|
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Since moving to South Dakota, I have gone from playing in band-type settings to doing a solo act. The audience used to look at the female vocalist, and I never had stage-fright. Now, even on instrumentals, they are looking at ME and I am a nervous wreck. Anybody else have this problem? Any advice on how to overcome it? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Usually a few Jack Daniels would help over come being nervous, but then I would forget the lyrics. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | I'm there with ya, and looking for the same advise. It's why I haven't done anything solo yet. I keep threatening to though. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by Tommy M.:
Usually a few Jack Daniels would help over come being nervous, but then I would forget the lyrics. I think there's a name for that, "The David Lee Roth Method" |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Start out with your best tune and know that the audience wants you to succeed. Once you've done a great song and the audience has responded, you should be feeling much better.
Also, know that a lot of professionals deal with the same problem...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | you have to worry when you no longer have stage fright
Em A
Now deep in the heart of a lonely kid
Em(G bass) D C Single notes: B D#
Who suffered so much for what he did,
Em A
They gave this ploughboy his fortune and fame,
Em(G bass) D C Single notes: B D
Since that day he ain't been the same.
G Am
See the man with the stage fright
F F(D bass) G
Just standin' up there to give it all his might.
Am
And he got caught in the spotlight,
F
But when we get to the end
D G
He wants to start all over again.
I've got fire water right on my breath
And the doctor warned me I might catch a death.
Said, "You can make it in your disguise,
Just never show the fear that's in your eyes."
See the man with the stage fright,
Just standin' up there to give it all his might.
He got caught in the spotlight,
But when we get to the end
He wants to start all over again.
F#m Bm
Now if he says that he's afraid,
C D G
Take him at his word.
F#m Bm
And for the price that the poor boy has paid,
C C#o D Eb Em
He gets to sing just like a bird, oh, ooh ooh ooh.
Your brow is sweatin' and your mouth gets dry,
Fancy people go driftin' by.
The moment of truth is right at hand,
Just one more nightmare you can stand.
See the man with the stage fright
Just standin' up there to give it all his might.
And he got caught in the spotlight,
But when we get to the end
He wants to start all over again, hmm hmm,
F D G
You wanna try it once again, hmm hmm,
F D G
Please don't make him stop, hmm hmm,
F D G
Let him take it from the top, hmm hmm,
F D G
Let him start all over again. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I did a solo act for nearly 15 years and still do from time to time including every Sunday in both churches...I rarely get stagefright or even nervous UNLESS I'm doing a new song w/o enough practice...I actually developed self confidence gained in part I guess from so many gigs...I found out that the audience can be a great time if you know how to play them as well...I also found out that, at least for me, the intake of anything other than oxygen/water actually impedes both vocal and guitar...To bad it took so many years for me to find that out.. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | The best advise I heard was from a singer in Hawaii who was part of the house band at the Jazz Cellar. I only mention the name as our Hawaii friends might remember the place when it was THE rock club downtown.
Anyway.. "It's ok to have butterflys. The trick is to get them suckers to fly in formation!!"
His trick was to not face the audience until the lights came up. Everyone thought it was a schtick to start the show, but it was his "thing" to get started. If he saw the audience staring at him before they started, he would be very uncomforatable and was afraid to freeze. This way, he's get the first word out, and spin to face the crowd as the lights came up. It looked good and worked out well for him.
My trick is that I don't really care what the audience thinks. Not from a "give-a-crap" stance, but from a "I'm going to do my best" stance. If they like it... cool.. if they don't.. oh well.. not much I can do about that. The result is I either get invited back or not.
Again... "It's called PLAYING music, cause it's supposed to be FUN."
I guess Identify WHY you might be nervous. When I play (or have played) I'm more nervous about equipment failure than playing. The tunes and their acceptance or not I have little to no control over. So I fret about the things I can control. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | I used to get it really bad. I saw an interview with Chet Adkins and they ask him what he did for stage fright. He said for live TV he used a "very low" dose of inderal a beta blocker and it worked wonders. I ask my doctor and he said he used it himself when he spoke at a conference and had a lots of patients that used it for stage fright.This was back in the 80`s and i hardly ever use it now. It helped me a lot but theres no replacement for just doing it , the med just took the edge off. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | I hear this question asked all the time. As someone who doesn't get on stage that often, I'm realizing that just about everyone, at least the first few hundred time they get on stage (lol!!)
gets stage fright. So when I do get up there I try and remember that and it actually helps!! Just to know that someone I may look up to as a musician or is an acomplish singer gets nervous
actually helps me control my "nerves". |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I think part of the problem is sheer laziness. A lot of the stuff I play is fairly complicated, so I need to put in a lot of practice time. I don't want to work that hard! Mostly I do just open mikes now, so I only have to be practiced up on a few songs at a time. It seems I'm looking for perfection, but I really don't think it's an ego thing so much as respect for the music. If I'm going to do a song, I want it to be right. If I'm singing, I look at the mike stand in front of me. The audience doesn't know I'm not looking at them. But mostly I just play, and I look at my left hand. But I can feel their eyes on me! And it's funny, I can play for a whole crowd in my living room. It's the STAGE, and the "LOOK AT ME" that gets me. Thanks for the advice. I can pass it along to my students too. Some of them have stage-fright too, and how is Scaredy-cat Alison going to help them? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2793
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Start out with a joke. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Damon, how is red wine as a substitute for the Jack Daniels? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Butterflies are an important part of staying alert and focused. It keeps the adrenalin going. Once you're "performing", they go away. As Al said, there is a real problem if you become too relaxed and unfocused. I once did a show (George M!)where I walked up on the stage from the house and recited a 7 minute monologue...about 8 pages of memorized script. I knew it so cold I could do it in my sleep. Until one day I was just daydreaming when I stepped out on the stage and sure enough, 2 minutes into the monologue, I spaced out the lines. I paced back and forth a few times until one of the other cast members tossed me a line and I was back on track, but for a few moments, it was frightening. It never happened again. During last holiday season's performances, I had a couple of minutes of lines with the conductor. I had only about two days to nail down the lines because they kept changing at the last minute. At an early performance, I spaced out. On the one hand, this was not as bad as the monologue problem because I was in a full character costume and could essentially wing it by just staying in character and making up lines that got the same message across. On the other hand, one of the shows was broadcast live by CBS in the western United States and I knew I couldn't blow it like that again, so I really stayed focused. Performers often talk to the audience to relax and to kill time. One other true story...when I was with CBS (as a child), I met Red Skelton whose weekly variety show was adjacent to our rehearsal stage/studio. He never overcame his stage fright or nervousness and was constantly throwing up just before making an entrance before the cameras and a relatively small studio audience. Even the pros get nervous. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
I once did a show (George M!)... So you were "the other guy" in Wham? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 247
Location: Delaware | I haven't played out in a few years, but I have done quite a few solo gigs. I do recall becoming quite nervous at the start of the gig, but as others have said, as the audience gets into it and you see them enjoying it, you start to relax a bit and start getting into it. On the few occasions that it was a tough crowd or the songs I know weren't what they would like to hear, I actually was able to relax and consider it a paid practice in a venue larger than my music room ! I am actually practicing as much as I can, and learning some new stuff in hopes of playing out again soon. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | Like Mishka, mine is usually only when I don't feel I've had enough practice. When I play with the group at church, I drive them crazy because I always want to practice it over and over.
I was more nervous playing "Beggin' Jim" than when I play for a couple hundred people. Like a dummy, I wrote 5 verses and 2 choruses, then TR Boy played with me the first time, so of course I knew he was going to foul it up. It was better the 2nd time because I knew g8r and Crimson would be able to cover his mistakes. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 4413
| I am currently paralyzed by even the thought of getting back on stage. Don't know why. I blame the chemotherapy, but I doubt there is any scientific basis for this.
But booze is NEVER the answer.
If anybody cracks it let me know. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Kinda' along the lines of what Moody said . . .
I've got a cadre of about a dozen or so songs that I use as "openers". I'll play two or three (bang,bang,bang)in rapid succession (t'stretch fingers/throat & work up a slight "sweat"). Once that's out of the way, I'll take care of all the necessary "intros" while I check my tuning. It's usually about then that the waitress'll bring me a rum on the rocks w/lime and a tall glass of ice-water.
Then it's On With The Show . . . .
(& Jokes DO "help") |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | My audiences are generally 12 strangers with incredible power, plus the judge, a client and somebody who's going to try to screw up everything I do and point out every mistake. (Imagine having another musician object to everything you play and then tell the audience that you did it wrong.)
I can practice and memorize, but I have to adapt on the fly. There are always surprises. I rarely have slept well in 30 years. If I ever perform musically again it should be a piece of cake, except that I have acheived a modest comfort level that I don't have with my guitar playing. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Matt Smith says the best cure for stage fright is 100 gigs.
Playing in front of people was the first big hurdle and I got past that by just knowing the tunes. Singing in front of people petrifies me. It's a little better now after doing it for 2 years (every Wednesday night at the www.Friskymermaid.com) and I only occaisionally piss my pants, but I wear dark pants so it doesn't show! Actually at the Mermaid there are 6+/- regulars and maybe that many others that it has become just about like playing in the living room. Many of the same crowd are there and we all know each other and there's only 50-75 in the room anyway. You just get used to it in time I guess is the answer you're looking for. It helps to know your tunes too, of course that doesn't work for me since every week is a new tune for that week's topic. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
...then TR Boy played with me the first time, so of course I knew he was going to foul it up....
Um, Thanks....Buddy!........ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | Oh... you saw that. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Imagine the audience is naked.
For those with less imagination, only play nudist gatherings. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Damon, how is red wine as a substitute for the Jack Daniels? Now now, red wine is COMPLETELY different!
Originally posted by cliff:
the waitress'll bring me a rum on the rocks w/lime and a tall glass of ice-water Now there we go!
Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
I guess Identify WHY you might be nervous Good question that I don't have a good answer to.
I'll get there soon. Confidence is building. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I think the naked thing would be too distracting, mostly in a way that would gross me out. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2003
Posts: 2178
Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Imagine the audience is naked.
For those with less imagination, only play nudist gatherings. ...You'd have them dancin' in the aisles!
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Mark; well it sure debunks the concept that nakedness and eroticism are as entwined as Playboy and Puritans would have you believe!
The largest and most important organ in that regard is your brain.
Nothing is right or wrong, but thinking makes it so.
Shakespeare |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Funny how this works...I am 100% comfortable singing and playing, either with my band or solo in church.
But sometimes I just about get the shakes so bad I can't play if I am playing a slower, delicate fingerstyle thing somewhere. Makes it very difficult. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2008
Posts: 41
Location: Okinawa Japan | Maybe a Boob job would help? Seriously, If you try and focus on one person or just a segment of th audience would minmize the stage fright. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Last time I was on stage, 2 years ago, I had the OPPOSITE problem. It was an open mic night, I was first up (to get it out of the way - nervous) and had intended to play 3 songs.
I must say, I didn't do a very good job - guitar was OK, but hit the wrong note the first time I opened my mouth and struggled to get in tune.
It was like I wasn't even there. The bar was full but NOBODY was looking or listening. The conversations seemed as loud as the PA I couldn't stand it and after 2 songs, I thanked everyone and walked off stage. My guitar was in its case before even the guy RUNNING the night realised I was gone. "Oh, your finished - I thought you were doing 3"
I would prefer everyone to be looking instead of no-one.  It was an awful, confidence shattering experience
I haven't been back on a stage since. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Just tell yourself you forgot your pants as you walk up on stage. Then before you start playing check to be sure but I am pretty sure when you see your fully clothed; you'll feel more at ease about the audience.
Just go for it man, ain't nobody out in the seats that can do it better.
You get used to the solo stuff. And it's great to pick the songs you want to do with little or no input from a band.
Muzza, man don't let the brain dead idiots that usually frequent bars bring you down. Your right about the audience it sucks when no one claps or even looks up. But you can get some crowds to respond, that comes with experience and confidence. Find a little cafe and see first how the normal crowd treats the musicians. If they listen and clap sign up for a short gig. It will change your life brotha!
Randy |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | "Just go for it man, ain't nobody out in the seats that can do it better."
So True! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I have had stage fright for years--both playing and singing. I'd be o.k. in an ensemble, but mention the word "solo" and I'd be a mess. Of course, it was the fear that I wouldn't live up to everyone's expectations--especially mine. The fear that people wouldn't "like" me if it wasn't perfect--the fear of rejection, the fear of failure.
The funny thing is, when I'm leading worship, I am NEVER afraid, or uncomfortable, or shaky or any of those old stage fright things. I think it has a lot to do with realizing that I have found my real niche, so to speak, and that the me that I am in that niche is perfectly acceptable, perfectly o.k. just the way I am: which is very freeing.
--Karen |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | I have never had stage fright that I can recall. I think this stems from the proper mental attitude - certainty that you belong where you are and that you have a right to the attention of the audience.
I once did a play opposite an experienced female lead who worried about everything, how we looked, what to do if we flubbed a line, what if the props don't work, etc. She asked me how I could be so calm about all this. I told her that in my day job if I screwed up I could kill people. However, no matter what I do here I can't kill anyone. Nobody dies. She finally internalized that phrase and became more relaxed about the show. And nobody died.
I know this ain't much, because I can't give you self confidence. Once you acquire it, however, I'm sure your performance anxiety will subside. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | I'm sure I'm not the one to give advice on stage fright, but here goes anyway.
In a recent Guitar Player magazine interview, someone famous like Joe Perry or Jimmy Page said that when performing live he will play the first phrase of a solo like it is on the record and the final phrase the same. The middle he makes up and changes around, so he doesn't have to memorize it or worry about playing it wrong. The audience hears the beginning and ending and doesn't notice or care that the middle is different.
In other words, even the big name pros don't play songs note-for-note, and the audience is happy.
Joe Perry also said in his interview that he used to literally have nightmares that he would forget how to play the lick during the intro to "Dream On" that runs up and down quickly.
Even the big name pros get nervous.
IMO, it is a matter of comfort zone. After a year and a half playing in my current band, I am much much less nervous even when I have a tough solo to play. I've never been a lead solo guitarist before, so this has been a huge stretch. Some nerves are good, they help to pump up the performance energy. Getting past the bad nerves just took time.
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.
I'm a little surprised nobody has mentioned the obvious psychological aspect that it is normal to not like being looked at. It's why celebrities always wear dark oversized face-hiding sunglasses. Women wear big wigs or hairdos that drape down over their face.
You could always try the ZZ Top look. Sunglasses, long hair, and a big beard to hide behind on stage. ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I don't think it ever goes away. And like someone already said, a little fear can make you better.
There was a once a month open mic at a music store when Brian & I started out. Our goal was to have two new songs ready for each month. The crowd was 95% musicians in all different levels of talent. It was like a 5th grade piano recital because the crowd was always paying very close attention. After two years of that playing at a party or at a bar seems much easier.
The times I have felt most at ease was when playing at the ski lodge during the OFC Tours.
Worst stage/nerves event for me????
Having a brain fart on the first words in "Pretty Woman", which of course are ... Pretty Women. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Just keep doing it.
It gets easier with time and expirence.
As your confidence builds it will go away. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Flysig, I like the beard idea. As a woman, it would really distract the audience!
The last full gig I did was a wine and cheese party/fundraiser for the Mammoth Site here in Hot Springs. I was to play background music which meant I couldn't kill time with "chatter", and I was afraid I would run out of material. Once I realized no one was really paying attention to me anyway, I was fine, and I found myself making stuff up on the spot. If they didn't know what I was playing, I couldn't make a mistake as long as I didn't stray too far from the key I was playing in. So when I had to play at a wedding last month, I practiced the classical pieces I was to play for the ceremony, and during the seating, I just made stuff up. They liked it so much they paid me more than we had agreed on! It's just the technical pieces, where a mistake really sounds bad that I worry. And those are the pieces that I would rather play. I guess the answer is just more practice, but to tell the truth, I'd rather learn/write new stuff than practice. Like I said, I'm lazy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 2487
| F.A.!............. "No matter WHAT happens tonight no one is going to die from anything I might do wrong" attitude!..........Now that's perfect! Very Funny and so true! I am still laughing. I think I'll adopt that one myself, although I might be potentially capable of a good maiming. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | Glad I could help. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | It's all in what you're used to. I used to have to talk at sales meetings to 100-200 people. I'd do it all the time, no notes. It took a while to get there but it was no trouble. I did it for15 years or so. Now to stand up there and have to sing and play it's the total opposite. So like Cliff says I talk a little to them to make ME feel better and then go into the tune. Usually there's some kind of story behind the song so there's anuther minute or so.
You just get used to it Alison, that's all there is. Moody's right too, most audiences are very forgiving. So go out and do the 100 gigs and report back. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1330
Location: ms | And take drugs if needed..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Undo that TopButton
(it works in Scotland, anyway . . .) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I noticed that lately I look at the floor or the ceiling or the side wall, never at the audience. I don't want to see a reaction it will get me screwed up.
If there are lights I sit where the lights shine in my eyes so that I can't see past the front row.
here is a funny story.
I went to an open mic with a sax player friend a few years back. We got thrown together with a good drummer and bass player but the singer/guitarist that led the tunes had no sense of time, or rhythm, after he missed the cue's on the simple 1 iv v blues thing we did the rest of us stayed focused so that we listened for him to do the change and made it work no matter how screwd up it was. well we all had a chance to solo, the harp player, sax player and me.
got off of stage and sue says "wow al that was great did you hear that applause?" My response was "yeah did they bring a birthday cake out to someone's table or something" she said "no stupid it was for your solo" I was so staring at the ground that I had no clue anyone was even listening. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | That's a funny thing. I never hear the applause either. I did once in the middle of one of my songs, "the 12 frets of Gas" where I mention Ovation. Other than that I'm thining that I got to get off stage for the next guy. WQhile it is greatly appreciated I'm usually thinking hard about the next thing and don't hear much of it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | My usual response to applause is:
". . Thank You. . . . . Both of You . . . . ." |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Or "Thank you, Mother" |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJTeAWRcXP0&feature=related |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2008
Posts: 747
| Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
... I can practice and memorize, but I have to adapt on the fly. There are always surprises. Yeah, court rarely unfolds the way you think it will and you have to be well prepared so that you can adapt to the surprises - appeal courts are fun as well when you get 3 or 4 judges asking questions..lol
Although I don't really get stage fright in court at all - I'm nervous but not in a debilitating way and if I object to something I'm on my feet before I even know what I'm going to say exactly. |
|
| |
Stagefright?