especially when used as a method to deal with everyday situations. Personal experience there.
Click to expand...
 
#172
I agree you don,t go to a musician site for that,,,man people relax,,,,how you doing my man,JaketheB-poopie crazy,,,,did u have good weekend,I hope so,,,,,,,people r a trip you know-4 string master of Disaster -(C.Pearson -:hyper:
 
#174
BernardBass said:
Old thread but had to add my 2 cents.

I have terrible stage fright...after 3 years of gigging nearly every weekend I still:
I understand your situation, ,hope u feel better,solo all the time,,,i,m play metal,but Jazz is where it,solo at - Joco Pastorius, Stanley Clark, ,,u know,,,,,jazz to metal,,,,not like them one note Charlie, ,Lol - b safe -C.Pearson -(4 string master of Disaster )-you take care my friend -:bassist::bassist::hyper:
1. get the squirts (diarrhea)
2. feel ill or even puke/vomit before the show
3. get anxiety all day long
4. freak out - usually 1 hour before the start ill silently be going nuts and cant sit still.
5. worry about blood sugars
6. worry about having sugary drinks
7. Freak out setting up the stage and PA, getting the sound right
8. want/need a few beers...

Im Irish and a type 1 diabetic...so maybe me having an aul bevvy or 5 (pints, 568ml) is a tad abnormal to some folks and diabetics alike here.

I'll have maybe 4 pints before the show and maybe 3-4 bottles (330 ml) while on stage. There is a fine line however of getting too drunk, which in my eyes can either work out and you go crazy and have some real fun up there, because you're totally relaxed... or you turn into cpt.bum note and losing the run of yourself thinking im cliff burton and every song needs 2 bass solos...kinda jazz.

The other side of this is if i play 100% sober, I'll not enjoy the gig at all, you'll see I'm terrified (You'll see the whites of my knuckles from fretting the bass with every ounce of strength) and look like I dont want to be there with no crowd engagement.

I have a little routine as well for setting up the show which I go through and we always use the same song for sound check...all little things that make life easier and less to worry about :)

Jumping on what other some of the lads have already said, knowing the material is absolutely paramount. Nothing cures the fears better than realizing you know the material inside out.

I practice our 2.5 hour set every day of a gig so its totally fresh in my head and its a psychological boost too...calming the nerves. When I want to go wandering around the neck (self taught and haven't a clue about notation) I've already worked out some paths so I dont go round the twist all "fusion jazz" on it. lol wish i could play jazz :)

Any particular song I know i have difficulty or what ever i spend a bit more time on...but dont over do it as you'll end up freaking out if you make mistakes all the time.

Learn to go with it also, some things are just out of your control so dont try and control them.

For me, this works and its how I deal with the nerves.

If you can, definitely play sober and try stay as relaxed as possible(meditation, breathing exercises, wank what ever it takes).

Hope this helps someone :)
Click to expand...
 
#178
I have the same problem. I don't take any drugs or medication but I will have no more than three beers. I'm not even sure if the beer fully helps but instead I just work myself through it.
I started getting anxiety a few years ago in my late 30's. I used to smoke a lot of pot and it started have bad effects on me and giving me panic attacks. I stopped smoking pot and cigarettes too and now I seem to have this mild anxiety disorder and I feel like I get nervous easily in public situations.
I'm glad you started this topic because it's definitely a problem that needs to be addressed.
 
#179
Spirit of Ox said:
I have the same problem. I don't take any drugs or medication but I will have no more than three beers. I'm not even sure if the beer fully helps but instead I just work myself through it.
I started getting anxiety a few years ago in my late 30's. I used to smoke a lot of pot and it started have bad effects on me and giving me panic attacks. I stopped smoking pot and cigarettes too and now I seem to have this mild anxiety disorder and I feel like I get nervous easily in public situations.
I'm glad you started this topic because it's definitely a problem that needs to be addressed.
Click to expand...
 
#180
I'm happy to see at least some posters who understand the problem that is alcohol. In my opinion, alcohol is never the solution to ANY problem, but often the CAUSE. Yes, there are probably people who can handle it, but for the most part, after you've had your second beer, stay the hell away from me.
 
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