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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
My only advise is..
It's ok to feel "butterflies" when you get on stage.... just get them suckers to fly in formation and you'll be fine. That's the best one I've heard in a long time! :D |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | It all sounds good, thanks. Me thinks I will pick out 4 songs and play them all week until I am sick of them...look at the mic and not the audience and play as if nobody cares. It sounds like a plan anyway.
I think I have to get a mic just to get used to singing in one as I have only done it once before and backed off when I heard my amplified voice.
I just watched Melissa Etheridge on Oprah and if she can play cowboy cords with an average voice...well so can I!
No cheat sheets...train wreck...thanks Brad. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Rich, check out the place and see what the atmosphere is. Look for a place with an encouraging type crowd.
The OFC gatherings are great for this. It wasn't even 2 years ago I played and sang in front of people I didn't know, and that was up here at an OFC event that Mr. Ovation and his his wonderful SWMBO hosted.
A few weeks after the meetup I tried my first open mic. Here's a blow by blow of the eve...
First Open Mic
Everyone here was a big help, but so were the people that were running the open mic that night. They were very encouraging, and so were the other people that were performing. As a matter of fact, the drummer that played with me that night is the drummer in both my bands now, so it's all worked out really well. Now if I can just get him to keep a meter. Max gets excited.
It'll get easier every time. I forgot lyrics and chords galore for a long time, and sometime I still do. Don't worry about it, just play through and next time it'll be that much easier.
Just do it. Next thing you know, you'll be looking calm cool and collected just like everyone else. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City | Yeah, practice singing into a mic for sure |
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September 2008
Posts: 1281
Location: Ohio | First open mic I played, I felt like I left a HUGE puddle on the floor., I got over it, went back the next week, and then necame one of the regulars... Still love it.
STeve |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I played a gig once where it was so hot there was an actual puddle of sweat on the floor below me. the guy sitting in with us was getting shocks from the same puddle with his guitar.
crazy days |
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February 2004
Posts: 548
Location: Up North | Do you think it's better to pick a little more obscure selection of tunes for an open mike, or ones that everybody knows?
I'm just thinking if the tunes are a little less well known, people might not notice the errors. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by alpep:
there was an actual puddle of sweat on the floor below me.
crazy days similar experience except it was beer and booze |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Originally posted by Grif:
Do you think it's better to pick a little more obscure selection of tunes for an open mike, or ones that everybody knows? .
We always try try to bring something we have not heard anyone else play before.
After hearing somebody do "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" or "Behind Blue Eyes" for the 10th time, I'm about done with it. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Originally posted by nikon4004:
First open mic I played, I felt like I left a HUGE puddle on the floor., I got over it, went back the next week, and then necame one of the regulars... Still love it.
STeve I'm just hoping it was sweat, like others are assuming. |
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June 2005
Posts: 1320
Location: Round Rock, TX | I just remind myself that we are fortunate enough to live in a country and during a time where performers are rarely killed and eaten.
Puts things in perspective, then I just go play the set. |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Just go for it...and enjoy yourself! |
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March 2010
Posts: 14
Location: New Jersey | No matter what, Act like your having fun and KEEP SMILING!!! |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...seems like it's about time for my Annual Commercial:
Start playing for a local Convalescent Home facility. The residents appreciate and enjoy ANY effort you extend and it truly is a blessing, both for them and you as a performer. Contact the Activities Director and offer FREE entertainment for about 30-minutes at their schedule and you'll be in!
You will gain valuable "playinginlivefrontofpeople" experience and they will have a great time!
Try it, you might just find your niche! |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | All good tips. Great idea Tim. I would imagine some songs that the older generation was familiar with might be called for?
I shoulda played Friday night like my wife said. I went to the coffee house and I was amongst friends and probably could have pulled it off. I will be out of town on the next one so I may end up waiting another couple months. On the positive I have had an offer for a "parnter in crime" and am looking forward to that. |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ....just remember that in only a few short years, the most requested song in the Convalescent Homes will be "Stairway"! :eek: |
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May 2009
Posts: 325
Location: Utica, NY | Originally posted by alpep:
if you are not nervous then you have a problem. That's EXACTLY what I have been telling folks for years!
Seriously, the first times can be rough. Know your material the best you can but even then one can have a severe, instant emptying of the mind. In the older days I would freeze up terribly. The band would go on and my mind would race like a freakin' computer looking for lost info. But it usually never came. It took me a long time to really relax and just keep on going. Now, if I forget something? So what. Sometimes I'll mumble the lyrics I might forget, wander off on a lead, whatever. It's only a blip. But I'd say keep it simple and short. If it goes bad just laugh it off. Life goes on and embarrassment builds character. It is fun though once you get past the first couple times and it gets inside you. It's funny though, I would also rather play for 1000 strangers than 10 friends or family.
I am also in 100% agreement with playing live vs audio or video recording. Totally can't do anything right. I believe it's all about thinking too hard. Always best when things just flow.
But most of all, do do it. You'll always wish you had, even if it's awful. |
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May 2009
Posts: 325
Location: Utica, NY | Here's another thought. It's great to have a partner up there with you. If you mess up, look at them like they just destroyed your life and play on. Just kidding....just ask my band-mate. heh-heh-heh :rolleyes:
But somebody once told me that if you make a mistake repeat it and everyone will think it was intended. |
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May 2003
Posts: 425
Location: SE Michigan | A couple of suggestions; (1) regarding what material to play, it is not enough for YOU to really like the song. Probably most important is to choose songs that fit your strengths and abilities. I wasted many of my teenage garage band years struggling to play material that was so far over my head, I loved the songs, but I played them terribly. I would have been much better served choosing songs that were within our band’s means and that we could sound good playing (as most of the successful bands of that era figured out).
(2) The best way to "find" your songs is to record yourself, and record a lot. And listen to the recordings. It's not hard to figure out what does and does not work for you.
(3) As far as stage fright goes, I like Al's suggestion, focus on the mic, or on your fret hand. Concentrate. After you get a couple of successes under your belt you can expand to smiling or looking around the room. A few more times you can plunge into small talk or an occasional joke. True, it's not really good stage presence to stare at your fret hand, but it will get you by when you are new to performing in front of an audience. Better to play well and have poor stage presence that to have great stage presence and suck as a musician (my opinion, others may differ). You should know the songs you intend to play so well that you could play them in your sleep before you play them in front of an audience.
(4) And like everyone else says, play out a lot, each time you do it gets just a little easier.
Let us know when you are going to do it, Maybe Brad and I can swing by and heckle you! |
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March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Almost all of this is good advice. I'd add a couple of things.
First, don't sing to your shoes. Look up and DO look beyond the microphone. These people don't know it's whether it's your first time or your 500th time in front of a mic. Don't tell 'em.
Only play tunes that you've practiced a lot. Play in front of the mirror, then play for your wife. Don't get too fancy first time out. Don't try to play something on the guitar that you haven't practiced a lot. It's amazing how you can forget stuff that you've practiced. That's why you want to stay on simple familiar terretory.
When you start each tune, force yourself to count it off in your head. You'll find that when you're in front of people the tendency is to rush and play faster than you should. Take a deep breath before starting each tune and remind yourself to slow down.
Outside of all that, don't drink booze beforehand and have fun. Remember that everybody in the audience is on your side and wants you to do well.
Have fun. And if it isn't fun, you don't have to do it again. But it will be fun and you'll be back. It's addictive...... |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Originally posted by Brian T:
Let us know when you are going to do it, Maybe Brad and I can swing by and heckle you! FREEBIRD!!! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
then play for your wife. So you get used to someone walking out on you?
I definitely agree with the slow down suggestion. Nerves seem to cause acceleration. They make metronomes to help practice the right pace. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | "So you get used to someone walking out on you?"
Lol- I'm with you on that, Mark. I get NO respect at Casa DB. Better off playing in front of a group of friends. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by dark bar:
Better off playing in front of a group of friends. How would you know? :p |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Apparently, the lack of respect is universal, DB! |
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OK how do you do it? (playing out)
