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Playing my first show tomorrow night
- Thread starter GodPlayedBass
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- bass bass heroes first show live
Don't stress out about it or practice too hard today other than reviewing maybe those two opening lines. You put your work in and it's gig day. Enjoy the experience and don't think about errors etc until AFTER the gig. Don't expect perfect, 'cuase it probably won't happen. DO enjoy it, and look like you're enjoying it!
Review how it went after, or tomorrow, and you'll know what to keep working on. There's no help sweating it today before the gig.
Review how it went after, or tomorrow, and you'll know what to keep working on. There's no help sweating it today before the gig.
There is no such thing as "stage fright." That feeling you get that could be mistaken for fear or nervousness is nothing more or less than the energy of the audience that you're about to channel through your instrument.
Remember, it's punk rock, play it with some outrageous attitude!
Remember, it's punk rock, play it with some outrageous attitude!
Stick to your training. Just REMEMBER the songs and you'll be A-OK.
What will be new to you is; the sensation of hearing your band in a new (to you) venue with whatever PA is being used, you're hearing the music and how it sounds *there* as opposed to how you're used to hearing it in your own controlled rehearsal space, your senses being whacked by all this stimulus all-at-once and how you play through it is what's most difficult to control the outcome of. We all have/go through this at every performance...especially in a new venue. You'll look at your hands and see an instrument there! WHAT TH'?!
That rush; all your internal sensory apparatus on full blast on a new stage, there's nothing else like it in this world. Even us old-experienced, semi & pro musicians, after 100's & 100's of gigs, experience the same sensation. Ain't nothing like it.
STICK to your training, even if it's going well. Don't just play well, the live performance is where it's ok to run up the score.
I hope you knock it into the bleachers.
Congratulations! I remember the first time I played something original before a public, my left hand started shaking so much during a solo that afterward someone commented on my unique vibrato technique!
Did my first gig ever with a squir affinity PJ. After the first few songs the nerves will go away and you'll be fine. Have fun!
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
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- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
Reminds of an evening i think 10 years ago, when i did my first performance after 7 years of radio silence. I was TERRIFIED. But I got through it ok and from then on, felt better with it every time. It's a phase, all it is. You'll feel better as you keep stringing the gigs together and start to fully enjoy the combination of spiritual relief and adrenaline shot a gig can give you.
Good luck, enjoy.
Good luck, enjoy.
Warm up. Only thing to fear is being tense and your arms/hands not doing what you tell them to do. One other way not to tense up is to have fun. You've got this! Break a leg!
If you're having fun, so will the audience. Just go out and enjoy the moment. You've put in the hard work already. Tonight is where you get to share your creation with an audience.
As for "advice" - don't create too many expectations or build too rigid of a perception of what the experience will be like, otherwise you'll spend a lot of energy figuring out why the situation doesn't match what you expected. That can be how it sounds, where you stand on stage, who you can see in the band, how big or small the audience is, lighting, etc.... None of that will likely match what you expect. Going in with a completely open mind will be helpful.
Once the first song is under your belt you’ll realize you’re having fun and then you won’t be as nervous anymore. It’s normal to be nervous even for folks who’ve gigged for a long time, that’s what makes it fun, it’s not the same as playing along to an album in your room; it’s the real deal!
You got it man! I have played hundreds of shows…I still get that nervous energy, it’s weird but it still happens every time.
Once we start it fades almost instantly…
Have a frick’n great time brother, kill it!
Once we start it fades almost instantly…
Have a frick’n great time brother, kill it!
The old saying goes, " if you can play it at speed 10 times in a row without any mistakes or hesitation, then you've got it." If you can't do that now, you need to woodshed until you can. Don't expect any problems with your Squier bass and it's not an excuse if you screw up. It's a very giggable instrument.
If you do screw up, just keep on playing like it was supposed to be that way. And remember, the correct not is never more than one note away in either direction. So if you land on the wrong not, you can just slide up or down to the right. If it's a fast piece, you can just use that as a "passing note", especially on original music.
