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stage fright
- Thread starter 3star2nr
- Start date
nobody gets over it.
i know more than one person with a PhD in performance who gigs 5-6 nights a week who swear they still get nervous before every performance. the key is doing it often enough where you become used to performing with the nerves. they will always be there. anyone who says they dont get nervous is lying.
-t
i know more than one person with a PhD in performance who gigs 5-6 nights a week who swear they still get nervous before every performance. the key is doing it often enough where you become used to performing with the nerves. they will always be there. anyone who says they dont get nervous is lying.
-t
A bit of nervousness isn't the same as stage fright though. I agree there will always be, and should be, some nerves. It's a sign of caring and concentrating on doing a good job. Throwing up before each gig nervousness is however not what you want.
Agreed. Plus - being prepared, and having confidence goes a long way.
However...
Just before the show: seems that when patrons, friends, fellow musicians, etc. insist on repeatedly asking me "Are you nervous? Scared? Have stage fright?"... my reply is "I wasn't until you brought it up"
Also, I recall one gig where we were playing for a bunch of kids, and got a case of the nerves just before the show. Somehow I must have felt that those kids deserve a perfect show and I didn't want to let them down in any way...
well i aint lying groooooo etc.
i got nerves for my first few months of giggin but now 40+years later there is nothing i like better than a half hours sleep berore a gig. i feel totaly comfortable on stage, even if its a new band or a bunch of new songs coz i KNOW its gonna be fine no matter what happens. i get REAL nervous with a new chick, but thats different.
i got nerves for my first few months of giggin but now 40+years later there is nothing i like better than a half hours sleep berore a gig. i feel totaly comfortable on stage, even if its a new band or a bunch of new songs coz i KNOW its gonna be fine no matter what happens. i get REAL nervous with a new chick, but thats different.
I get nervous. Then I step foot onto the stage and I'm just fine, ready to rock! The feeling just disappears instantly, every time.
Stagefright kicks me in the ass, too. When I start playing, I kind of "zone out" and it fades but doesn't completely go away. People say I'm like a different person on stage. I try to make myself into a different character that I am portraying on stage. That helps me to detach myself from, well, myself.
Act as if.
Someone told me this once, and it helped.
So your drummer is terrified. Have him act as if he isn't. That means doing the things that calm people do before they go on stage and while they're on stage. Whatever that means for your band, have him do those things.
Yes, I know you can say it's all "pretend," and it's easy for me to sit here and tell him to pretend he's calm, in control, having a good time, etc. But it really can make a difference in mindset and results. And it's more than pretending; it's doing things and thinking things that calm people do and think.
I know someone who is in a vocal trio. She is out front, with nowhere to hide. I found out yesterday, after watching her through four gigs and countless rehearsals, that she is petrified every time she opens her mouth to sing. I had no idea. She acts as if she's calm, and it fooled me repeatedly.
The fear may or may not go away. But your drummer can choose to work through it, or he can choose to be incapacitated by it. May he choose well.
Someone told me this once, and it helped.
So your drummer is terrified. Have him act as if he isn't. That means doing the things that calm people do before they go on stage and while they're on stage. Whatever that means for your band, have him do those things.
Yes, I know you can say it's all "pretend," and it's easy for me to sit here and tell him to pretend he's calm, in control, having a good time, etc. But it really can make a difference in mindset and results. And it's more than pretending; it's doing things and thinking things that calm people do and think.
I know someone who is in a vocal trio. She is out front, with nowhere to hide. I found out yesterday, after watching her through four gigs and countless rehearsals, that she is petrified every time she opens her mouth to sing. I had no idea. She acts as if she's calm, and it fooled me repeatedly.
The fear may or may not go away. But your drummer can choose to work through it, or he can choose to be incapacitated by it. May he choose well.
I do not get nervous, and I'm not lying. I've done this a time or two before, & I have a pretty good idea what to expect. I make it a point to be prepared, get in early, get everything set up & checked out, then relax & socialize until show time. I've screwed up big & lived to laugh about it later, so I know there's nothing that's going to happen that can hurt me. I believe that the audience is on my side, & that they want me to do well. My job is to be a host and guide, to show my guests a great time. That's a pretty hard job to do if I'm not having fun myself.
I get anxiety every time before I go on stage.
I don't get it. I massively look forward to it, and once the first song is over with i'm fine!
The anxiety gets to a point where sometimes i'm breathless, which is worrying.
All this, and im in a busy function band giggin every weekend!!
Help!?
I don't get it. I massively look forward to it, and once the first song is over with i'm fine!
The anxiety gets to a point where sometimes i'm breathless, which is worrying.
All this, and im in a busy function band giggin every weekend!!
Help!?
