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Pre-show jitters....


Griffinator

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Normal stuff. Just get up there and do what you do, and always remember that the people out there really want to like you. It usually takes me throught he first line of the first song, then I'm on, but until I get that far in, I'm usually nervous.

 

Bill

"I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot."

 

Steve Martin

 

Show business: we're all here because we're not all there.

 

 

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I usually just go out and punch a few old ladies before I play. That sets me straight in no time.

\m/

Erik

"To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."

--Sun Tzu

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I wish I could help you Griff, I have the same troubles. I find that having like half a beer helps, but anything more is just counterproductive. The last time I started a new band I was fine till 1/2 hour before the show, then just as I was walking onstage I got hit with a wave of nausea. I struggled through the set, at least I knew the songs well enough to just play on autopilot. I tend to get over it once I have a few gigs under my belt but new situations usually tweak my nerves.
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Originally posted by CMDN:

I usually just go out and punch a few old ladies before I play. That sets me straight in no time.

I can attest to this statement. My friend plays in a jazz brass quartet and they load gasoline in their trumpets, and spray the old women down while flinging unlit matches around. That usually gets them stoked to play 'Polka Dots and Moonbeams' right away.
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souncheck is usually a good time to burn off some nervous energy but shows like this one you don't get that luxury.If you open with something fairly uncomplicated that you have been playing forever it will give you a little time to get comfortable with the stage mix. Once you let that tension out of your head, your fingers will be able to do their thing easily or...you know, the old lady thing works pretty well too!
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Can't say I've been there, but it is a lifelong dream of mine (and I'll be there someday).

 

If it were me, I'm sure I would be nervous too. But I would just tell myself "hey, you've got this material down cold; you could play it stone drunk in the dark. Just DO IT!"

 

Take a deep breath, close your eyes, hit the first few note of the song you're starting with, exhale, open eyes and GO JAM!!!!!

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Codeine. :D

 

Seriously, though...you'll get 'em. It can either be put to use to give you fire onstage, or it can cripple you. The trick is to use it to your advantage.

 

If it helps, Griff, I've got 'em too. We've got a barbecue contest to play tomorrow with a brand new band. We've got to play for 2 1/2 hrs...with almost a brand new setlist, and we've put it together in a little more than two weeks.

 

Are you still nervous? If you get nervous, just think about my band struggling to pull off 2 1/2 hours, and laugh at me. You'll be laughing too hard to worry about your own nerves. :D:D

"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
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You know... it's weird you chose to mention this now.

 

I haven't acted onstage for 18 years. Tonight marks the end of that far-too-long era and despite having some difficulty with a few lines, I haven't been nervous at all. Typing about it is making me a tiny bit jittery, though. ;)

 

The odd thing is I'm expecting a lot of friends to come see the show, something I rarely had when I was in bands. I'd have thought performing for people I know would put me through the roof with anxiety but it hasn't. At least, not yet. ;)

 

I tried to leave my nervous energy alone back when I performed more because it inevitably was a catalyst for increased awareness of what was going on around me and increased onstage energy. Of course, some people get so worked up they can't concentrate on what they're supposed to be doing but that was never a problem for me.

 

Try to channel that energy into practice. And DO NOT PRACTICE THE LITTLE MISTAKES. Not at this point. You'll have to play through them on the gig, so you should play through them when you practice whether with the band or alone. Now's not the time to hyperfocus on minor mistakes which may not even be noticed by the audience. ;)

It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman

 

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fntstcsnd

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Neil makes a great point, unless you really really blow it (which you won't),people don't know when you make little mistakes. An audience is listening to the whole band not just the guitarist. Talk with your band about not rushing the tempo on your first song, adrenalin can get your tempos up to unmanageable levels and you don't want to come off all manic unless the music is calling for it!
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Originally posted by quah:

...Talk with your band about not rushing the tempo on your first song, adrenalin can get your tempos up to unmanageable levels and you don't want to come off all manic unless the music is calling for it!

LOL! That brings back 16 year old memories...

 

I was in a band and we added a second guitar player. Our sound was moving towards late 80's, early 90's hard rock/metal and he had the sound. We decided to begin with an instrumental piece he wrote. He'd never played a gig before and began the tempo at an unholy pace! By the end of the song (And it was short!) the drummer was just about dead! But what the heck? We only had 3 more sets and 4 more hours to go... :freak:

It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman

 

Soundclick

fntstcsnd

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2 years ago, I played my 1st gig for 25 years - and you think YOU were nervous? Oh Boy!!!

 

However, after a few lines I was pretty OK..

 

being a bit nervous is good - it gives you an edge. If your purely laid back, there's something wrong!!

 

:D

 

Geoff

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music

The Geoff - blame Caevan!!!

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Originally posted by CMDN:

I usually just go out and punch a few old ladies before I play. That sets me straight in no time.

Dang, I find that when I go out, old ladies are usually punching ME, but it still helps get me ready for a gig. The worst is when they use combinations of face, gut and kidney punches though.

Just a pinch between the geek and chum

 

 

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Originally posted by ellwood:

"An audience is listening to the whole band not just the guitarist."

 

WHAT!!!! that's JUST SO WRONG!!! :eek::rolleyes::D:P

Entirely untrue also. If the bass player and drummer do their jobs right most people will only notice the singer and guitarist. If you hear someone comment on the rhythm section it's a fairly safe bet they're musicians themselves.
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Of my limited stage experience, I'll say this...

 

You'll be fine. Up until the show, try to relax. Stay in the present moment (not thinking too much of the future or the past.) Keep alert and focused, but loose.

 

When the show comes, yeah, you'll be nervous the first song or two, but after that you'll probably find yourself really enjoying it. And by the time you get off stage, you'll wish you were up there longer. You're gonna have a blast, and if the show goes well and the audience digs it, you'll be flying high!

 

Last year, I had a new band and the first open mic we played... I was so nervous... but it went well and I felt incredibly energized afterwards!! I just wanted to play and play. It rocked!

 

Be yourself and let things flow. Just let it be, and it'll be cool.

 

Also, if there's a trainwreck and things collapse... so what?! Who cares? You'll live and go on to do it better next time. Even the best performers in the world have bad performances. And they just move on. Don't beat yourself up over it.

 

Remember that the audience is on your side. They're your friends, not your enemies, and they want you to have a good time up there.

 

Good luck. Have fun, and I hope you enjoy the experience.

 

Best of luck, man!!! I'm rootin' for you. Let us know how it goes.

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I have never found a way to get rid of the jitters before I get onstage. I have to play into the first song before I settle down. I always start out with an easy piece that I know very well as a confidence builder. Once I get past that one, I'm fine. Even if I'm just playing at a party with 15 or 20 people there, I always have a case of nerves when all eyes (and ears) are first turned to me.

"And so I definitely, when I have a daughter, I have a lot of good advice for her."

~Paris Hilton

 

BWAAAHAAAHAAHAAA!!!

 

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Originally posted by Sasquatch51:

I have never found a way to get rid of the jitters before I get onstage. I have to play into the first song before I settle down. I always start out with an easy piece that I know very well as a confidence builder. Once I get past that one, I'm fine. Even if I'm just playing at a party with 15 or 20 people there, I always have a case of nerves when all eyes (and ears) are first turned to me.

It's even worse doing solo stuff like a CG gig! There is no band to hid behind!
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"In the day" The Who always started their shows by playing "Can't Explain". This song is basically a three chord song (O.K., there are two more chords in the chorus), and I'd bet it allowed they to get the jitters out of the way on a cool, easy to play tune.

Don

 

"There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by."

 

 

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296

 

http://www.myspace.com/imdrs

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Originally posted by mdrs:

"In the day" The Who always started their shows by playing "Can't Explain". This song is basically a three chord song (O.K., there are two more chords in the chorus), and I'd bet it allowed they to get the jitters out of the way on a cool, easy to play tune.

That or it was just that it was a HUGE HIT!!
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The band I am in has only played out about 10 times in the last 20 years and I was never nervous at all...but then again, I played bass and don't sing so I figured only 10% of the people even noticed me.

 

Funny thing is, I have now been playing guitar for 3 months and I am more nervous that I ever was when we played out just thinking about our next band practice because I'll be playing guitar for the first time with the boys in 20 years.

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I say...enjoy the natural high. I've been gigging all of my adult life and still get the jitters, every single night. The day that I stop is the day I put it under the bed for good.

 

Let those epinephrins run rampant and thrive on it while you can. If you need to puke, then puke. Otherwise, enjoy the buzz.

 

Break a leg. :cool:

Kerry
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Originally posted by mdrs:

"In the day" The Who always started their shows by playing "Can't Explain". This song is basically a three chord song (O.K., there are two more chords in the chorus), and I'd bet it allowed they to get the jitters out of the way on a cool, easy to play tune.

This is all fine and good, except we're a low-level prog band (read: nowhere near the level of Dream Theater, but same style of music) so there's nothing in our set that's "easy"
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